The first meeting of Single Adult Ministries and Young Adult Ministries Consortium was held November 11-13, 2008, in the Global Ministries Center. The purpose of the consortium is to discuss the state of single and young adult ministries in the Church of the Nazarene while looking to find methods and strategies which will help local churches reach and keep more young adults in the church.

Rev. Rich Houseal from the GMC Research department presented alarming statistics which revealed that many Nazarene young adults are not staying in the church. Some are lost to the Church of the Nazarene as they leave home and attend a state university. Many others are lost as they move from universities to accept jobs away from family and friends. Conversations with regional leaders reveal that the loss of young adults to the church is not just a North American problem. The same trend is evident in other world regions as well. 

After a series of presentations by NYI, NMI, and Barefoot Ministries; consortium members Lance Conn, Brooke Dye, Bryce Fox, Bunny Fox, Eddie Guinn, Linda Hardin, Theron Keller, Dave Kyncl, Larry Morris, and Brie Speicher reviewed information about young adult and single adult ministries at both the local and regional levels.

The conclusion of the presentations revealed six major needs: education for church leadership and those involved in the ministries as to the needs and uniqueness of young and single adult ministries; the intergenerational connecting of single and young adults with others in the congregation; intentionality in inviting young adults into local church ministry; engaging single and young adults in ministry; educating young adults to the dangerous consequences of sexual involvement to their personal, interpersonal, and spiritual development; and making room for single and young adults in church leadership.

To achieve these goals, the consortium will develop a presence on Facebook; place resources on the Adult Ministries web site; identify and network with churches effectively ministering to single and young and single adults; and present workshops during the Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries International Convention in Orlando.

Picture Information:
Front Row:  David Kyncl, Bryce Fox, Larry Morris, Eddie Guinn, Theron Keller, and Lance Conn

Back Row:  Brooke Dye, Linda Hardin, Brie Speicher, and Bunny Fox