Chris Shinkle's Notes

06 Church Case Studies

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Successful Church Case Studies

Young Adult Ministry Models from Thriving Evangelical Churches

Research Date: February 2026 Focus: Evangelical/non-denominational churches with successful young adult ministries Emphasis: Singles and young married couples (ages 18-32)

Executive Summary

This document profiles churches with thriving young adult ministries, providing concrete examples of what works in different contexts. Case studies are organized by church size, with particular attention to mid-size churches (500-2,000 members) most comparable to BRCC. Additional case study highlights focused on programming models appear in 07 Ministry Models & Programming.

Key Pattern Across Successful Churches:

  • Weekly consistency (not monthly or sporadic)
  • Integration with whole church (not separate entity)
  • Empowerment of young adult leaders
  • Authentic community over polished production
  • Clear pathways for connection and growth

LARGE CHURCH MODELS (5,000+ Members)

The Porch at Watermark Community Church (Dallas, TX)

Church Profile:

  • Non-denominational, evangelical
  • Multiple campuses in Dallas metro area
  • 10,000+ weekly attendance (whole church)
  • Founded: 1999

Young Adult Ministry:

  • Name: The Porch
  • Target: Ages 22-35, all relationship statuses (singles, dating, married)
  • Attendance: 3,500+ young adults weekly
  • When: Tuesday evenings, 7:00 PM
  • Duration: 1.5 hours (music + message)
  • Frequency: 48 weeks/year (mid-January through early December)

Format:

  • Contemporary worship music
  • 30-40 minute message addressing 20s/30s challenges
  • Topics: relationships, career, purpose, faith, identity, finances
  • Casual, welcoming atmosphere
  • Post-gathering social time

Ministry Philosophy:

  • “Call young adults to see Jesus and surrender fully to life with Him”
  • The Porch exists as “funnel INTO the church,” not separate entity
  • Young adults encouraged to serve throughout Watermark
  • Integration with church’s discipleship pathway

Digital Strategy:

  • The Porch Live streams online
  • Social media presence for connection and invitation
  • Hosts Porch gatherings in other cities (franchising model)
  • Website: theporch.live

Small Groups:

  • Connected to Watermark’s broader small group system
  • Life-stage specific groups available
  • Mix of discipleship, fellowship, and mission

Why It Works:

  • Consistency: Weekly gathering creates habit and community
  • Scale: 3,500 attendance provides critical mass and energy
  • Quality: Excellent teaching relevant to young adults
  • Integration: Not separate from church, but pathway into it
  • Leadership: Young adult staff and volunteers leading ministry

Transferable Lessons for Mid-Size Churches:

  • Weekly > monthly for building momentum
  • Thursday nights work well for young adults
  • Integration with whole church prevents “revolving door”
  • Invest in quality teaching addressing real issues
  • Use digital to extend reach beyond one location

Contact: theporch.live | Watermark Community Church, Dallas, TX

Mariners Church (Irvine, CA)

Church Profile:

  • Non-denominational, evangelical
  • Multiple campuses in Orange County
  • 15,000+ weekend attendance
  • Founded: 1963

Young Adult Ministry Evolution:

  • Previous Model: Separate monthly gatherings for different life stages
  • Current Model (launched 2024): Single weekly Thursday service
  • Result: Attendance DOUBLED to 1,000+ young adults

Format:

  • Target: College age through 30s, all relationship statuses
  • When: Thursday evenings
  • Structure: Integrated service (not separate gatherings for singles vs. marrieds)
  • Also: Sunday services available

Key Insight:

  • Moving FROM monthly separate gatherings TO weekly integrated service = 2x growth
  • Young adults prefer regular rhythm over sporadic events
  • Integration across life stages (singles + marrieds) works better than segregation

Ministry Philosophy:

  • Young adults as full participants in church, not separate demographic
  • Leadership development and service opportunities
  • Connection to broader church community

Why It Works:

  • Frequency: Weekly creates consistency and belonging
  • Integration: Singles and young marrieds together prevents revolving door
  • Quality: Church-wide resources applied to young adult ministry
  • Location: Southern California has high young adult density

Transferable Lessons:

  • Don’t over-segment by life stage (singles vs. marrieds)
  • Weekly consistency beats monthly events
  • Integration prevents isolation and builds sustainability

