Over the next few posts I’d like to explore ministry to young adults. Today I will share some of my personal perspective on young adults. In subsequent posts I will delve into such topics as misconceptions of young adults and spirituality.
I find myself compelled to explore this topic because it has been dear to my heart for almost ten years. Also, my church’s young adult ministry is really “taking off” and I am finding more and more of my time being dedicated to it. For this reason I will be posting the series on both my personal blog as well as our young adult ministry blog here.
I define young adults as those aged 18-30ish. While some assume adulthood at the point of marriage, I uphold this definition regardless of marital status. I do so because note that in America young adulthood seems to be elongating. My parents lived in the time when it was quite normal to get married soon after graduating from high school. Along with marriage came a “settling down” and an approach to life that revolved around being responsible, i.e. men got a job and provided for their family while women had children and managed the home.
Twelve years ago I got married at age 25. This was common for my time as most of my contemporaries got married soon after completing an undergraduate college degree. Even those who didn’t go to college often held off until their mid-twenties before getting married. However, upon getting married many of us were in no particular rush to have children as we sought to continue establishing our careers. This was the case for both men and women alike. It wasn’t until we’d reached a certain point in our career or financial standing that many of us had children. To be sure, my wife and I were in the minority by waiting seven years into our marriage, and into our 30’s, before having children. My point is that this delayed adulthood.
Today, it is not uncommon for young adults to not get married until they reach their 30’s with children not coming until mid to late 30”s. Young adulthood now clearly stretches through the twenties regardless of whether one attends college or not. Many young adults jump from job to job, often giving up financial security for the sake of comfort. That is, I often encounter young adults who have left good paying jobs because they didn’t want to live within the confines the job required or because they would rather pursue something they consider more fulfilling. Often they fall back on the safety net of their parents, moving back home as they prepare for whatever will come next. As I’ve stated, it’s not uncommon for this pattern to continue into the early 30’s. Even those who stay with their good paying jobs find no rush to get married, I have some thoughts on why that is which I may or may not discuss later. Along with the delay to marry is a delay to pick up the mantle of “responsible adult”. Instead, they choose to enjoy what I call a more sophisticated college lifestyle. You know, still plenty of drinking, video gaming, exploring musical interests (read being in a local band).
All of this to say that young adulthood today often stretches into the 30’s. Even those who get married in their twenties still don’t think in terms of classic responsible adulthood until they get into their thirties.
It is to this generation and mindset that I have sought to minister. Knowing that amid the stress and pressures presented to this group, God is able to do a powerful work. It was in my young adult years that God grabbed a hold of my life and steered it in a direction that many, including myself, never would have guessed. Can he do the same for others? Young adult, can he do the same for you? Or maybe the better question is, will you allow Him to? What does God have to offer you? What do you have to offer God?
I welcome your comments and hope you will follow this series.
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