Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults

This is a blog-page created by Mark Cowling, Young Adult Missioner working in Manchester Diocese.  For more information about Mark's YAM role visit www.mark1830.blogspot.com

Our situation

As a YAM covering Bolton and Salford Archdeaconries with approximately 130 Anglican churches and over 11,000 church members I have been able to see some amazing Christians involved in some really great ministries.

However, I have come across some concerning numbers regarding the future of the Anglican church in Manchester. 

1) There's been a 70% reduction in YAs over the last 20 years attending church 

2) 1% University students go to church in 2015 vs 5% UK pop.

3) There are 11,000 Anglicans across the two archdeaconries in a population of 844,000 (1.3%)

4) Our Young Adults in church are smaller in ratio than in the communities we are based in:

•Young Adults No Kids (YANKS)  3% CofE vs 9% pop.

•Young Adults With Kids (YAWKS) 9% CofE vs 22% pop.

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults  (pictured above)Looking around at churches that were reaching young adults, it seemed  like there were 5 key things to focus on in the local church.
1) Having a Young Adult Champion contact in the local church
2) Having a Discipleship Year Trainee
3) Running Messy Church for parents with young children
4) Using football to reach young men
5) Engaging with a Mission Action Plan with a specific focus on YAs

Click the page links above to find out more about each of the pillars.

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults - Young Adult Champion

A Young Adult Champion  (YAC)

"Without vision people perish" says Proverbs 29:18 and as a church we're challenged to have very great vision inspired by the Trinity.  That's not possible unless we work as a body of parts which can bring focus and depth to a specific ministry.

Once a church has identified a champion for young adult ministry the YAM will facilitate connecting with vision.
1) Through a monthly newsletter
click here for newsletter back catalogue
2) Through one on one meetings to be a resource for the local church context and the YACs personal discipleship
click here for resources or here for the 30 steps ideas
3) Through meeting with other YACs to share experiences

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults - Discipleship Year

The Discipleship Year

The Discipleship Year has been running for three years in Bolton now and nearly 30 trainees have travelled in from all over Greater Manchester to attend the course on a Mondays.

So whether you want to take on someone you know of advertise a position through our networks, getting a young adult working in ministry in your church is often a catalyst to reaching other young adults.

See www.nwdybolton.blogspot.com for more info.

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults - Messy Church

Messy Church

Messy Church  is a way of being church for families involving fun, food, stories and craft ideal for 3-8 year old children.  

Many churches have found they have reached new people by launching this initiative.

Click HERE for more info or click HERE for your nearest Messy Church

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults - Football

Football

Football is a big part of our culture in Manchester.  We love to watch it, talk about it and play it!

Playing - it's been amazing to see how booking a local 5-a-side pitch brings young men together.  And people ask others to come and join them very easily.  Chats in the pub follow afterwards very naturally and the resources on health and well-being at www.fit4lifecourse.blogspot.com have proved very useful

For young men who are unemployed or ex-offenders being rehabilitated, Street Soccer provides a wonderful home and mentoring environment for them.  See www.streetsocceracademy.co.uk or speak to the YAM for more info.


Watching - We're so pleased to be partnering with BWFC to run a pre-match event for families called Faith Family Football.  It's a kind of Messy Church at a football stadium type event and it's ideal to promote through local primary schools.  See www.bwfcfff.blogspot.com for more info.

Five Pillars of Mission to Young Adults -Mission Action Planning

Mission Action Planning (MAP)

The Mission Action Planning Process (MAP) is a great tool for helping develop a learning culture in churches, especially useful to think through how a church gathers, grows and gives.

The YAM can help facilitate a church away day, especially where the focus in reaching YAs or just be a voice around the table.  Click here for a suggested Away Day Programme 

Click here for MAP Presentation.

Click here for MAP resources from Manchester Diocese