Contact: marinerschurch.org/young-adults

Elevation Church (Charlotte, NC)

Church Profile:

  • Non-denominational, evangelical
  • 20+ locations across multiple states
  • 17,000+ weekly attendance
  • Founded: 2006
  • Senior Pastor: Steven Furtick

Young Adult Ministry:

  • Target: Young adults (specific age range varies by campus)
  • When: Thursday nights at multiple campuses
  • Format: Worship, teaching, small group connection
  • Emphasis: Building real connections, growing faith, walking alongside each other

Ministry Focus:

  • Purpose discovery in Christ
  • Authentic community and friendships
  • Spiritual growth and discipleship
  • Service and mission involvement

Multi-Campus Strategy:

  • Young adult gatherings at multiple locations
  • Localized to each campus community
  • Shared resources and curriculum across campuses
  • Technology enables connection between campuses

Why It Works:

  • Scale: Multi-campus approach provides critical mass at each location
  • Resources: Megachurch budget enables professional execution
  • Leadership: Strong pastoral leadership and vision
  • Culture: Church-wide culture of young, energetic engagement

Transferable Lessons:

  • Thursday nights popular across multiple successful ministries
  • Multi-site strategy can work for young adult ministry
  • Purpose and calling resonate with young adults
  • Community emphasis over program emphasis

Contact: elevationchurch.org/young-adults

MID-SIZE CHURCH MODELS (500-2,000 Members) - MOST RELEVANT TO BRCC

Northview Church (Indianapolis, IN)

Church Profile:

  • Non-denominational, evangelical
  • Multiple locations throughout Indianapolis area
  • Mid-size church, exact attendance not specified
  • Geographic proximity to BRCC (same metro area)

Young Adult Ministry Initiative:

  • Embarked on “Engaging Young Adults Initiative”
  • Partnered with Center for Congregations (Indiana)
  • Received Lilly Endowment funding for young adult ministry development

Learning From Successful Models:

  • Flew Watermark Church team to Indianapolis for training and consultation
  • Sent staff to Dallas to observe The Porch in action
  • Learned from Watermark’s playbook and adapted to Northview context
  • Demonstrates value of learning from successful models rather than reinventing

Key Insight:

  • Mid-size churches don’t need to figure it out alone
  • Visiting and learning from successful ministries accelerates development
  • Investing in training and consultation pays dividends
  • Adaptation > imitation (learn principles, apply to context)

Why This Matters for BRCC:

  • Same geographic area: Indianapolis metro, similar suburban context
  • Similar church size: Mid-size evangelical church
  • Proven approach: Learned from best-in-class model (Watermark)
  • Available resource: Could potentially connect with Northview to learn from their experience

Transferable Lessons:

  • Don’t start from scratch—learn from successful models
  • Investment in training and consultation is worthwhile
  • Geographic proximity doesn’t limit learning from distant churches
  • Humility to learn accelerates ministry development

Contact: northviewchurch.us

Crossroads Christian Church (Indianapolis area)

Church Profile:

  • Christian Church (Independent)
  • Indianapolis area, multiple teaching sites
  • Mid-size evangelical church

Young Adult Ministry:

  • Provides authentic relationships and safe space for questions and growth
  • College-age gatherings on Thursday evenings
  • Group for young ladies (20s to early 30s)

Ministry Approach:

  • Emphasis on authentic relationships over polished programming
  • Safe space for questions and doubts
  • Community and belonging as primary draw
  • Life stage-specific programming (college age, young women)

Format:

  • Weekly gatherings for connection and teaching
  • Small groups for deeper community
  • Service opportunities integrated with whole church

Why It Works:

  • Authenticity: Safe space for questions attracts skeptical young adults
  • Relationships: Community over programs
  • Integration: Connected to broader church ministries
  • Simplicity: Not over-programmed, room for organic connection

Transferable Lessons:

  • Authentic community matters more than production quality
  • Safe space for questions essential for Gen Z and Millennials
  • Life stage-specific groups can coexist with integrated ministry
  • Thursday evening gatherings consistently successful

Contact: cccgo.com/youngadults

Community Life Church (Multiple Campuses)

Church Profile:

  • Multi-campus evangelical church
  • Mid-size per campus, large collectively

Young Adult Ministry Scale:

