Description
The journey between youth ministry and adult discipleship in the church has been a difficult one for young adults to navigate. When youth ministry programs are siloed from the rest of the congregation, they can look deceivingly strong and amazing. But youth ministry programs often unintentionally graduate young adults who struggle to find ways to meaningfully engage in a church community that looks nothing like the youth ministry they grew up in. How can the church help prepare our young people to gracefully move from our youth programs into the adult life and ministries of a congregation and a life of faith in the world? This workshop will explore how the foundations of healthy, intentional youth ministries and creative, fun adult programs can bridge the gap to provide a smooth transition to adult discipleship in the church for young adults. We’ll consider effective strategies for youth ministry programs that engage youth in the life of the church, discuss how building adult ministries more creatively can create a sense of familiarity, warn of bad habits to avoid in youth and adult ministries, explore how congregations of all sizes can be better at equipping emerging adults to find faith communities in young adulthood, and be inspired by how we can effectively welcome young adults into God’s mission and congregational ministries.
Workshop Leader: Jenna Campbell
Jenna is the Director of Children & Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, OK. She’s a Certified Christian Educator with a Master’s in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary. Jenna is the 2023 APCE Educator of the Year.
Co-Leader: Eric Varnon
Eric is the Director of Young Adult Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Fort Worth, Texas. He is a Certified Christian Educator with a MDiv from Brite Divinity School at TCU and loves the unique challenges that come with adult educational ministry.