Why Millennials, Students and Young Adults Need the Church to Thrive

Kent Murawski

Millennials, students and young adults need the church to spiritually thrive through the transition from high school to college and young adult hood.

Worshiping - Transition 3
Mary Anne Morgan via Flickr

Over the last few posts, we’ve talked about why a large percentage of young adults are dropping out of conventional church involvement (at least for a time), and how a strong family structure with faithful church involvement makes all the difference when it comes to young adults staying actively involved in church life.

So should we be concerned about this trend toward churchlessness in the lives of college students and young adults? I think so. Especially as research shows that only two-thirds ever return and their involvement seems to be less when they do.

Furthermore, as young adults drop out of conventional church involvement, are they gathering in community to practice and live out their faith? It seems not. Though I pastor a “conventional church;” I’m all for different forms of church, be it conventional church, house church or otherwise. The issue is not whether young adults attend a conventional church or not; the issue is whether or not they are connected to Jesus and His body – the Church with a capital “C.”

What Is the Church? 
That begs the question, what is the Church and why do students need one in order to thrive in their faith?

What is the Church and why do students and young adults need one in order to thrive in their faith?
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In order to connect to His body, the Church, it helps to know what it is. Many college students and young adults turn to a plethora of influences for their spiritual nourishment – campus groups, parachurch ministries and Internet resources. These can all be good and I benefit from them myself but they can’t   be a substitute for a body of believers with whom you put down roots, commit to as you would a family, and pursue God’s mission together.

As great as they are, parachurch ministries aren’t a substitute for church involvement.
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Once a student graduates and the bubble of campus life is no longer a viable option, what then? Have they learned to relate to the body of Christ? Have they gleaned from the influence of older mentors or had the joy of relating to parents, grandparents, children, young professionals, and others in different stages of life? Please don’t misunderstand me. I think there much to be gained from campus ministries and churches working together. The church has a lot to learn from campus ministries, but in order to see young people thrive in their faith long term and see the harvest reached and retained, there must be a close connection between churches and campus ministries.

It’s worth mentioning that I have a somewhat unique perspective as I have worked in both the campus ministry world and now as a lead pastor. Serving for five years as the Executive Director of  Brothers And Sisters In Christ ,  a local church based campus ministry that equipped churches to reach and disciple college students, I learned first hand how the local church and campus ministry can compliment each other.

But we still haven’t answered the question; w hat is the Church and why do students and young adults need one to thrive in their faith? Quite honestly, I haven’t found a lot of people that have tried to define it, but here is one definition I like:

The Local Church is a community of regenerated believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord.  In obedience to scripture they organize under qualified leadership, gather regularly for preaching and worship, observe the biblical sacraments of baptism and communion, are unified by the spirit, are disciplined for holiness, scattered to fulfill the great commission and the great commandment, as missionaries to the world for God’s glory and their joy. [i]

So you see, according to this definition, there are certain Biblical requirements in order to be considered a church. That is why some ministries call themselves “parachurch” or outside the Church. They are cross-denominational ministries meant to come alongside the Church. Think of the Church as a light bulb (having to holistically think through meeting the needs of people) and parachurch ministries as a laser, focused on one aspect of Christian faith, one stage of life or one specific problem or issue. [ii]

Why the Church Gets A Bad Rap
I hear a lot of complaining about the Church. Her inadequacies are easy to see, but most people are not willing to make the Church better by bringing what they have to the table. Many would rather abandon her or look elsewhere simply because a church doesn’t have everything they want, or it’s not like the church they once attended or it’s not like the ones they glean from on the internet.

Part of this comes from embracing a consumer mentality that says, what can I get rather than what can I give? We treat church like it’s a store, and if it doesn’t have every thing we need, we go elsewhere. We are a consumer culture, so I don’t think it’s bad to meet people where they are. You may be “shopping” for a church, but at some point you need to move from a consumer to a contributor. Instead of saying, “They don’t have everything I need,” maybe you could approach it like this, “I’m going to add what I have to this body. They need some hands, so I will be the hands.” Again, I’m not against gleaning from other places. Go ahead, supplement your diet with other resources, but don’t abandon the Church because she has some inadequacies. This may be a suprise to you, but t he church was never meant to fulfill all your spiritual needs, but rather to lead you into a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Church was never meant to fulfill all of our spiritual needs…
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Let’s face it, spiritual growth is hard. There has to be initiative on your part. But we want spiritual growth without practicing spiritual disciplines.