  • 1,200 students across five campuses on Wednesday nights
  • 1,500 during monthly event nights
  • Demonstrates power of multi-campus strategy

Multi-Campus Approach:

  • Weekly gatherings at each campus (Wednesday nights)
  • Monthly large events bringing all campuses together
  • Shared curriculum and resources across sites
  • Campus-specific community and leadership

Why It Works:

  • Critical Mass: 1,200-1,500 total creates energy and options
  • Local Connection: Each campus maintains community feel
  • Variety: Weekly local + monthly large events
  • Sustainability: Distributed leadership across campuses

Transferable Lessons:

  • Multi-campus strategy can achieve scale while maintaining intimacy
  • Mix of regular small gatherings + occasional large events
  • Shared resources reduce duplication of effort
  • Could BRCC partner with nearby churches for “multi-campus” young adult ministry?

Contact: Search for “Community Life Church young adults” for specific location

Elevate Life Church (Frisco, TX - North Dallas Suburbs)

Church Profile:

  • Evangelical church in Frisco, TX (suburban north Dallas)
  • Similar geographic positioning to BRCC (suburban outside major city)
  • Mid-size congregation

Young Adult Ministry Journey:

  • Ministry paused during COVID-19 pandemic (2020)
  • Restarted due to surge of young people returning to church
  • Demonstrates post-pandemic resurgence of young adult church engagement

Suburban Context Similarity to BRCC:

  • North of Dallas (BRCC is south of Indianapolis)
  • Suburban community with young professional migration
  • Family-oriented area with growing young adult population
  • Similar challenges: commute dynamics, building critical mass

Why This Matters:

  • Suburban Success: Proves young adult ministry can work in suburbs
  • Timing: Post-pandemic moment favorable for young adult ministry
  • Persistence: Restarting after pause shows commitment
  • Demand: Young adults WANT to return to church if welcoming environment exists

Transferable Lessons:

  • Suburban context CAN support young adult ministry
  • Post-pandemic represents opportunity, not just challenge
  • Young adults returning to church—timing is favorable
  • Don’t be discouraged by suburban challenges

Contact: Search for “Elevate Life Church Frisco young adults”

Ada Bible Church (Ada, MI - Grand Rapids Suburbs)

Church Profile:

  • Non-denominational, evangelical
  • Suburban Grand Rapids, Michigan
  • Multiple campuses, mid-to-large size

Singles Ministry Model:

  • Campus-based gatherings creating natural connection opportunities
  • Monthly post-service gatherings in relaxed social environment
  • Singles-specific programming within broader church

Format:

  • Post-service Sunday gatherings (convenient timing)
  • Casual, social atmosphere (not formal “singles ministry” feel)
  • Integration with church services
  • Campus-specific for local community feel

Philosophy:

  • Singles ministry as discipleship and fellowship, NOT dating network
  • Create community with peers while integrating into whole church
  • Life stage-specific while avoiding over-segmentation

Why It Works:

  • Timing: Post-service gatherings convenient and well-attended
  • Low Barrier: Already at church, easy to stay for gathering
  • Integration: Connected to Sunday worship experience
  • Social: Relaxed environment reduces awkwardness

Transferable Lessons:

  • Post-service gatherings may work better in suburbs than weeknights
  • Monthly frequency can work if tied to regular rhythm (every 1st Sunday, etc.)
  • Singles ministry can work without becoming dating service
  • Campus-based approach creates intimacy within larger church

Contact: adabible.org/singles

MINISTRY RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS

Awaken Young Adult Ministry (Indianapolis)

Organization Profile:

  • Young adult and college-age ministry
  • Partnering model with local churches
  • Based in Indianapolis metro area

Ministry Philosophy:

  • Vision: See people transformed by God, connected to church, sent into world
  • Model: Partner WITH churches rather than compete
  • Provide young adult ministry expertise and resources to churches
  • Help churches launch and sustain young adult ministries

Partnership Approach:

  • Churches don’t need to build young adult ministry alone
  • Awaken provides leadership, programming, expertise
  • Churches provide location, support, integration
  • Collaborative model shares resources and builds critical mass

Why This Matters for BRCC:

