Young Adult/Single Adult leaders look to future
Special speaker, Young Adult/Small Groups Pastor Scott Kramer of Glad Tidings
AG, Reading, Pennsylvania, discusses how to reach today's young adults.
By Christina Wells
At yesterday’s Young Adult/Single Adult Ministries Lunch, leaders from across the nation gathered for a time of connection, discussion and encouragement. Those in attendance included young adults, single adults, pastors and volunteer leaders, brought together by their common desire to see young adults and single adults effectively reached.
At the lunch, Dennis Franck, national director of Young Adult/Single Adult Ministries, wanted to create an atmosphere that would give way to relevant and practical discussion.
“The roundtable discussions allow leaders to choose topics relevant to them, and provide opportunities for dialogue and potential answers to challenging questions they may have,” Franck explained.
Participants were given the opportunity to discuss event ideas, teaching topics, trends among young adults and single adults, as well as other issues. Leaders gleaned a wealth of information from one another as they each shared their experiences in young adult and single adult ministry.
The lunch also served as an introduction to the first full-time Young Adult Ministries coordinator, Ryan Moore. Moore joined the national office in March 2009 to help support the Single Adult/Young Adult Ministries office in its goal to equip and encourage existing and potential young adult ministries throughout the Fellowship.
Previously, Moore served in young adult ministry in Florida and Oregon. Jordan, one of Moore’s students at Meadowbrook Church in Ocala, Florida, was deeply impacted by Moore’s ministry and believes the new Young Adult Ministries coordinator has much to share with the Assemblies of God at large.
“Ryan Moore has served in ministry as an innovator, cultivator, my teacher and pastor, and a man who has given spiritual direction to thousands of students and young adults,” Jordan shared. “Twenty-somethings who hear him quickly grasp his love for Jesus and his desire to pour love and hope into their lives. He challenges his generation to not settle for anything less than a life that is bringing glory to the name of Jesus.”
Since joining the national team, Moore has developed a Young Adult Ministries blog (www.youngadultsagblog.com) that has quickly become the office’s number one resource.
Moore says the blog was created in response to numerous e-mails requesting such a site. One of the blog’s chief benefits is the interaction it fosters between young adults and young adult leaders across the country. Moore and other members of the national leadership team frequently contribute written and video posts that address various areas of young adult ministry.
Following the meal, featured speaker Young Adult/Small Groups Pastor Scott Kramer from Glad Tidings Assembly of God in Reading, Pennsylvania, shared his heart for young adult/single adult ministry. Kramer encouraged attendees in their ministry efforts, affirmed them for their dedication and helped equip them for future endeavors.
Through interaction with fellow leaders and hearing Kramer’s message, those who attended yesterday’s lunch left with a refreshed vision for young adult/single adult ministry. For more information see, www.youngadults.ag.org and www.singles.ag.org.