Young Adults Are Showing Up. Are We Inviting Them In?

By Rhonda J. Felder

A church can welcome someone through its doors without giving that person a place in its life. For pastors, playwrights, and ministry directors, that difference deserves attention now. In a March 9, 2026 Barna report, 45% of surveyed Protestant senior pastors said Gen Z engagement had increased in their churches; 42% said the same of Millennials. These are pastors’ perceptions, not a claim that every congregation is growing. Barna also allowed each pastor to define “engagement” in the context of their own church.

That nuance matters. A full room at a presentation can be encouraging, but it does not tell us whether a visitor found a relationship, whether a volunteer grew, or whether anyone carried the message into the following week. Creative arts can help a church open those doors when the production is designed as a ministry pathway, not an isolated event.

Start with the pastor’s vision. Name one biblical truth the audience should understand and one next step they can actually take. Then ask who needs a role in the process. A young adult may not be ready to deliver a monologue, but may contribute as a reader, assistant stage manager, musician, designer, or discussion host. Give each person a clear assignment, a mentor, and room to ask questions about the Scripture behind the work.

Write for the Saints and the Ain’ts without assuming they share the same vocabulary. A scene can show the human stakes of forgiveness, grief, or courage before a character explains a theological point. Afterward, offer a simple invitation: a conversation, a small group, a service opportunity, or a chance to help with the next project. Create an invitation with church leadership so it leads somewhere real.

For example, an illustrative church stages a short scene about a neighbor who feels unseen. Its director pairs a newer volunteer with an experienced cast member, and a host invites guests to a community meal afterward. The play communicates a biblical call to love one’s neighbor; the rehearsal develops a leader; the meal gives a visitor a natural way to connect. Those are intended outcomes, not guaranteed results.

Before your next production, check:

• Can we state the pastor-approved biblical message in one sentence?

• Have we given newer volunteers meaningful roles and a mentor?

• Will visitors understand the story without insider language?

• Is there one clear, welcoming next step after the performance?

• How will we ask cast, crew, and guests what connected—and what did not?

Drama ministry can preach the message, teach the truth, and reach the community while forming the people who make it. Schedule a Discovery Call with Manifest Inspired Performance and take the Growth Opportunities Quiz at preachteachreach.net.