The Creative Salt

So you want to get young adults involved in church do you? Well, you’re doing it wrong.
If I can be as honest as I possibly can without offending anyone…

Most likely offend someone but thats not my intent. Anyways here goes…

Its not the fancy postcards, its not the fancy poster, its not the fancy name, or the fancy brochure. If people aren’t showing up to your event its because the last couple of events you have had have sucked.

People don’t care about how you market it. This generation has everyone and their mother yelling and screaming at them about this being cool, this being hip and try that, you’ll be pretty if you wear that kind of message.

Truth is they are tired. Irritated and jaded. So how the heck do you promote your ministry to them?

You don’t.

Christ does. You’re just getting in the way.

What I used to do.
When I was unsaved I used to help promote some pretty popular clubs in Hollywood. We tried everything to promote these 2 clubs when we first started them and in the end we learned that less was more. It wasn’t our awesome flyers that got them in, it wasn’t even the location (although both do help get the name out there) what kept them coming back week after week to the point of the line going down the block was simple.

We had good DJs playing great music in a venue that looked amazing, we had alcohol, and we had the right young hot people going there having an amazing time, and telling all there friends about it. Then we put up a site. The site contained nothing but a time, a location, and a section of pictures of the people who were hanging out there.

We gave it a cool obscure name that made no sense. (i.e. Club 82, Moscow)

We made it about the people, the music, and having fun, and they lined up and they paid to get in!

I know we can’t do all that in a church, because some of it is just sinful. But the reason they were flocking to the club on Friday wasn’t sinful. People are looking to belong, they are looking to fit in, they are looking for friends, and they are looking for fun.

People don’t go to church to go to a friendly church, they are going to church looking to make friends. People are lonely.
You want young adults to come to church? Well, they want to go to, they just don’t know it yet. They are STARVING for Christ, they are out there filling their minds and their bodies with anything and everything that will make them feel whole and complete. They’ll want Christ when they hear the truth, we’re just getting in the way. We better get our act together. Lets face some real issues our church most likely has that keeps this generation from participating in our church.

Christians Suck.
Your current participants are jerks. They’re rude and exclusive, which may work for an a-list Hollywood club full of the hottest celebrities, but it won’t work for a group of awkward, goofy, nerdy, and dorky Christians. They do the exclusive thing really well, they just can’t get away with it, people won’t want to be around if they are around, or if they are allowed to act like jerks.

These people need to either be dealt with, or even better, asked to leave. I’m serious. Nothing will kill your ministry more than a clique of dorky Christian snobs. It is much easier to go out to a dance club or bar alone or with one other friend and meet some new people and have a good time than it is to go to church and meet some new people and have a good time. The alcohol probably helps break the ice and make things a little easier, but no excuses. Insecurities or just plain being stuck up, it doesn’t matter, you cannot have cliques ruling the ministry time.

Christians are self absorbed.
Similarly as above, but take a look in the mirror. If the young adults aren’t showing up it might be because its not about them, its about you, or its about your church. Make it about them. What they are seeking, what they want to do, what they are into.

Remember you can’t be everything to everyone, but there are ways to get more people involved. Single out those certain people, you know the ones that are real, the ones that are natural leaders, the ones with real character, regardless of how “Christian” they are. Become real friends with them and invest in them, allow them to have say about how to run events, about what kind of events to have. About how to have fun, real fun, and for the love of God listen and take them seriously, they most likely know more than you do.

Be about them. From website to function. You have a website, great, make one specifically for this age group and plaster it with pictures about them, let them blog on it, let them add to it, let them put there stamp on it. In a world, and in a Church that tries to silence this generation give them a voice. Stop talking, stop preaching, stop telling them how to live life…

SHUT UP.

And

LISTEN.

Listen to their hearts, their issues, their dreams, their passions, their lusts, their problems, their sins, EVERYTHING! Just listen, and try and be a guide, not a know it all.

For once, give them a voice.

Then LOVE. Really love them.

It doesn’t hurt to ad some culture, some art, some music, some good coffee, and a clean comfortable place to chill.

Start small. Let the Holy Spirit bring them. Just be authentic.
Have an open mic. Invite local musicians to play. Have poets read. Have a DJ spin some music while people hang out. Get a pool table, and a good one, not a cheap one. Ask artists from all over the community and from other churches to show their work at an art show you throw.

What ever you do, make it about the people, not about your church.

And for the love of cleanliness buy some new couches and get rid of those old moldy and dirt hand-me-downs.

All this would be a good start.