Your Church Needs a “Millennial Plus” Ministry - Here’s Why
Millennials haven’t left the church—they’ve outgrown outdated ministry categories, and it’s time our churches caught up.
Once upon a time, “young adult ministry” meant pizza parties and worship nights for 20-somethings who were somewhere between college and marriage. These days, however, many churches are scratching their heads about how long someone actually stays a “young adult.” Is it after they get married? Once they turn 30? When they finally splurge on a Costco membership? I ask these questions in jest, but you get the point.
We are living in a unique cultural moment in which “adulthood” feels like a far-off idea for many. And in the midst of that moment, the church should be asking: “How can we meet millennials with encouragement and care?”
It starts with paying attention to what has shifted – and creating ministry that shifts with it.
The New Face of Adulthood in the Church
For many millennials, “adulting” looks different from how we pictured growing up. Social norms have shifted significantly, and our journey into adulthood no longer mirrors the path our parents took. Many are still renting, paying off student loans, and wondering if homeownership will ever happen. And for a surprising number, singleness continues well into our 30s and 40s.
Even among those of us who are married, many fall into the “DINK” category (dual income, no kids – and no, I did not make up the term!). Others are raising children and trying to balance work, faith, and family in a world that feels more complicated than ever.
The Ministry Gap Millennials Feel, but Rarely Name
The truth is, many millennials still feel like young adults. We’re still building our careers and wondering if we’re in the right lane. We’re still looking for genuine friendships, still craving purpose, and still trying to figure out what “settled” even means. We’re hanging out with friends past midnight, brainstorming what’s next, and still trying to figure out who our people are.
What millennials need is a place to belong, not a ministry that makes us feel like we’re stuck somewhere in between.
And to be clear, I’m not talking about another singles ministry or young marrieds group. The last thing most adults want is to be sorted by relationship status.
What churches need is something broader. They need a community that reflects real life – a mix of singles, couples, and families learning together what it means to follow Jesus in this modern version of adulthood.
What Is a ‘Millennial Plus’ Ministry?
A Millennial Plus ministry is a church community designed for adults who have outgrown traditional young adult groups but still desire belonging, discipleship, and purpose beyond age-based categories.
I’ve started calling this kind of space a Millennial Plus Ministry – for those who have outgrown college or “young adult” groups but aren’t ready to fade quietly into family ministry. It’s for adults navigating careers, calling, relationships, and faith in an unpredictable world who still want to grow, serve, and belong. It’s for millennials, “plus” anyone who relates to that season of life!
5 Ways to Support “Millennial Plus” Adults at Your Church
Would your congregation benefit from this kind of ministry? The good news is that building a ministry that reaches millennials doesn’t require starting from scratch. You don’t need a new department, a fancy budget, or a trendy name like “Millennial Plus” (though I have to admit, it’s pretty clever). What you do need is intentionality – creating space that reflects real life and helps people connect around shared experiences instead of life stages.
Building this kind of ministry is much more about posture than programs. With that in mind, here are a few ways to start.
1. Rethink How You Define “Adulthood”
It is time for the church to retire narrow labels like “adult” and “young adult.” Today’s adults are navigating diverse timelines and experiences, and adulthood no longer follows one predictable path.
Rather than viewing adulthood as a checklist of milestones (think marriage, homeownership, children, etc.) see it as a season of formation. These are the years when people are still building, exploring, and discerning purpose. That could mean a 25-year-old starting a career, a 37-year-old paying off student loans, or a 40-year-old rediscovering faith after a difficult season.
When churches stop looking at certain age groups as “in-between,” a greater sense of belonging naturally follows.
This does not mean you should eliminate age-based ministry altogether. Those spaces are still vital! But it does mean considering how your church will also care for those who have aged out of the traditional categories but still need connection and community.
Action Items:
- Organize ministries by focus rather than age.
- Share stories from every season of life.
- Celebrate moments beyond marriage and family, like graduations, new jobs, baptisms, or fresh starts.
2. Build for Depth, Not Just Events
Millennials and Gen Z don’t need more things to do. They need more places to connect deeply. Many of us are tired, overcommitted, and craving something that actually matters.
