Young Christian men and women, where do we find ya? I’m curious where you’re spending your time outside of Sunday service.
Between church and work I’m struggling with the “finding” part.
Most of the young Christians I know meet people during the week. Small groups, young adult ministries, Bible studies on campus or at work, volunteering at a food pantry.
A friend dragged me to a Thursday night young adults group at a church that wasn’t even mine, and that’s where I got to know people. If your church doesn’t have anything midweek for our age range, check the bigger churches nearby. It’ll probably be awkward the first time, and mine was. I still went back the next week.
Pick something social that meets regularly. Once people start recognizing you, actual conversation gets a lot easier than walking up to strangers.
Rec sports leagues or running clubs are good options, along with classes and bookstores. A faith-based dating app works too if you’re open to it.
Also tell a few people at church you’d like to be dating. Introductions get you outside the church-and-work loop.
Christian camps, either as guests or short-term staff. That’s where I met people who don’t go to my church at all, and there was actual time to talk with people, which I don’t get much of on Sunday mornings.
Closer to home there’s the Saturday farmers market and a low-key board game night at a cafe.
Board game night. One lost game reveals more than ten Sunday greetings.
Short-term staff beats attending as a guest, you see how people handle exhaustion.
Board game night at a cafe is underrated, and I wonder if more of us would meet people just by showing up somewhere regularly.
Telling a few people at church doesn’t automatically get you outside the loop. Most of their friends are at that church too. I tried it. Got introduced to three people who were already sitting two rows behind me every Sunday.
What worked was being picky about who I told. The guy who runs the young adult group knew everyone I already knew. My coworker’s roommate goes to a church across town and knew a different crowd. Tell the people whose circles don’t overlap with yours.
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