So, Who's a Young Adult, Anyway?

By Andy Gathman

Have you ever asked yourself who qualifies as a young adult? So have we. For the first few years, we tried to find the right age designation, but no matter how we tried to define the age limits, it always came off sounding and feeling exclusive.

In the last year or so, it's become clear that our team's passion to serve young adults doesn't come from a desire to help a particular age group, but rather to reach people experiencing the transient nature inherent in this stage of life: finishing school, starting a career, living out your faith, going to grad school, dating, questioning what you believe, breaking up, relocating, living on your own, hating your job, moving back in with your parents, getting engaged, getting married, changing careers, wondering why you got married, going back to school, having kids, not being able to have kids . . . and this is all in the first few years of living in the "real world."

In the midst of all of the turbulence and transition, we believe that Jesus offers something that doesn't change. Teaching his disciples about how to ensure survival in the midst of such circumstances, he told them a story of two general contractors who had just acquired some prime riverfront property. One of them, the not-so-smart one, built his house on top of a sandbar-which was fine when the river wasn't at flood stage. The other one, the wiser craftsman, secured his house to the bedrock.

The difference in the two builders wasn't their experiences: both were being hit by a terrible storm, with torrential rain, gale-force winds, and flash flooding. But one survived those circumstances because his house was built on something solid. The other one saw his life's work vanish in the raging flood. The "solid rock" Jesus tells us, is hearing and doing the things that he teaches: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24)

In a time of life where nothing seems certain, we want to provide "Spiritual Permanence for Transient People." We are living out this vision by creating small group environments where transient people can learn and live the teachings of Jesus. We also provide opportunities for people to connect with other young adults at events like the regular "First Friday" gathering and our recent "Beach Day." These small groups and events provide a place where authentic friendships can emerge and grow. But more than that, they are helping to build lives on the one foundation that will never crumble.

Is this the kind of community that you're interested in getting involved with? Do you consider yourself "transient" in some way? Learn more by visiting our new website, www.centralyoungadults.com. Or, if you'd like to get involved with a small group, stop by our table in the Concourse after the service. We'd love to talk to you.