The latest in a series of reports based on the Faith Communities Today 2015 survey research was just released.
In recent months, several discussions across the Internet have debated if it is necessary to worry about the lack of young adults in congregations or whether it is even helpful to target this population specifically. But, no matter where you stand in this debate, as Lizardi-Hajbi's report points out,
"Young adults pose a vexing and urgent challenge for congregations. On the one hand, they are particularly crucial for growth. On the other hand, and as many recent studies have shown, today's young adults are less religiously affiliated, and less inclined toward religious belief and practice than ever before."
In the United States today, young adults comprise about 23% of the total population; yet only one in ten American congregations reflects this level of young adult representation.
This just-released 18 page report explores the patterns and trends about young adult ministry, participation and engagement from 2015 study. A special section of the survey was dedicated to exploring young adult ministries (with "young adult" referring specifically to individuals who are 18 to 34 years old). Researchers created a module of 36 items to learn more about the nature of young adult engagement in congregational life.
This report highlights major findings from that module in order to gain a better understanding of current trends and characteristics of congregations with flourishing young adult ministries.
A few of the key findings about congregations with thriving young adult presence include:
* Prioritizing young adult ministry and creating a specific strategy for engaging young adults are both necessary for a congregation with a thriving young adult presence.
* Greater utilization of electronic technology, the Internet, and social media correlates to having more young adults.
* Specific dedication of people and time around young adult engagement is the key to enhancing this ministry within congregations.
* Congregations with young adults as leaders of these ministries are more likely to have increased or maintained their young adult presence over the past three years
* Attending worship is the most frequent way that young adults participate in faith communities, but thriving young adult congregations tend to involve many members in activities beyond worship.
* In congregations with a large young adult presence, the programming is more likely to focus on fellowship or other small groups, web/social media engagement, and community service.
* The majority of young adult participants come from families who are already present within the congregation
* Young adults are more likely to participate in larger, more urban congregations in areas with growing populations
* Thriving young adult congregations share many of the same characteristics that all thriving congregations do, including participants' involvement in recruiting new people and engaging in congregational programs, committees, and service projects outside of worship.
* Nearly half of all young adults in American congregations are married with children; however, most young adults in the United States are not married.
* Many congregations believe that their own lack of desire/passion to reach out to young adults, as well as a lack of interest on the part of young adults themselves, most impedes their ministry with this population.
Download and read this new report to explore further insights and uncover findings on what works and suggestive ways to improve your outreach and ministry to young adults within your congregation.