We want spiritual growth without practicing spiritual disciplines.
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The Church Has Blindspots Too…
That’s not to say the Church is doing everything right either. She is being severely tested right now and  is struggling to find her footing. The Church seems to be having a hard time finding her true identity and her voice in the world, but in the end God will have a radiant holy bride that shines brightly for all the world to see. That’s exactly what Ephesians says,

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her 26  to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.* 27  He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. (Ephesians 5:25-27 NLT, italics mine)

Where Do I Start?
You might want to try this: stop dating the church commit to her. Maybe it’s time to put on the ring? It’s for your own health and growth. The Church is God’s bride. Stop downing her. God doesn’t like when we criticize His bride. Let the word of God guide your thinking about the Church, not the culture, other people, or the inadequacies you’ve noticed. God’s word about the Church is true,

The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God (Psalm 92:12-13 NASB).

Maybe it’s time to stop dating the church and commit?
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Next time, I will provide you with some more tools about how to thrive spiritually through the transition from high school to college and beyond. Until then, why not join the conversation or share this post with someone you think will benefit from it or your youth, college or senior pastor? Or what about your teenage son or daughter or your young adult or college student.

Join the Conversation

Do you think students and young adults need the church in order to thrive in their faith? What is your view of the Church? Is it negative or positive? Where did this view come from?

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3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out

By Kent Murawski • July 28, 2025
When was the last time you ended a summer feeling more energized than when it started? ​​Summer brings changes for many of us—minimizing our motivation to work, disrupting work routines, and altering schedules. With summertime often comes a desire to slow down, and yet, we're not always sure how to do that. This week is my last new post for a little while (though I may resend some popular posts from the 2024-2025 season). I’m pressing pause to create space and pour my energy into finishing my new book. But stay tuned—when I’m back in six weeks, the newsletter will be refreshed with some exciting updates you won’t want to miss! Read to the end to find out more. In this week's edition of Catalyst, I want to share 3 ideas to help you effectively navigate summer. 3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out 1) Stop and Think (Reflect) Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." For Socrates, life was more than pursuing the things that most men occupy themselves with, things like wealth, household affairs, status and position, and political clubs and factions. He believed that life only has value and meaning when we question what we think and know, and by more deeply understanding ourselves and others. The beginning of summer is an ideal time for reflection, and we all tend to occupy ourselves with the things Socrates talked about more than we probably care to admit. Taking a reflection day at the end of each quarter (consider removing "or trimester" for conciseness) can be an effective way to navigate seasonal changes. Finding a place far enough removed from your normal day-to-day life will help you get into a different headspace. A friend of mine often says: Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. I've used hotels, monasteries, or even a beautiful outdoor location if the weather permits. Here are a few questions you might want to ask: How am I feeling spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically? How are my closest relationships doing? Am I living out my core values? Is my life moving in a direction I feel good about? What do I need to change or adjust? Here are a few ideas for how to conduct a reflection day: Prayer, meditation, or silence Review your biggest wins and assess your goals from the previous quarter Work on high-impact projects that require focus Preview the upcoming quarter and set your Big 3 goals: personal, marriage/family, work/business 2) Cut the Non-Essentials (Reevaluate) Both my wife and I work, so when summer arrives, we need to re-evaluate our schedules to accommodate our twelve-year-old son. In the past, I've made the mistake of trying to keep the same workload despite being home with him two days a week. I ended up frustrated all summer long, living in the tension of wanting to spend more time with him while trying to carry the same workload. Summer requires me to pare down my work roles to the essentials: Writing (currently working on a new book) Executive coaching (6-8 coaching clients) Relationship building and outreach Necessary administration (keeping this to 30% or less of my responsibilities) Moving forward, I will probably keep things this way. It feels more sustainable than the unrealistic expectations I previously held myself to. Once you define your key roles and responsibilities, the question becomes how to achieve better work-life integration not work-life balance. I use the Big 3 System. Choose only three big things to focus on at one time—quarterly, weekly, and daily. That's right, just three. Those three things are usually a combination of personal, marriage/family, and work. Each quarter, I typically choose 1 personal goal, 1 marriage and family goal, and 1-3 work goals, depending on the quarter. Here are a few questions to consider. If you have a partner, discuss them together: How does your schedule change in the summer? What work-related responsibilities and expectations do you need to adjust? What are 3 things you want to do this summer? What do you NOT want to do? 3) Choose What Matters Most (Rest) Paring down expectations isn't only for work, it applies to rest, too. Because it's summer, there is the temptation to want to fit in everything (—vacation, visit family, trips, fun, etc). In the past, we would try to do so much that by the time fall rolled around, we were exhausted. Last year, out of necessity, we planned a staycation instead of going away. It was one of the best vacations we've had in a long time. And besides, summers in New England are gorgeous! We went to see a movie, ate out, went to Six Flags, had a beach day, and took days in between just to relax. We loved it so much, we're doing a staycation again this year! Write down your list of summer expectations and plans. Now, cross out everything that feels exhausting and unfun. Don't try to fit everything in this summer. Pick a couple of things that feel life-giving and focus on those. Your Move Reflect. Re-evaluate. Rest. Choose one of the three and work on it in the next 24 hours. Plan a day of reflection. Have a conversation with your spouse. Choose how you're going to rest this summer. I don't care which one it is, just take action. Here’s one question to consider: What would you stop doing this summer if no one was watching? Most people think summer is about maximizing experiences and fitting everything in, but the truth is that the most productive leaders use summer to strategically subtract, not add. They understand that rest isn't what you do after the work is done—it's what makes the work sustainable in the first place. You've got this.