You may have heard of the growing cultural phenomenon called “rotting,” a term used online to describe staying home, tuning out, and hiding from the constant pressure to perform or participate. It may sound trivial, but it points to an underlying cultural truth: people are exhausted by busyness that lacks meaning. They are tired of shallow versions of community.
This means your church must move beyond the endless calendar of movie nights and socials and create spaces where people can talk about real life. Host small gatherings centered on honest conversations like calling, burnout, loneliness, purpose, mental health, spiritual formation, or faith in the workplace.
Sprinkle in the fun stuff – it’s still important! But offer depth, too! It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be real.
Action Items:
- Offer spaces for honest conversation and spiritual depth, not just social connection.
- Train leaders to facilitate vulnerable, grounded discussions.
- Balance fun events with opportunities for discipleship and reflection.
- Remember: the goal isn’t just entertainment. It is formation!
3. Fit Ministry Into Real Life
Speaking of busyness, millennials are balancing a lot – careers, relationships, health, faith, etc. Many are already managing a schedule that leaves little room for another commitment, even one labeled as “community.” The church can meet this generation where they are by offering rhythms that feel realistic rather than overwhelming.
This might mean hosting something once a month instead of every week. It could look like a Sunday night dinner, a quarterly retreat, or even a coworking day at a local coffee shop where people can bring their laptops and post up at one big table. Some churches have found success with pop-up coffee meetups or hybrid Bible studies that people can join from home or during a lunch break.
Whatever ministry touchpoints you choose, remember not to be discouraged if people show up inconsistently. In the chaos of our busy world, presence looks different than it used to. Someone attending once a month may still feel deeply connected if the space you create is meaningful and grace-filled. The most effective ministries are the ones that understand how real life works and make room for people to show up as they are.
Action Items:
- Design rhythms that fit real schedules, such as monthly dinners, coworking days, or hybrid studies.
- Focus on consistency and connection rather than attendance numbers.
- Communicate that showing up occasionally still matters.
- Make your gatherings feel like rest, not another to-do list item.
4. Empower Millennial Leaders
One of the best ways to include millennials (and truly minister to them) is to give them real responsibility and real opportunity to serve. The millennial generation is full of capable, creative, and thoughtful leaders who want their faith to make a difference!
Invite millennials to teach, lead small groups, organize service projects, and help shape the vision of your ministry. Don’t just use them to fill volunteer slots, either. Invest in their spiritual growth! When people are trusted with responsibility, they begin to see their everyday skills and passions as part of their discipleship.
The millennial generation will be taking the ministry baton soon. It’s time to start training and empowering them!
Action Items:
- Personally invite millennials into leadership and ownership.
- Pair leadership opportunities with mentoring or coaching.
- Encourage creativity, even when it challenges tradition.
- Publicly celebrate those who lead with humility and consistency.
5. Celebrate Every Story
Churches are great at celebrating weddings and babies, but we sometimes forget the other milestones that shape adulthood: paying off debt, graduating from school, getting sober, starting therapy, launching a business, or choosing to rest after burnout.
When we expand what we celebrate, we remind people that their lives, exactly as they are, are worth honoring. Celebration communicates value. It tells the single mom who finished her degree, the man who completed his recovery program, or the couple who made it through a hard year that God is at work in their story, too.
Action Items:
- Incorporate diverse stories into your church’s teaching, announcements, and testimonies.
- Highlight life milestones in services or community newsletters.
- Encourage small groups to mark personal wins through prayer, notes, or shared meals.
- Create rhythms of gratitude and recognition that honor God’s ongoing work in people’s lives.
The Future of Ministry Is Wider Than Age Groups
There’s something extraordinary about the diversity within the Body of Christ – twenty-somethings dreaming big, forty-somethings finding balance, grandparents offering wisdom, and everyone learning from each other along the way.
When the church embraces that mix, it becomes more vibrant, more compassionate, and more reflective of the Kingdom of God.
Take time this week to pray for the millennials “plus” in your church. Ask God to show you how to serve, support, and encourage them in this season of life. Perhaps it’s by implementing some of the action steps in this article. Whatever it looks like, know that your investment in this generation matters deeply – to them and to the future of your church!
And while this kind of ministry begins with people, it’s strengthened by organization. Tools like Tithely’s Church Management Software make it easier to stay connected with members, organize small groups, track engagement, and support meaningful discipleship so your team can focus on serving every generation well.
