Transcript Reaching and Keeping Young Adults Super Saturday 2009

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To identify what is working in the top 108
churches in Kentucky that experienced
baptism growth in the 18-29 year old
category
To share those best practices with other
Kentucky Baptists
To encourage Kentucky Baptist churches to
apply transferable principles and practices to
become more effective in reaching Young
Adults in their setting
Other 12%
Special Events 18%
Intentional Outreach 22%
Worship 26%
Small Group Ministry 23%
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No 33%
Yes 67%
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80
Other 21%
Multimedia 8%
Drama/Interp 4%
Piano/Organ only 8%
Variety of musical inst. 58%
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Blended 37%
Contemporary 26%
Celebrative 20%
Traditional 14%
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Other 16%
Phone, Email, Texting 34%
Small Grps/SS Classes 30%
YA contact YA guests 19%
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Other 3%
Variety of all 33%
Life Needs Series 6%
Topical 3%
Preach through Bible Bks 12%
Expository 44%
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None 16%
Volunteer 34%
Paid Part Time 14%
Paid Full Time 30%
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Other 8%
Events 15%
YA Invite Friends 42%
Small Group Outreach 25%
Weekly Visitation 11%
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No Impact 25%
Impacts Negatively 6%
Impacts Positively 69%
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Access to facilities available throughout the
week 28%
Provide space for young adults in existing
facility 28%
Provide additional programs for them at
separate times 23%
Areas designed, furnished & dedicated just
for young adults 16%
No 20%
Series1
Yes 80%
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Young adults get involved in ministry
through their Sunday School Class or small
group 35%
Ministry leaders personally enlist young
adults for ministry 26%
An ongoing “Find your place in ministry”
class 23%
Nominating committee process of
enlistment 10%
Other 6%
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Personal participation in young adult
programs and activities 35%
Regular intentional communication with
college students 30%
Mentoring program 14%
“Adopt-a-student” ministry 11%
Other 10%
Other 10%
Spiritual Issues/Neg Influence
of Culture 29%
Dating/Prep for Marriage 19%
Peer Pressure 15%
Finances 27%
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Outreach to WKU International Students
Our annual “God’s Great Outdoors Event
Participation in small groups. Seeing Jesus in
the people around them
Preaching/Personal Application
Mid Week Worship Service for students and
intentional relational evangelism
Disciple Now Weekend
T.G.I.F. (Thank God It’s Free) Sat. give away
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Three part sermon series on “Blessed
Singleness”, “Finding the Love of Your Life”,
“Loving the Find of Your Life”
“Twenty Somethings” class
Small Group Study
Keep them involved at all times
Worship atmosphere of praise, confrontation
with truth.
Youth revival
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We give them the freedom to express their
thoughts and views
Conversation
Having a single adult ministry
Friends inviting friends to “Friend Day”
Music Events with testimonies
Telling them that they are the “church of
now” and not just the “church of the future”
Weekly Bible Preaching and Teaching
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No big event. Just consistent teaching and
equipping students.
It takes all of them. Young adults reach young
adults. Love reaches all ages. Love in Action.
One on one witnessing.
Evangelism through our Sunday School.
No one event. Weekly, relational ministry.
No one event. It was more the regular
normal ministry.
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Sunday School Class Fellowships
Single Mom’s Oil Change
Contemporary Worship Style favorite of
Young Adults
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Worship Matters: Worship style is a significant
factor in reaching Young Adults. A blended or
contemporary style with a variety of instruments
was most effective.
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Staff to Reach Them: A church can reach young
adults without a full time staff person (34% used
volunteer staff). This is great news for smaller
churches who cannot afford staff and speaks
volumes about simply having adults who are
concerned for reaching this generation.
Become Intentional about Ministry Involvement:
80% had a plan for ministry involvement. This is
a big reason young adults stay in the church.
 Snowball Effect in Outreach-Young adults reach
young adults. This is the ‘snowball effect.’ The
more you reach, the greater the possibility is of
reaching more.
 Sunday School Classes and Small Groups are
essential for Outreach, Follow-Up and Ministry
Involvement with Young Adults.
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Young Adults want to know “What does the
Bible say?” when the pastor preaches. (44%
preach expository messages)
Churches that are reaching young adults have
pastors who are personally connecting with
young adults (35%). This does not mean they
have to develop the program or ministry but
they show up at some of the activities! This is
a key component because it shows the pastor
really cares.