Why you're exhausted before fall even arrives...

By Kent Murawski • July 23, 2025
When was the last time you ended a summer feeling more energized than when it started? ​​Summer brings changes for many of us—minimizing our motivation to work, disrupting work routines, and altering schedules. With summertime often comes a desire to slow down, and yet, we're not always sure how to do that. This week is my last new post for a little while (though I may resend some popular posts from the 2024-2025 season). I’m pressing pause to create space and pour my energy into finishing my new book. But stay tuned—when I’m back in six weeks, the newsletter will be refreshed with some exciting updates you won’t want to miss! Read to the end to find out more. In this week's edition of Catalyst, I want to share 3 ideas to help you effectively navigate summer. 3 Ways to Master Summer Without Burning Out 1) Stop and Think (Reflect) Socrates famously said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." For Socrates, life was more than pursuing the things that most men occupy themselves with, things like wealth, household affairs, status and position, and political clubs and factions. He believed that life only has value and meaning when we question what we think and know, and by more deeply understanding ourselves and others. The beginning of summer is an ideal time for reflection, and we all tend to occupy ourselves with the things Socrates talked about more than we probably care to admit. Taking a reflection day at the end of each quarter (consider removing "or trimester" for conciseness) can be an effective way to navigate seasonal changes. Finding a place far enough removed from your normal day-to-day life will help you get into a different headspace. A friend of mine often says: Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. I've used hotels, monasteries, or even a beautiful outdoor location if the weather permits. Here are a few questions you might want to ask: How am I feeling spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically? How are my closest relationships doing? Am I living out my core values? Is my life moving in a direction I feel good about? What do I need to change or adjust? Here are a few ideas for how to conduct a reflection day: Prayer, meditation, or silence Review your biggest wins and assess your goals from the previous quarter Work on high-impact projects that require focus Preview the upcoming quarter and set your Big 3 goals: personal, marriage/family, work/business 2) Cut the Non-Essentials (Reevaluate) Both my wife and I work, so when summer arrives, we need to re-evaluate our schedules to accommodate our twelve-year-old son. In the past, I've made the mistake of trying to keep the same workload despite being home with him two days a week. I ended up frustrated all summer long, living in the tension of wanting to spend more time with him while trying to carry the same workload. Summer requires me to pare down my work roles to the essentials: Writing (currently working on a new book) Executive coaching (6-8 coaching clients) Relationship building and outreach Necessary administration (keeping this to 30% or less of my responsibilities) Moving forward, I will probably keep things this way. It feels more sustainable than the unrealistic expectations I previously held myself to. Once you define your key roles and responsibilities, the question becomes how to achieve better work-life integration not work-life balance. I use the Big 3 System. Choose only three big things to focus on at one time—quarterly, weekly, and daily. That's right, just three. Those three things are usually a combination of personal, marriage/family, and work. Each quarter, I typically choose 1 personal goal, 1 marriage and family goal, and 1-3 work goals, depending on the quarter. Here are a few questions to consider. If you have a partner, discuss them together: How does your schedule change in the summer? What work-related responsibilities and expectations do you need to adjust? What are 3 things you want to do this summer? What do you NOT want to do? 3) Choose What Matters Most (Rest) Paring down expectations isn't only for work, it applies to rest, too. Because it's summer, there is the temptation to want to fit in everything (—vacation, visit family, trips, fun, etc). In the past, we would try to do so much that by the time fall rolled around, we were exhausted. Last year, out of necessity, we planned a staycation instead of going away. It was one of the best vacations we've had in a long time. And besides, summers in New England are gorgeous! We went to see a movie, ate out, went to Six Flags, had a beach day, and took days in between just to relax. We loved it so much, we're doing a staycation again this year! Write down your list of summer expectations and plans. Now, cross out everything that feels exhausting and unfun. Don't try to fit everything in this summer. Pick a couple of things that feel life-giving and focus on those. Your Move Reflect. Re-evaluate. Rest. Choose one of the three and work on it in the next 24 hours. Plan a day of reflection. Have a conversation with your spouse. Choose how you're going to rest this summer. I don't care which one it is, just take action. Here’s one question to consider: What would you stop doing this summer if no one was watching? Most people think summer is about maximizing experiences and fitting everything in, but the truth is that the most productive leaders use summer to strategically subtract, not add. They understand that rest isn't what you do after the work is done—it's what makes the work sustainable in the first place. You've got this.