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Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
Once upon a time, “young adult ministry” meant pizza parties and worship nights for 20-somethings who were somewhere between college and marriage. These days, however, many churches are scratching their heads about how long someone actually stays a “young adult.” Is it after they get married? Once they turn 30? When they finally splurge on a Costco membership? I ask these questions in jest, but you get the point.
We are living in a unique cultural moment in which “adulthood” feels like a far-off idea for many. And in the midst of that moment, the church should be asking: “How can we meet millennials with encouragement and care?”
It starts with paying attention to what has shifted – and creating ministry that shifts with it.
The New Face of Adulthood in the Church
For many millennials, “adulting” looks different from how we pictured growing up. Social norms have shifted significantly, and our journey into adulthood no longer mirrors the path our parents took. Many are still renting, paying off student loans, and wondering if homeownership will ever happen. And for a surprising number, singleness continues well into our 30s and 40s.
Even among those of us who are married, many fall into the “DINK” category (dual income, no kids – and no, I did not make up the term!). Others are raising children and trying to balance work, faith, and family in a world that feels more complicated than ever.
The Ministry Gap Millennials Feel, but Rarely Name
The truth is, many millennials still feel like young adults. We’re still building our careers and wondering if we’re in the right lane. We’re still looking for genuine friendships, still craving purpose, and still trying to figure out what “settled” even means. We’re hanging out with friends past midnight, brainstorming what’s next, and still trying to figure out who our people are.
What millennials need is a place to belong, not a ministry that makes us feel like we’re stuck somewhere in between.
And to be clear, I’m not talking about another singles ministry or young marrieds group. The last thing most adults want is to be sorted by relationship status.
What churches need is something broader. They need a community that reflects real life – a mix of singles, couples, and families learning together what it means to follow Jesus in this modern version of adulthood.
What Is a ‘Millennial Plus’ Ministry?
A Millennial Plus ministry is a church community designed for adults who have outgrown traditional young adult groups but still desire belonging, discipleship, and purpose beyond age-based categories.
I’ve started calling this kind of space a Millennial Plus Ministry – for those who have outgrown college or “young adult” groups but aren’t ready to fade quietly into family ministry. It’s for adults navigating careers, calling, relationships, and faith in an unpredictable world who still want to grow, serve, and belong. It’s for millennials, “plus” anyone who relates to that season of life!
5 Ways to Support “Millennial Plus” Adults at Your Church
Would your congregation benefit from this kind of ministry? The good news is that building a ministry that reaches millennials doesn’t require starting from scratch. You don’t need a new department, a fancy budget, or a trendy name like “Millennial Plus” (though I have to admit, it’s pretty clever). What you do need is intentionality – creating space that reflects real life and helps people connect around shared experiences instead of life stages.
Building this kind of ministry is much more about posture than programs. With that in mind, here are a few ways to start.
1. Rethink How You Define “Adulthood”
It is time for the church to retire narrow labels like “adult” and “young adult.” Today’s adults are navigating diverse timelines and experiences, and adulthood no longer follows one predictable path.
Rather than viewing adulthood as a checklist of milestones (think marriage, homeownership, children, etc.) see it as a season of formation. These are the years when people are still building, exploring, and discerning purpose. That could mean a 25-year-old starting a career, a 37-year-old paying off student loans, or a 40-year-old rediscovering faith after a difficult season.
When churches stop looking at certain age groups as “in-between,” a greater sense of belonging naturally follows.
This does not mean you should eliminate age-based ministry altogether. Those spaces are still vital! But it does mean considering how your church will also care for those who have aged out of the traditional categories but still need connection and community.
Action Items:
- Organize ministries by focus rather than age.
- Share stories from every season of life.
- Celebrate moments beyond marriage and family, like graduations, new jobs, baptisms, or fresh starts.
2. Build for Depth, Not Just Events
Millennials and Gen Z don’t need more things to do. They need more places to connect deeply. Many of us are tired, overcommitted, and craving something that actually matters.
You may have heard of the growing cultural phenomenon called “rotting,” a term used online to describe staying home, tuning out, and hiding from the constant pressure to perform or participate. It may sound trivial, but it points to an underlying cultural truth: people are exhausted by busyness that lacks meaning. They are tired of shallow versions of community.
