We here at YAP have spent the last few weeks thinking about young adult ministry. In this episode, we attempt to summarize some of our major findings from previous weeks, and then go on to discuss some of the methods that were implemented in the past. How effective were these methods? Should they continue to be used? Do they need to be modified? This and more on YAP, that the young adult podcast!

Last week we discussed the value of godly mentors. They inspire, provide knowledge, encourage, support, and model Christ-like behavior. The value of mentors can hardly be disputed. A more difficult thing is creating a system for those seeking mentorship and ensuring that fellow believers are being mentored through the various stages of life. Today, Kolton Cook, a fellow young adult at GCR, joins us in our discussion and exploration of the ideal mentorship program. We hope this conversation is a blessing!

There is a reason that the Bible is full of examples of mentorship from start to finish. Sadly, many Christians are trying to live out godly lives in isolation or with little to no guidance. The best way to counteract that is through intentional and meaningful mentorship. Today, we share personal testimonies of mentors who have impacted us, we discuss what the Bible says about mentorship, and also dive into what some studies say about mentorship and youth. We pray this conversation is a blessing!

If the goal was simply to generate traffic within the church or to increase attendance at each event, it would be as simple as offering free food (on most occasions). The problem is churches don’t just want more traffic and more attendance. What they want is deeper commitment and more involvement from its members. Today we discuss the issue in detail. Should we offer more programs or less? What kind of buy-in can we offer young adults? What is the role of mentorship in all of this? Glad you are tuning in!

Our featured guest on the podcast today is Ryan Rampton, a Connections Minister at GCR. He joins us in our conversation about the untethered generation. Today, we expand on the topic by focusing on how environment can have an impact on the untethered.

There is something about being in a large crowd that can be exciting and inspirational. Often, the atmosphere at mass stadium-style events can generate a powerful, energy-filled experience that is hard to forget. That feeling of euphoria can leave people longing for more of that same feeling and atmosphere, which is why it can be so common for people to always be seeking the stadium-sized event. While these kinds of events do have benefits, a sole focus on these kinds of events can cause one to completely overlook small cohorts as an option, and thus miss out on the benefits offered by such gatherings. In today’s discussion, we discuss how we can adjust our approach in order to not just reach through stadium-style events, but to reach through small cohort settings.

Millennials have the tendency of being weary of institutions in general. This has resulted in a generation of unfettered souls who remain untethered to any religious institution. This is problematic for many churches because it further elongates the gap between traditional methods of engagement and young adult involvement in the church. It also magnifies the need for new and creative methods of engagement for young adults. In this episode, we explore how we can begin pouring into individuals and not simply taking one-size-fits-all approaches to address individuals.

In this episode, we sit down with Jessica Gore, the principal at San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. Jessica shares her journey into and through education, including her experience with Hurricane Harvey while working in Houston, the loss of her father, and what MISD is doing to continue serving and educating students in Midland during a time of lockdown and quarantine. We finish the show by discussing some pertinent questions with Jessica regarding young adult ministry and even explore the differences and similarities between how men and women view adulthood. Thank you for listening! We would love for you to join the conversation! DISCLAIMER: We did sanitize the mics!

There are a host of questions that arise when exploring what it means to minister to young adults. In this episode, we discuss one of those questions: Should we be pushing young adults to grow up faster? Or, should we simply walk alongside them at their current pace towards adulthood? Moreover, why does the rate at which individuals approach and reach healthy and mature adulthood matter? We understand this is a difficult conversation to have, but it is a necessary conversation that can be very fruitful and useful in our pursuit of becoming godlier, healthier, and more mature adults! Thank you for taking the time to listen! We hope you join the conversation!