The summer months can bring together a mixed group of young adults at your church. Some are home after being away at college, while others never left the area. This can make for some awkward situations that can be overcome with personal invitations and flexibility.
College-age adults today often look for less programming and more authentic, casual, organic connections. Let them coordinate the events and invite others to attend. Keep it simple and avoid overplanning. Consider offering meetups and activities outside of the church walls—such as at homes, parks and coffee shops (however, skip the chains and look for specialty coffee shops that practice fair trade).
“You can’t manufacture connection,” says Quint Firestone, worship director at SUMMIT Church in Estes Park, Colorado. “Be flexible as you create space for Gen Z to connect with one another.”
Here are a few ways to do that.
1. Make Intentional Invitations.
Include young adults in your larger church planning. Whether it’s to participate, connect or serve, find ways to seek them out this summer.
Start by listing upcoming activities on your church’s website, posting them in social media groups, and texting them to groups and individuals.
Personal invitations make a big difference to Gen Z, even more so than the rest of your church’s congregation. Consider asking them to join a meetup or two throughout the summer or to serve at VBS or summer camp.
2. Consider Practical Meetups.
There’s no need to create new things and new activities. Just go where Gen Z already are, enter in and encourage them to include others. If you do want to create meetups, here are some possibilities:
• Host a worship night at the church. Be sure you have an up-to-date playlist.
• Offer a throwback event. An epic annual youth group event such as a giant Nerf gun fight or color war could be a fun way for young adults to reconnect.
• Go on a camping trip. Keep it low-key and let the young people handle the arrangements.
• Host a game night. Have a variety of board games and provide the snacks.
3. Develop Relationships.
The young adults at your church may have attended the youth group, might be new to the area, or could be visiting their parents for the summer. Each individual might participate differently, fully or sporadically, so you could invite an adult small group to “adopt” a group of young adults for the summer, feed them dinner and engage in discipleship.
Instead of focusing only on those who are present during the summer months, consider also those who are away. Emma Troyer, a psychology major at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado, says, “Since I’m only there for three months out of the year, I’m less likely to make connections at my summer home church. Instead, I’d want my school-year home church to check in on me over the summer.”