This means your church must move beyond the endless calendar of movie nights and socials and create spaces where people can talk about real life. Host small gatherings centered on honest conversations like calling, burnout, loneliness, purpose, mental health, spiritual formation, or faith in the workplace.
Sprinkle in the fun stuff – it’s still important! But offer depth, too! It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be real.
Action Items:
- Offer spaces for honest conversation and spiritual depth, not just social connection.
- Train leaders to facilitate vulnerable, grounded discussions.
- Balance fun events with opportunities for discipleship and reflection.
- Remember: the goal isn’t just entertainment. It is formation!
3. Fit Ministry Into Real Life
Speaking of busyness, millennials are balancing a lot – careers, relationships, health, faith, etc. Many are already managing a schedule that leaves little room for another commitment, even one labeled as “community.” The church can meet this generation where they are by offering rhythms that feel realistic rather than overwhelming.
This might mean hosting something once a month instead of every week. It could look like a Sunday night dinner, a quarterly retreat, or even a coworking day at a local coffee shop where people can bring their laptops and post up at one big table. Some churches have found success with pop-up coffee meetups or hybrid Bible studies that people can join from home or during a lunch break.
Whatever ministry touchpoints you choose, remember not to be discouraged if people show up inconsistently. In the chaos of our busy world, presence looks different than it used to. Someone attending once a month may still feel deeply connected if the space you create is meaningful and grace-filled. The most effective ministries are the ones that understand how real life works and make room for people to show up as they are.
Action Items:
- Design rhythms that fit real schedules, such as monthly dinners, coworking days, or hybrid studies.
- Focus on consistency and connection rather than attendance numbers.
- Communicate that showing up occasionally still matters.
- Make your gatherings feel like rest, not another to-do list item.
4. Empower Millennial Leaders
One of the best ways to include millennials (and truly minister to them) is to give them real responsibility and real opportunity to serve. The millennial generation is full of capable, creative, and thoughtful leaders who want their faith to make a difference!
Invite millennials to teach, lead small groups, organize service projects, and help shape the vision of your ministry. Don’t just use them to fill volunteer slots, either. Invest in their spiritual growth! When people are trusted with responsibility, they begin to see their everyday skills and passions as part of their discipleship.
The millennial generation will be taking the ministry baton soon. It’s time to start training and empowering them!
Action Items:
- Personally invite millennials into leadership and ownership.
- Pair leadership opportunities with mentoring or coaching.
- Encourage creativity, even when it challenges tradition.
- Publicly celebrate those who lead with humility and consistency.
5. Celebrate Every Story
Churches are great at celebrating weddings and babies, but we sometimes forget the other milestones that shape adulthood: paying off debt, graduating from school, getting sober, starting therapy, launching a business, or choosing to rest after burnout.
When we expand what we celebrate, we remind people that their lives, exactly as they are, are worth honoring. Celebration communicates value. It tells the single mom who finished her degree, the man who completed his recovery program, or the couple who made it through a hard year that God is at work in their story, too.
Action Items:
- Incorporate diverse stories into your church’s teaching, announcements, and testimonies.
- Highlight life milestones in services or community newsletters.
- Encourage small groups to mark personal wins through prayer, notes, or shared meals.
- Create rhythms of gratitude and recognition that honor God’s ongoing work in people’s lives.
The Future of Ministry Is Wider Than Age Groups
There’s something extraordinary about the diversity within the Body of Christ – twenty-somethings dreaming big, forty-somethings finding balance, grandparents offering wisdom, and everyone learning from each other along the way.
When the church embraces that mix, it becomes more vibrant, more compassionate, and more reflective of the Kingdom of God.
Take time this week to pray for the millennials “plus” in your church. Ask God to show you how to serve, support, and encourage them in this season of life. Perhaps it’s by implementing some of the action steps in this article. Whatever it looks like, know that your investment in this generation matters deeply – to them and to the future of your church!
