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IN RETROSPECT The Future For Young Adults By James F. Jennings
Conference Council on Ministries Director
Lynette Fields, who is
the director of Outreach Ministries for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in
Orlando, sent me the following message. I felt compelled to share it with you.
“Recently, about 20 young adults were called together by the [Conference Council on
Ministries] Events Ministry Team to discuss what the Florida Conference can do to support
young adults. People were asked to share a word or phrase that describes young adults.
Words like these were shared: left out, lost in the shuffle, invisible, missing broken,
want respect, looking for authenticity. If these words sound a little disconcerting, then
you know why it is important for us as a church to put our full support behind these young
people.
Don’t lose heart, though, because other words were shared too — words like
potential, service oriented, energy, passionate, unique, fun, quality and intense. The
overall enthusiasm in the room was uplifting. The young adults were grateful just to be
with others who understood.
According to the Precept study for the Florida Conference, young adults
(“Survivors” aged 15-34 in the study) represent a percentage well below the
United States average. In many of our communities the number of people who are unchurched
continues to grow, and many of these unchurched are young adults. It can be a difficult
age group to reach, but, together, we can share ways that have worked. Together we can
share the word of Christ with each young person who might feel lost in the shuffle. In the
months ahead you will hear more from this task force.”
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