1. Connecting Points Integrating Young People into the
Body Life of the Church

6. Engage to Retain
One of the key reasons young people leave is that they neither feel wanted or needed.

7. What if We Don’t Change?
Baptismal growth from evangelism cannot keep track with loss through attrition and the church further goes backwards while continuing to count forward.
Our church grows diseased and cancerous as we turn on our own. (Already happening between the left and right…and with kids who don’t fall in line.)
We stand to lose the church in one generation.

8. Consider this…
• They (young people) have gifts that could actually help the church, and in fact, God is calling them to use those gifts in service to the church. (See 1 Cor 12:4-7)
• Their enthusiasm is vital.
• They can help us bring new relevance to our message.
• If we don’t, we are in violation of God’s calling on OUR lives, and are guilty of not being disciple-making disciples ourselves.
• And when we pass off of the scene, if we haven’t fulfilled our calling and transferred the church into trained, capable hands, we could easily lose the church in one generation

9. In talking to them…
They find that in almost all of the churches they visit, there is NO clear-cut discernible path to involvement!
They can see no door to involvement in YOUR church.
No visible door translates to “not wanted or needed” and they take their talents and gifts elsewhere-usually to employers who will pay premium money for those talents.

10. Proposed
That we seek to develop a Young Adult Liaison at each church in our conference, through the normal nominating process. This position would be for the purpose of directly addressing the concerns of the young adults in the church.

11. Their primary responsibility would be that of a connector
Their primary responsibility would be that of a connector. One who would connect Young Adults to the local church. Their responsibilities would include being on the lookout for young adults each Sabbath (or appoint someone to do so) and help create a clear discernible path to involvement in that local church.

12. They would develop friendships with each young adult and inform them personally of events, opportunities, etc. in the local church.
They would advocate for young adults, seeking to plug them into the body of Christ. They would also seek to develop ministries, perhaps even outside the realm of church time, to attract YA’s, first and foremost, to Jesus and then to help them build community within the church.

13. They would be concerned about the success of the spiritual life of the YA’s in the local church, even when said YA’s were not in consistent attendance.

14. This would be a person who wants to help “turn the tide
This would be a person who wants to help “turn the tide.” They would keep the needs of the young adults before the church and church board. (we would even suggest that your nominating committee add this position to the church board)
They would ideally be a self-starter yet would meet with the Pastor on a fairly regular basis to help develop opportunities for placing young adults in service to the local church.

15. We would conduct a Liaison Training weekend every January or February, beginning in We believe this position would be a difference maker in helping retain more of our young adults.

16. So what can YOU do now?
Dialog with your board on what a clear discernible path might look like in your church.
Identify someone who might be a connector for your church.
Identify areas of ministry that you would like to develop if you had the human resources

17. So what can YOU do now?
Identify young adults who are already involved and who could help be YA connectors in your region.

18. In Fact…while we are here
Take out your phone and send me the names and contact information of any that currently come to mind.
Send it to:
Give me: Your name and church name. Their name and cell phone and/or address and which church they attend.
I will follow up with each of them.

19. Rob and I cannot effect culture change by ourselves
Rob and I cannot effect culture change by ourselves. It will take our entire team in Georgia-Cumberland. The only thing we can do is study the issues and then develop strategies to seek to combat what we find. And then appeal to you to partner with us. We pray you will.

20. Ultimately, this is spiritual warfare, so as soon as we change tactics, the devil will use something else. But we believe the next strategic move in this battle is installing a Youth/YA Liaison in each church and teaching them how to function.

21. Liaison training will take place January 26 & 27 of 2018
Liaison training will take place January 26 & 27 of If you select them and send us names, we will begin sending them ideas and working towards a full training.