And while this kind of ministry begins with people, it’s strengthened by organization. Tools like Tithely’s Church Management Software make it easier to stay connected with members, organize small groups, track engagement, and support meaningful discipleship so your team can focus on serving every generation well.
podcast transcript
Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
Once upon a time, “young adult ministry” meant pizza parties and worship nights for 20-somethings who were somewhere between college and marriage. These days, however, many churches are scratching their heads about how long someone actually stays a “young adult.” Is it after they get married? Once they turn 30? When they finally splurge on a Costco membership? I ask these questions in jest, but you get the point.
We are living in a unique cultural moment in which “adulthood” feels like a far-off idea for many. And in the midst of that moment, the church should be asking: “How can we meet millennials with encouragement and care?”
It starts with paying attention to what has shifted – and creating ministry that shifts with it.
The New Face of Adulthood in the Church
For many millennials, “adulting” looks different from how we pictured growing up. Social norms have shifted significantly, and our journey into adulthood no longer mirrors the path our parents took. Many are still renting, paying off student loans, and wondering if homeownership will ever happen. And for a surprising number, singleness continues well into our 30s and 40s.
Even among those of us who are married, many fall into the “DINK” category (dual income, no kids – and no, I did not make up the term!). Others are raising children and trying to balance work, faith, and family in a world that feels more complicated than ever.
The Ministry Gap Millennials Feel, but Rarely Name
The truth is, many millennials still feel like young adults. We’re still building our careers and wondering if we’re in the right lane. We’re still looking for genuine friendships, still craving purpose, and still trying to figure out what “settled” even means. We’re hanging out with friends past midnight, brainstorming what’s next, and still trying to figure out who our people are.
What millennials need is a place to belong, not a ministry that makes us feel like we’re stuck somewhere in between.
And to be clear, I’m not talking about another singles ministry or young marrieds group. The last thing most adults want is to be sorted by relationship status.
What churches need is something broader. They need a community that reflects real life – a mix of singles, couples, and families learning together what it means to follow Jesus in this modern version of adulthood.
What Is a ‘Millennial Plus’ Ministry?
A Millennial Plus ministry is a church community designed for adults who have outgrown traditional young adult groups but still desire belonging, discipleship, and purpose beyond age-based categories.
I’ve started calling this kind of space a Millennial Plus Ministry – for those who have outgrown college or “young adult” groups but aren’t ready to fade quietly into family ministry. It’s for adults navigating careers, calling, relationships, and faith in an unpredictable world who still want to grow, serve, and belong. It’s for millennials, “plus” anyone who relates to that season of life!
5 Ways to Support “Millennial Plus” Adults at Your Church
Would your congregation benefit from this kind of ministry? The good news is that building a ministry that reaches millennials doesn’t require starting from scratch. You don’t need a new department, a fancy budget, or a trendy name like “Millennial Plus” (though I have to admit, it’s pretty clever). What you do need is intentionality – creating space that reflects real life and helps people connect around shared experiences instead of life stages.
Building this kind of ministry is much more about posture than programs. With that in mind, here are a few ways to start.
1. Rethink How You Define “Adulthood”
It is time for the church to retire narrow labels like “adult” and “young adult.” Today’s adults are navigating diverse timelines and experiences, and adulthood no longer follows one predictable path.
Rather than viewing adulthood as a checklist of milestones (think marriage, homeownership, children, etc.) see it as a season of formation. These are the years when people are still building, exploring, and discerning purpose. That could mean a 25-year-old starting a career, a 37-year-old paying off student loans, or a 40-year-old rediscovering faith after a difficult season.
When churches stop looking at certain age groups as “in-between,” a greater sense of belonging naturally follows.
This does not mean you should eliminate age-based ministry altogether. Those spaces are still vital! But it does mean considering how your church will also care for those who have aged out of the traditional categories but still need connection and community.
Action Items:
- Organize ministries by focus rather than age.
- Share stories from every season of life.
- Celebrate moments beyond marriage and family, like graduations, new jobs, baptisms, or fresh starts.
2. Build for Depth, Not Just Events
Millennials and Gen Z don’t need more things to do. They need more places to connect deeply. Many of us are tired, overcommitted, and craving something that actually matters.
You may have heard of the growing cultural phenomenon called “rotting,” a term used online to describe staying home, tuning out, and hiding from the constant pressure to perform or participate. It may sound trivial, but it points to an underlying cultural truth: people are exhausted by busyness that lacks meaning. They are tired of shallow versions of community.
