The 5 Top Ways to Share your Young Adult Ministry
After working in ministry for awhile, you usually learn one truth the hard way: you can have the most amazing ministry in the world, but if it isn’t shared right, the people who need it most slip through the cracks. Here's what actually works when it comes to spreading the word, from "meh" to "absolutely essential."
The Bulletin
(Yes, Really) Look, I know what you're thinking – who reads the bulletin anymore? Well, surprisingly, quite a few people do. While it might not be your direct line to young adults, it's still worth including your ministry updates here. Why? Because Mary, the Sacristan might have a nephew who's looking for community, and guess what she reads it every Sunday. It does not take much to impress and a stock Canva graphic already surpasses most other bulletin news.
Quick note:
Great for keeping the whole church in the loop.
But let's be honest, most young adults aren't flipping through the bulletin
The platform that won't quit, Facebook isn't the coolest kid on the block anymore, but it's like that reliable friend who always shows up. Your young adults might not be scrolling their feeds 24/7, but their parents are – and sometimes that connection matters. Plus, the events feature is still surprisingly useful for organizing gatherings. The algorithm doesn’t need to be your ally here, all you need are a few people with deep friends lists. Between the variety of groups, pages, and events there are a few maneuvers to be used here.
Quick note:
Easy event planning and RSVPs.
Keeps the broader church community connected
Might need to remind people to check their notifications
Website
Think of your website as your ministry's digital front door. When someone Googles "young adult ministry near me" at 11 PM (because that's when these thoughts hit), you want them to find something current and inviting. Keeping it updated with photos and information shows stability and value. We strongly encourage young adult ministries to have their own site they can manage. It allows you to work towards a SEO (search engine ranking) that can find more elusive participants. Also, in the spiritual sense, if you have all your events and information on a website, your young adults can ditch social media without FOMO. We offer web design and logo design to make the work lighter. Check out these sites and reach out to us to get the ball rolling: cyastpete.com and cyaybor.com
Quick Notes:
The first stop for church shoppers
One place for all your essential info
Needs regular love and attention to stay fresh
This is where you can really show off your ministry's personality. Between regular posts and stories, you can give immediate information to an endless amount of people. The trick is balancing informational graphics with real moments from events. Share those candid moments from last week's service project, post Stories from your coffee meetups, or drop some Reels of your worship team being... well, themselves.
Quick Notes:
Perfect for capturing real community moments
Young adults actually hang out here
Can feel like a part-time job keeping up with content
Word of Mouth
The GOAT of Communication Here's the truth bomb – nothing beats a genuine "Hey, you should come check this out" from a friend. No amount of perfectly filtered photos or witty social posts can compete with someone saying, "This community changed my life, and I think you'd love it too." It is hard to measure in advance and you never know when that verbal yes becomes cold feet an hour before the event. When someone truly moved by the ministry starts sharing, then 10 people you never knew about come check out what God is doing.
Why it's unbeatable:
Built on trust and real relationships
Creates natural, organic growth
Takes time and intentionality to cultivate
The bottom line is don't put all your eggs in one basket. The most effective ministries weave these different approaches together. Maybe someone sees your Instagram Story, checks out your website, and then gets a personal invite to coffee from a friend. That's the sweet spot.
Remember, you're not just pushing information – you're inviting people into a community. So whether you're posting online or chatting over coffee, keep it authentic, keep it personal, and always lead with the "why" behind what you're doing. Young adults can smell inauthenticity from a mile away, but they're drawn to genuine community like moths to a flame. Communication is a wide and deep topic and of course we plan to break open more specifics in the coming weeks but hopefully this gives you some starting points.