- Disciple Young Adults -
Young Adult Ministry
Build an intentional young adult ministry
- Support Spiritual, Personal, and Communal Growth -
Ministry Resources for Young Adults
Young adults are in a key season of transition and spiritual growth. They are looking for authenticity, community, and a place to belong. Intentional young adult ministry helps churches connect with them, build relationships, and disciple them for the long haul.
At Table for One Ministries, we equip churches with practical tools to reach and disciple young adults (20s & 30s). Our team includes seminary professors, ministers, doctoral students, and lay leaders. We’ve served in local church ministry for decades. Even seasoned leaders need support sometimes. We’re here to help you build a clear plan and expand your reach in your community.
Want more information on singles and young adult ministry? Contact us to explore events, coaching, and small group curriculum.
- Who are Young Adults? -
Young Adults Stats
If you’re exploring young adult ministry resources or hosting a young adult conference, it helps to understand the landscape. Young adults are in the early stages of adulthood, generally ranging from the late teens through the early thirties. In the context of young adult ministry, this group is a vital—and rapidly changing—demographic in the church.
These years are often marked by major transitions: moving out, pursuing education, starting careers, navigating relationships, or embracing singleness. Because of these shifts, young adults experience a unique mix of opportunity, pressure, and spiritual searching. It’s a season of exploration and self-discovery that shapes their personal, spiritual, and career direction.
For churches, understanding young adults is essential for building an effective singles and young adult ministry. When leaders recognize the needs, challenges, and strengths of this age group, they are better equipped to disciple them, build meaningful community, and help them grow in their faith during one of the most formative seasons of life.
When churches create real community and clear next steps, young adults are far more likely to stay connected and grow.
Delayed Marriage
30 is the average age for a first marriage for men and 28 for women as of 2022. This has increased every year for the past 25 years, with a major increase since 2007.
20% Divorce ages 25-34
Young adults have the highest divorce rate of married adults, with those 25-34 experiencing a divorce rate.
Living with the Parents
From 2000 to 2023, an increase of 87% of singles in their 20s and 30s, around 7 million young adults, now live with their parents.
US Facts
Young Adults are Alone
Young adults spend 70% less time with friends than they did two decades ago.
Who are young adults? What defines a young adult? Should we call our ministry a young adult ministry?
College Age is Older
The average age of college students is now 26 years old. This average age takes into account both traditional college students who enroll immediately after high school and non-traditional students who may return to college later in life or attend part-time while working.
College Ranker 2024
Slightly over half of 18-21 are in school
Only 57% of those 18-21 in 2018 were enrolled in a college or university.
27 Years Old at Childbirth
While there was a large jump in birth rates for women in their late 30s, the decline seen in younger groups still brought the overall fertility rate down, shifting the median age at childbirth to 27.
Single Parents are Millennials
More than half of single mothers (52.9%) and more than 1 in 3 single fathers (37%) are millennials.
- Mid-1990s to Early 2010s -
Gen Z Stats
Only Half in College
52% of Gen Z ages 18-23 were enrolled in college or university.
National Center for Education Statistics. 2020
Mental Health Challenges
Mental health is a significant concern for Gen Z, with 70% of individuals aged 13-23 stating that anxiety and depression are major problems among their peers.
Pew Research Center, 2019
Social Justice and Activism
Gen Z is characterized by their strong focus on social justice and activism. 42% of Gen Z respondents identified as liberal, and 23% identified as very liberal.
Morning Consult. 2020
Environmental Concern
54% of individuals aged 18-23 stating that climate change is a major problem that requires immediate action.
Pew Research Center, 2021
Loneliness Epidemic
Widespread loneliness in the U.S. poses health risks as deadly as smoking up to 15 cigarettes daily.
Americans spent about 20 minutes a day in person with friends in 2020, down from 60 minutes daily nearly two decades earlier.
The loneliness epidemic is hitting young people, ages 15 to 24, especially hard. The age group reported a 70% drop in time spent with friends during the same period.
US Surgeon General. 2023
Highly Connected
95% of ageS 13-17 have access to a smartphone and are the most technology-native generation to date.
Pew Research Center, 2021
- Early 1980s and Mid-1990s -
Millennial Stats
1 in 10 are LGBTQ+
More than 1 in 10 millennials (11.2%) say they are LGBTQ+. Among older generations, the percentages are much smaller—3.3% of Generation X, 2.7% of baby boomers, and 1.7% of the silent generation.
Gallop Survey 2022
Experiences NOT Stuff
Millennials are more likely to prioritize experiences over material possessions. 60% of millennials would rather spend money on experiences like travel and dining out than on buying things.
2021 report by Morning Consult
Live with Parents
42% of millennials ages 18-29 lived with their parents, making it the most common living arrangement for this age group.
Pew Research Center, 2020
$871 a Week
The median weekly earnings for full-time millennial workers aged 25-34 were $871.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
More Diverse than Ever
Millennials are more racially and ethnically diverse than previous generations. 44% of millennials identified as non-Hispanic white, while 27% were Hispanic, 15% were Black, and 7% were Asian.
Pew Research Center, 2019
$1.6 Trillion Student Loans
Student loan debt is a significant financial burden for many millennials. As of the first quarter of 2021, the total outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. reached $1.6 trillion.
Federal Reserve. 2021
- Let's Connect! -
Build Your Young Adult Ministry
Contact us to learn how Table for One Ministries can equip your church with proven young adult ministry resources, coaching, and discipleship tools. Take the next step in young adult ministry.
DR. PJ DUNN
Minister, President, & Founder est.2013
Adjunct Professor NOBTS ProDoc Program
Discipleship Consultant GBMB
Author w/Lifeway Christian Resources
Local Church Ministry 15+ Years
- Our Founder -
Dr. PJ Dunn
Dr. PJ Dunn is passionate about reaching and equipping single adults through discipleship. As an advocate for singles, he travels nationally, speaking, coaching, and creating content for singles and the local church. Table for One Ministries was created in 2013 to build community for single adults through discipleship. With over 15 years of local church service, PJ now serves as a Discipleship Consultant in North Georgia with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, helping churches make disciples and reach their community. He is an adjunct professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and author with Lifeway Christian Resources.