This means your church must move beyond the endless calendar of movie nights and socials and create spaces where people can talk about real life. Host small gatherings centered on honest conversations like calling, burnout, loneliness, purpose, mental health, spiritual formation, or faith in the workplace.
Sprinkle in the fun stuff – it’s still important! But offer depth, too! It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be real.
Action Items:
- Offer spaces for honest conversation and spiritual depth, not just social connection.
- Train leaders to facilitate vulnerable, grounded discussions.
- Balance fun events with opportunities for discipleship and reflection.
- Remember: the goal isn’t just entertainment. It is formation!
3. Fit Ministry Into Real Life
Speaking of busyness, millennials are balancing a lot – careers, relationships, health, faith, etc. Many are already managing a schedule that leaves little room for another commitment, even one labeled as “community.” The church can meet this generation where they are by offering rhythms that feel realistic rather than overwhelming.
This might mean hosting something once a month instead of every week. It could look like a Sunday night dinner, a quarterly retreat, or even a coworking day at a local coffee shop where people can bring their laptops and post up at one big table. Some churches have found success with pop-up coffee meetups or hybrid Bible studies that people can join from home or during a lunch break.
Whatever ministry touchpoints you choose, remember not to be discouraged if people show up inconsistently. In the chaos of our busy world, presence looks different than it used to. Someone attending once a month may still feel deeply connected if the space you create is meaningful and grace-filled. The most effective ministries are the ones that understand how real life works and make room for people to show up as they are.
Action Items:
- Design rhythms that fit real schedules, such as monthly dinners, coworking days, or hybrid studies.
- Focus on consistency and connection rather than attendance numbers.
- Communicate that showing up occasionally still matters.
- Make your gatherings feel like rest, not another to-do list item.
4. Empower Millennial Leaders
One of the best ways to include millennials (and truly minister to them) is to give them real responsibility and real opportunity to serve. The millennial generation is full of capable, creative, and thoughtful leaders who want their faith to make a difference!
Invite millennials to teach, lead small groups, organize service projects, and help shape the vision of your ministry. Don’t just use them to fill volunteer slots, either. Invest in their spiritual growth! When people are trusted with responsibility, they begin to see their everyday skills and passions as part of their discipleship.
The millennial generation will be taking the ministry baton soon. It’s time to start training and empowering them!
Action Items:
- Personally invite millennials into leadership and ownership.
- Pair leadership opportunities with mentoring or coaching.
- Encourage creativity, even when it challenges tradition.
- Publicly celebrate those who lead with humility and consistency.
5. Celebrate Every Story
Churches are great at celebrating weddings and babies, but we sometimes forget the other milestones that shape adulthood: paying off debt, graduating from school, getting sober, starting therapy, launching a business, or choosing to rest after burnout.
When we expand what we celebrate, we remind people that their lives, exactly as they are, are worth honoring. Celebration communicates value. It tells the single mom who finished her degree, the man who completed his recovery program, or the couple who made it through a hard year that God is at work in their story, too.
Action Items:
- Incorporate diverse stories into your church’s teaching, announcements, and testimonies.
- Highlight life milestones in services or community newsletters.
- Encourage small groups to mark personal wins through prayer, notes, or shared meals.
- Create rhythms of gratitude and recognition that honor God’s ongoing work in people’s lives.
The Future of Ministry Is Wider Than Age Groups
There’s something extraordinary about the diversity within the Body of Christ – twenty-somethings dreaming big, forty-somethings finding balance, grandparents offering wisdom, and everyone learning from each other along the way.
When the church embraces that mix, it becomes more vibrant, more compassionate, and more reflective of the Kingdom of God.
Take time this week to pray for the millennials “plus” in your church. Ask God to show you how to serve, support, and encourage them in this season of life. Perhaps it’s by implementing some of the action steps in this article. Whatever it looks like, know that your investment in this generation matters deeply – to them and to the future of your church!
And while this kind of ministry begins with people, it’s strengthened by organization. Tools like Tithely’s Church Management Software make it easier to stay connected with members, organize small groups, track engagement, and support meaningful discipleship so your team can focus on serving every generation well.
