Close relationships are built when people feel comfortable being vulnerable and authentic with one another. For a young adult ministry to build a close and supportive community, it’s beneficial for the group to reflect on the importance of vulnerability and authenticity. Additionally, create opportunities for young adults to be able to share openly and have their insights be met with respect.
Reflecting on The Importance of Vulnerability & Authenticity
It’s important for young adult ministries to consider what they desire and value in vulnerability and authenticity. Members should think about times when they’ve been vulnerable with others in the past. Why was it helpful or unhelpful? Why did you feel like you could be vulnerable with someone? When you shared your authentic self, did you feel more understood?
Discussing the answers to these questions can get everyone to think about the ways in which being vulnerable and authentic with one another can create opportunities for closeness and building up community.
Creating a Space Where Young Adults Can be Heard
In a world where many young adults feel lonely, they may turn to young adult ministry to build community. Community isn’t built overnight; it starts with creating a safe space where people feel as if they can be themselves and share openly. Young adult ministries can foster a community by giving members the opportunity to go beyond small talk and share about their lives in authentic and vulnerable ways.
Simply going around the room and asking people to share the highs and lows of their week could invite people to get to know each other more closely. This format allows everyone to speak and be heard, which may not naturally happen during informal conversations when some people may talk and share more than others. Sharing highs and lows in a large group and listening to what everyone has to say may be a starting point for people to have the opportunity to share. From there, other connections can continue to be built. For example, someone could share how they were affected by company layoffs and are looking for a job. In a small group breakout session or one-on-one moment, another member may share with that person their own experience of being laid off and offer any encouragement and support. Sharing in this way invites the opportunity for people to be heard, feel understood, and be cared for.
Keeping Respect at the Heart of Vulnerability and Authenticity
When people are sharing about their lives in authentic ways, it’s important that respect is kept at the heart of these moments. A vulnerable conversation that is rooted in respect is not one where people are forced to share private things, judged for who they are, or are the subject of gossip outside of the group setting.
In any space where young adults are invited to share about their lives, people should never feel pressured to share what they may want to keep private. While vulnerability and authenticity are the building blocks of creating closeness, it does not mean that young adults have to share their deepest secrets in order to build any sense of closeness with one another. Simply sharing about sports, hobbies, or other interests may spark a friendship and closeness that can grow into a deeper, more vulnerable relationship in time.
When people share who they are in authentic ways, it’s important that people listen to understand and not to judge or even respond. Many people simply want to be listened to and cared for. Unless they are specifically asking for advice, it’s best not to offer input on how they should handle a situation.
What is discussed in these sharing sessions should also be treated as private. Just because someone shared something in a group setting does not mean they want it shared outside of the group.
By reflecting on the importance of vulnerability and authenticity, creating a space for people to share, and keeping respect at the heart of these sharing sessions, a young adult ministry can successfully foster a close, supportive community.
