The Ever Present Need For Young Adults

Welcome to Faith Talk, I’m Rev. Jay Stuart Glover, and today we’re discussing a topic of vital importance: The Ever-Present Need for Young Adults in Our Faith Communities.

As we navigate an increasingly complex and fast-paced world, our church communities continue to live out our faith traditions, even in these challenging times. However, one of the greatest challenges we now face is the engagement of young adults. This moment in history is crucial, not only for the future of the church but also for the wellness of young people navigating along their life journey. 

Why Young Adults Matter for the Continuity of Our Faith Traditions

The church is not just an institution—it’s a living community that passes down its beliefs, values, and practices from one generation to the next. Without the involvement of young adults, this sacred continuity is at risk. Faith communities serve as spiritual homes where generations come together to grow, learn, and serve. Young adults are the vital link between the past and the future. They carry forward our traditions, while also bringing fresh perspectives and renewed vitality.

By being active in a faith community, young adults play a key role in making sure that our teachings and practices stay relevant for future generations. Their participation, whether in leadership, volunteering, or simply contributing new ideas, keeps the church alive and vibrant. Without their engagement, the church's mission may stall. The church itself won’t die—that’s not how the story ends—but if young adults step away, who will carry our traditions forward?

Preparing Future Ministry Leaders for a Changing World

We also have a moral and spiritual obligation to mentor and train young adults as future leaders in the church. The world is changing rapidly, and the church must continue to be a voice of love, justice, and moral clarity. Young adults are uniquely positioned to lead us through these changes. The need for pastors, trustees, deacons, and ministry leaders to invest in training the next generation is more urgent than ever. By nurturing their leadership potential, we ensure the church remains vibrant, relevant, and able to meet future challenges. 

Young adults bring a passion for justice, inclusivity, and authenticity—qualities essential for the church’s future. By embracing mentorship from current leaders, they are better equipped for future ministry, whether in formal leadership or simply living out their faith in daily life. The church can offer a space for young adults to be nurtured, challenged, and prepared for the responsibilities that lie ahead.

 Personal Growth and Wellness

Being part of a faith community can offer young adults a range of benefits from personal support. Access to pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, professional counselors, and mentors provides essential resources for navigating life’s uncertainties. Whether due to career pressures, changing social dynamics, or personal challenges, faith communities create spaces of stability, belonging, and a pathway toward holistic wellness.

According to the Springtide Research Institute, young adults increasingly value mentorship and authentic personal connections. More than 25% of young adults reported having mentors in their lives, and those with strong mentor relationships were found to have a greater sense of purpose and meaning. This shows that young adults thrive when they have access to guidance from trusted mentors within their community.

Faith communities can seize the opportunity to offer a network of relationships that provide young adults with the support they need to manage life’s complexities and to grow personally.

The Troubling Exodus 

Several studies, including those from Pew Research and other sources, highlight a decrease in regular church attendance, especially among Millennials and Gen Z.

Pew Research found that younger generations were already less religiously engaged before the pandemic, and COVID-19 exacerbated this trend. Pew Research also noted that during the pandemic, 43% of Millennials and younger adults either stopped attending services entirely or decreased attendance significantly and online offerings didn’t really make up for the disassociation from organized religious institutions. 

The Springtide Research Institute showed that young adults increasingly value mentorship and personal connection over traditional hierarchies. A significant number (over 25%) reported having one or fewer adult mentors in their lives, yet those who do have mentors were more likely to feel a sense of purpose and meaning.

An Invitation to the Future

Ultimately, this is an invitation to young adults to see themselves as essential contributors to the future of the faith and the betterment of the world. The church needs your energy, your ideas, and your passion—not to preserve the status quo, but to help shape a future that reflects the values of love, justice, and community. You can make a real difference by participating in service projects, outreach, and social justice initiatives that impact your community, your peers and the world in meaningful ways.

While many young adults have distanced themselves from organized religion for understandable reasons, now is the time to re-engage—not just for the continuity of the church, but for personal wellness and the good of the world we are called to serve. You can be agents of change and carry the ministry of reconciliation forward.

I’m Rev. Jay Stuart Glover, and you’ve been listening to Faith Talk. Please continue to pray for our young adults, and don’t forget that this episode is available on Spotify, Amazon, Apple, YouTube, and other podcast platforms. Please share with family and friends. 

Thank you for listening, and God bless you.