Some cues on why emerging adults stick in church

This year's theme at Association of Youth Ministry Educators conference was emerging adults. The descriptor emerging adults is a label applied primarily to 20 somethings who share similar discernible characteristics brought on by social and cultural changes as they seek to adapt to the world around them. The overall value of the emerging adult construct is still being evaluated.

A paper that caught my eye at the conference was titled: Factors contributing to emerging adult church-based retention  by Megan Brown, a PhD candidate at Biola University. Her qualitative study based in SC and NC cuts against the grain by offering some helpful insight into the reasons emerging adults persevere in the life of the church. These reasons include:

• Parental expectations and accountability
• Good relationships with pastor or youth pastor
• Siblings that encouraged church involvement
• Relationships with other adults, including older adults in the congregation
• Felt they "belonged", they felt like an important part of the community
• Contributed or participated in service projects or trip

Allow me to summarize:

• An ongoing parental commitment to their child's faith development.
• A church community that welcomes, values, includes and respects everyone regardless of age.
• Strong safe relationships with others and the pastoral staff.

Herein lies the challenge, these characteristics ought to inform every person's church experience. The characteristics cannot be added at middle school or high school; they must characterize all ministries from the cradle to the grave.