Date

6-17-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Education in Christian Leadership (EdD)

Chair

Zachary Williams

Keywords

youth ministry, young adults, attractional methodologies, church involvement, Social Identity Theory

Disciplines

Education

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of young adults ages 18–22 who previously participated in attractional youth ministry programs and to examine how those experiences relate to their current levels of church involvement. This study addressed a need among church and ministry leaders to better understand how attractional youth ministry approaches shape ongoing church involvement during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, a period often marked by declining church participation. By using a qualitative phenomenological design, this researcher collected data through semi-structured interviews with 15 participants recruited from churches along Colorado’s Front Range. Church involvement was defined as the frequency, depth, and nature of participation in church-related activities. The study was guided by Social Identity Theory (SIT) (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), which served as the foundational theoretical framework for examining how group belonging and identity influence continued engagement. The findings indicated that participants’ current church involvement was closely connected to experiences of relational belonging, leadership continuity, and perceived depth of spiritual formation during youth ministry. Participants described varied outcomes of church involvement, including sustained involvement, cyclical or seasonal involvement, passive drift, private faith with institutional avoidance, and active rejection. Participants also identified gaps in preparation for adult church environments, particularly in relation to intergenerational connection and opportunities for authentic engagement.

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