Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. Before you begin a young adult ministry at your parish, ask yourself: What amount of time can I sustainably offer to this ministry? If you’re not honest with yourself, you risk becoming burned out and unmotivated — which will inhibit your ministry too! Set realistic goals for yourself and your outreach. Don’t plan to tackle more than you can handle. And be sure to ask for help. Reach out to other young adult ministries in your area to ask about what it was like for them getting started and to see if your goals are realistic. Recruit young adults to help you organize. You will be surprised how many young adults are just waiting to be asked for their input.
If you’re just getting started, simply planning meals or a happy hour together will achieve a fundamental goal of young adult ministry — building relationships.