How To Find a Good Young Adults Ministry
So you’re trying to find where you belong.
You might have just moved to a new city for a job offer you couldn’t pass up. Or maybe you go to a smaller community college and there isn’t a huge college scene in your area.
You just want to make some friends and grow in your faith, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone offering that around you.
Where do you begin? Here are some ideas that might help you find your people:
1. Know What You Want
Are you looking for a church that has a regular large gathering for people in their 20s and 30s? Or do you want a small group that studies the Bible together and builds a tight knit community? Maybe you want both of those things, or maybe you’re just looking for social hangouts to meet other young Christians for friendship or a romantic relationship.
There are no wrong answers here! The first step is getting clear on what type of young adults group would suit your needs. Not every group is going to be right for you and there’s no shame in knowing what you want up front.
2. Look at Bigger Churches
Larger churches just have more resources than smaller churches. You may find a rare small church that has an incredible group of young adults, (yippee!) but often, you’ll find that the larger churches in your area have dedicated staff for young adults and college students.
Looking at the website might quickly tell you if the church has activities for young adults, but the staff are going to be more knowledgeable about what is and isn’t available. Try to find an Adult Ministry Pastor or someone on the staff page that might work with college students and send them an email asking if they have groups or gatherings for young adults. You might be surprised what they tell you about that isn’t on the website!
You can also always visit the church and connect with the staff in the guest area, but trying a new church every weekend can be time-consuming and exhausting. An email might get you a free lunch or coffee with the Young Adults Pastor who can answer all of your questions and give you a good feel for their group of young adults.
3. Word of Mouth
Ask around! If you’re visiting churches, you might ask the staff if they know of other churches that have a great college or young adults ministry in the area. Even though the answer might not be their church, usually the church staff are more than happy to give you some suggestions. If there is a church in the area that is doing a phenomenal job with young adults, they’ll know.
If you’re too afraid to ask the church staff, you can ask the other young adults at the churches you’re trying out. They may have friends that are involved in other ministries, or might have some experience with some of the young adults ministries around town that could give you some great insight.
Lastly, if there is a college in your city, you can reach out to the campus ministry leaders. They’re sure to know which churches offer a college ministry or post-grad young adults ministry.
4. Social Media
Check Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and even TikTok! They might not make viral content, but churches know that the younger generations are on these platforms and they’re trying to use social media to promote their ministry. If the church is posting the right content, this is also a great way to see what the ministry is like before you ever visit.
5. Start Your Own Group
Tried all of the tips above and still nothing? Grab one or two friends and ask them to meet with you weekly at your home or a nearby coffee shop. You can read the Bible, pray together, and challenge each other in your faith while you're looking for a church home. Harness the power of the internet or browse your local Christian bookstore to find some good study materials. You can also check out a few of the resources that Chase Oaks has to offer:
6. If you’re in North Dallas, join us!
Chase Oaks Church has a college ministry and a young professionals ministry in the Plano, Allen and Richardson areas! We have monthly and weekly activities as well as small groups, and we’d love to see you there! Find out more about our young adult ministries at www.chaseoaks.org/youngadults.
Got questions? We're here for you! Visit our Young Adults Ministry page for more info.