Crisis Creates Clarity

By Kent Murawski • May 26, 2025
“Should I end this?” were the last words I said before collapsing to the ground in excruciating pain. The only thing I ended that day was my basketball career ⛹️! On Sunday, May 18, 2025, I ruptured my patella tendon playing basketball with my boys. We were playing a game of P.I.G., and it was […]

‘When You Hurry, You No Longer Care’: A Wake-Up Call from the Monastery

By Kent Murawski • May 16, 2025
“You’re not going to become a monk, are you?”  My wife asked me this after I excitedly returned from a week-long retreat to a Trappist monastery and my growing fascination with monastic rhythms.  The obvious answer is no, since I’m neither single nor celibate It began the previous week when my twelve-year-old son and I […]

The View from 50

By Kent Murawski • May 7, 2025
I always thought the big decisions were what shaped my life trajectory, but my 50th birthday celebration revealed something way more interesting—it’s actually the tiny, everyday choices that determine where you ultimately end up. It was the most meaningful birthday I’ve ever had.  Fair warning, this is a long one, but it will be worth […]

The Productive Power of Strategic Pauses

By Kent Murawski • March 19, 2025
Your capacity to recognize when to pause may be more valuable than knowing when to push. Lately, I haven’t had anything to write, which is a rare occurrence. Sure, I could try to pound something out or pull some unused content out of the archives (which I have tons of), but here’s what I’ve discovered: […]

How Are You? (The Success Predictor)

By Kent Murawski • March 6, 2025
How are you? Your answer to this question reveals more about your future success and well-being than any strategic plan. We often wear busyness as a badge of honor. Ask ten people how they are doing, and nine out of ten times the answer will be, “busy.” That’s not the way things ought to be. […]

The Hidden Cost of Being Too Hard On Yourself

By Kent Murawski • January 30, 2025
The weight of unrealistic self-expectations can feel crushing, especially at the start of a new year. January is not even over, and I’m already feeling overwhelmed.  It’s often said that we can be our own worst bosses or that the most challenging person to lead is the person in the mirror.  What do you do […]

The Missed Opportunity in Failed Dreams

By Kent Murawski • January 16, 2025
Failed dreams can become your greatest victories. While dreams are essential for hope and growth, unfulfilled dreams can breed disillusionment. Yet what appears to be a “failed” dream often reveals itself as an opportunity. Barbara Corcoran, the renowned Shark Tank Investor, once said, “All my best successes came on the heels of failure.” This wisdom […]

Less Is More (Why Resolutions Don’t Work)

By Kent Murawski • January 4, 2025
Did you know that 92% of people give up on their goals by January 12th? Pretty shocking, right? I used to be part of that statistic. Every year, I’d write down my goals with excitement, only to find them collecting dust by February. It was frustrating and, honestly, a bit embarrassing. But then I discovered […]