VIDEO transcript
Once upon a time, “young adult ministry” meant pizza parties and worship nights for 20-somethings who were somewhere between college and marriage. These days, however, many churches are scratching their heads about how long someone actually stays a “young adult.” Is it after they get married? Once they turn 30? When they finally splurge on a Costco membership? I ask these questions in jest, but you get the point.
We are living in a unique cultural moment in which “adulthood” feels like a far-off idea for many. And in the midst of that moment, the church should be asking: “How can we meet millennials with encouragement and care?”
It starts with paying attention to what has shifted – and creating ministry that shifts with it.
The New Face of Adulthood in the Church
For many millennials, “adulting” looks different from how we pictured growing up. Social norms have shifted significantly, and our journey into adulthood no longer mirrors the path our parents took. Many are still renting, paying off student loans, and wondering if homeownership will ever happen. And for a surprising number, singleness continues well into our 30s and 40s.
Even among those of us who are married, many fall into the “DINK” category (dual income, no kids – and no, I did not make up the term!). Others are raising children and trying to balance work, faith, and family in a world that feels more complicated than ever.
The Ministry Gap Millennials Feel, but Rarely Name
The truth is, many millennials still feel like young adults. We’re still building our careers and wondering if we’re in the right lane. We’re still looking for genuine friendships, still craving purpose, and still trying to figure out what “settled” even means. We’re hanging out with friends past midnight, brainstorming what’s next, and still trying to figure out who our people are.
What millennials need is a place to belong, not a ministry that makes us feel like we’re stuck somewhere in between.
And to be clear, I’m not talking about another singles ministry or young marrieds group. The last thing most adults want is to be sorted by relationship status.
What churches need is something broader. They need a community that reflects real life – a mix of singles, couples, and families learning together what it means to follow Jesus in this modern version of adulthood.
What Is a ‘Millennial Plus’ Ministry?
A Millennial Plus ministry is a church community designed for adults who have outgrown traditional young adult groups but still desire belonging, discipleship, and purpose beyond age-based categories.
I’ve started calling this kind of space a Millennial Plus Ministry – for those who have outgrown college or “young adult” groups but aren’t ready to fade quietly into family ministry. It’s for adults navigating careers, calling, relationships, and faith in an unpredictable world who still want to grow, serve, and belong. It’s for millennials, “plus” anyone who relates to that season of life!
5 Ways to Support “Millennial Plus” Adults at Your Church
Would your congregation benefit from this kind of ministry? The good news is that building a ministry that reaches millennials doesn’t require starting from scratch. You don’t need a new department, a fancy budget, or a trendy name like “Millennial Plus” (though I have to admit, it’s pretty clever). What you do need is intentionality – creating space that reflects real life and helps people connect around shared experiences instead of life stages.
Building this kind of ministry is much more about posture than programs. With that in mind, here are a few ways to start.
1. Rethink How You Define “Adulthood”
It is time for the church to retire narrow labels like “adult” and “young adult.” Today’s adults are navigating diverse timelines and experiences, and adulthood no longer follows one predictable path.
Rather than viewing adulthood as a checklist of milestones (think marriage, homeownership, children, etc.) see it as a season of formation. These are the years when people are still building, exploring, and discerning purpose. That could mean a 25-year-old starting a career, a 37-year-old paying off student loans, or a 40-year-old rediscovering faith after a difficult season.
When churches stop looking at certain age groups as “in-between,” a greater sense of belonging naturally follows.
This does not mean you should eliminate age-based ministry altogether. Those spaces are still vital! But it does mean considering how your church will also care for those who have aged out of the traditional categories but still need connection and community.
Action Items:
- Organize ministries by focus rather than age.
- Share stories from every season of life.
- Celebrate moments beyond marriage and family, like graduations, new jobs, baptisms, or fresh starts.
2. Build for Depth, Not Just Events
Millennials and Gen Z don’t need more things to do. They need more places to connect deeply. Many of us are tired, overcommitted, and craving something that actually matters.
You may have heard of the growing cultural phenomenon called “rotting,” a term used online to describe staying home, tuning out, and hiding from the constant pressure to perform or participate. It may sound trivial, but it points to an underlying cultural truth: people are exhausted by busyness that lacks meaning. They are tired of shallow versions of community.
