Reaching Young Adults

Bob Mayfield

Baptist General Convention

of Oklahoma

Don’t criticize or ridicule other religions.

Be non-judgmental about individuals.

Focus on the positives of following Jesus.

Research is better than personal opinionwhen expressing truth.

Reaching Young Adults

Postmoderns are drawn to relationships(Myspace and Facebook).

They are service-oriented. They want to make a difference in their community

and world.

Postmoderns desire deeper Bible study.

They are repelled by being preached at.

Postmoderns want to discover truth –Especially through meaningful conversation.

Postmoderns are more interested infollowing Jesus and changing the world

than not going to hell.

Oklahoma Young Adult Research

16 Churches

• 8 SBC

• 8 non-SBC

Best Practices Research

Must reach and keep YA’s

Small Groups

Effective• Authentic• YA’s want to know God (Boomers want to

know about God)• Keep the groups smallIneffective• Do NOT focus on single or married (focus on who they are, not their marital status)

Missions

Missions definitely engages this age group• 9/11• Katrina• Tsunami in southeast Asia

Include both local and overseas

Get YA’s involved in service ASAP (within 6 months)

Worship

• YA’s drawn to worship styles that reflects their generation’s music and culture

• Young Adult services are increasing

• Full of energy

Technology

• YA’s are integrated with technology, not a toy or a tool, it just is

• Simulcasts, digital screens

• Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc)

• Text questions to pastor during

worship, pastor answers at end

service

Sunday School

• Most of these 16 churches do home groups, not SS

Keys• Informal• Real discussion, no lecture, no SS answers• Be deep theologically• Lessons are not 60 minutes, lessons may last weeks• Hang out times

Mentoring

• YA’s like “life on life” living

• Mentoring needs to be informal

• The “skip” generation (grandparents)

• Share mentoring in “story” form

Key Takeaways

• Size is not the issue, relationships is the key

• Build core leaders first

• Provide lots of opportunities for YA’s to get involved

• Do NOT be judgmental

• Theology is essential (unchurched

generation as children)