This means your church must move beyond the endless calendar of movie nights and socials and create spaces where people can talk about real life. Host small gatherings centered on honest conversations like calling, burnout, loneliness, purpose, mental health, spiritual formation, or faith in the workplace.
Sprinkle in the fun stuff – it’s still important! But offer depth, too! It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be real.
Action Items:
- Offer spaces for honest conversation and spiritual depth, not just social connection.
- Train leaders to facilitate vulnerable, grounded discussions.
- Balance fun events with opportunities for discipleship and reflection.
- Remember: the goal isn’t just entertainment. It is formation!
3. Fit Ministry Into Real Life
Speaking of busyness, millennials are balancing a lot – careers, relationships, health, faith, etc. Many are already managing a schedule that leaves little room for another commitment, even one labeled as “community.” The church can meet this generation where they are by offering rhythms that feel realistic rather than overwhelming.
This might mean hosting something once a month instead of every week. It could look like a Sunday night dinner, a quarterly retreat, or even a coworking day at a local coffee shop where people can bring their laptops and post up at one big table. Some churches have found success with pop-up coffee meetups or hybrid Bible studies that people can join from home or during a lunch break.
Whatever ministry touchpoints you choose, remember not to be discouraged if people show up inconsistently. In the chaos of our busy world, presence looks different than it used to. Someone attending once a month may still feel deeply connected if the space you create is meaningful and grace-filled. The most effective ministries are the ones that understand how real life works and make room for people to show up as they are.
Action Items:
- Design rhythms that fit real schedules, such as monthly dinners, coworking days, or hybrid studies.
- Focus on consistency and connection rather than attendance numbers.
- Communicate that showing up occasionally still matters.
- Make your gatherings feel like rest, not another to-do list item.
4. Empower Millennial Leaders
One of the best ways to include millennials (and truly minister to them) is to give them real responsibility and real opportunity to serve. The millennial generation is full of capable, creative, and thoughtful leaders who want their faith to make a difference!
Invite millennials to teach, lead small groups, organize service projects, and help shape the vision of your ministry. Don’t just use them to fill volunteer slots, either. Invest in their spiritual growth! When people are trusted with responsibility, they begin to see their everyday skills and passions as part of their discipleship.
The millennial generation will be taking the ministry baton soon. It’s time to start training and empowering them!
Action Items:
- Personally invite millennials into leadership and ownership.
- Pair leadership opportunities with mentoring or coaching.
- Encourage creativity, even when it challenges tradition.
- Publicly celebrate those who lead with humility and consistency.
5. Celebrate Every Story
Churches are great at celebrating weddings and babies, but we sometimes forget the other milestones that shape adulthood: paying off debt, graduating from school, getting sober, starting therapy, launching a business, or choosing to rest after burnout.
When we expand what we celebrate, we remind people that their lives, exactly as they are, are worth honoring. Celebration communicates value. It tells the single mom who finished her degree, the man who completed his recovery program, or the couple who made it through a hard year that God is at work in their story, too.
Action Items:
- Incorporate diverse stories into your church’s teaching, announcements, and testimonies.
- Highlight life milestones in services or community newsletters.
- Encourage small groups to mark personal wins through prayer, notes, or shared meals.
- Create rhythms of gratitude and recognition that honor God’s ongoing work in people’s lives.
The Future of Ministry Is Wider Than Age Groups
There’s something extraordinary about the diversity within the Body of Christ – twenty-somethings dreaming big, forty-somethings finding balance, grandparents offering wisdom, and everyone learning from each other along the way.
When the church embraces that mix, it becomes more vibrant, more compassionate, and more reflective of the Kingdom of God.
Take time this week to pray for the millennials “plus” in your church. Ask God to show you how to serve, support, and encourage them in this season of life. Perhaps it’s by implementing some of the action steps in this article. Whatever it looks like, know that your investment in this generation matters deeply – to them and to the future of your church!
And while this kind of ministry begins with people, it’s strengthened by organization. Tools like Tithely’s Church Management Software make it easier to stay connected with members, organize small groups, track engagement, and support meaningful discipleship so your team can focus on serving every generation well.
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Susanna is a theological content writer with a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. She is passionate about ministry, running, and exploring new cultures through international travel. In her free time, you’ll find her surfing, obsessing over the Olympics, or enjoying the San Diego sunshine!
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