  • Local Resource: Based in Indianapolis, understanding regional context
  • Partnership Option: Could BRCC partner with Awaken rather than build solo?
  • Proven Model: Demonstrated success partnering with churches
  • Resource Efficiency: Leverage existing expertise

Potential Partnership Benefits:

  • Immediate access to young adult ministry expertise
  • Connection to broader young adult network in Indianapolis
  • Reduced startup time and learning curve
  • Shared resources with other partner churches

Questions for BRCC to Consider:

  • Would partnership model fit BRCC’s vision?
  • What would partnership look like practically?
  • Trade-offs: control vs. collaboration, customization vs. efficiency

Contact: awakenyoungadults.com

Table for One Ministries

Organization Profile:

  • Founded 2013 to build community for single adults through discipleship
  • National ministry providing resources for churches’ singles ministries
  • Annual Single-Focused Conference

Resources Provided:

  • Bible studies specifically for singles
  • Leadership training for singles ministry leaders
  • Conferences and retreats
  • Online resources and articles
  • Research and statistics on singles ministry

Ministry Philosophy:

  • Singles ministry as discipleship, fellowship, and spiritual growth
  • NOT positioning singles ministry as dating network
  • Combat loneliness and isolation among single adults
  • Integrate singles into whole church while providing targeted support

Why This Matters:

  • Expertise: Specialized knowledge in singles ministry
  • Resources: Pre-built curriculum and training materials
  • Networking: Connect with other churches doing singles ministry well
  • Avoid Pitfalls: Learn from others’ mistakes

Transferable Lessons:

  • Singles ministry requires intentional discipleship, not just social events
  • Over 1/3 of 18-34 year-olds struggle with isolation
  • Churches often unintentionally marginalize singles
  • Biblical theology of singleness essential

Contact: tfoministries.org

The Singles Network Ministries

Organization Profile:

  • Resources, support, education, and training for singles ministry leaders
  • Conferences, retreats, and workshops
  • Statistics and research on singles ministry effectiveness

Key Resources:

  • Leadership training events
  • Networking opportunities with other singles ministry leaders
  • Best practices and case studies
  • Research on singles demographics and needs

Ministry Focus:

  • Equipping churches to minister effectively to singles
  • Combat stigma and invisibility of singles in churches
  • Promote healthy, biblical view of singleness
  • Build sustainable singles ministries

Why This Matters:

  • Training: Professional development for singles ministry leaders
  • Research: Data-driven insights on what works
  • Community: Learn from and collaborate with other leaders
  • Sustainability: Best practices for long-term ministry health

Contact: thesinglesnetwork.org

COMMON SUCCESS PATTERNS ACROSS ALL CHURCHES

1. Weekly Consistency

  • Most successful ministries meet weekly, not monthly
  • Thursday evenings emerge as popular choice
  • Regular rhythm builds community and trust
  • Consistency matters more than frequency

2. Integration with Whole Church

  • Young adult ministry as pathway INTO church, not separate entity
  • Young adults encouraged to serve throughout church
  • Aligned with church’s vision and values
  • Avoids “church within a church” problem

3. Authentic Community Over Production

  • Gen Z and Millennials value authenticity over polish
  • Safe space for questions and doubts
  • Life-on-life relationships, not just programs
  • Casual, welcoming environments

4. Empowerment of Young Adults

  • Young adults in leadership from start
  • Real responsibility, not token roles
  • Leadership development as core strategy
  • “With” young adults, not just “to” them

5. Multiple Connection Points

  • Large gatherings for inspiration and critical mass
  • Small groups for depth and authenticity
  • Service opportunities for mission
  • Social events for friendship
  • Digital community for weekday connection

6. Clear Vision and Purpose

  • Articulated reason for ministry’s existence
  • Not just “something for young adults”
  • Tied to church’s overall mission
  • Communicated clearly and consistently

7. Adequate Resourcing

  • Budget allocation demonstrates priority
  • Staff (at least part-time) for coordination
  • Volunteer team for sustainable leadership
  • Physical space for gatherings

CHURCH SIZE AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY

Large Churches (5,000+)

Advantages:

  • Budget for professional execution
  • Staff dedicated to young adult ministry
  • Facilities and production quality
  • Critical mass easier to achieve

Challenges:

  • Can feel impersonal or overwhelming
  • Young adults may get lost in crowd
  • Risk of entertainment focus over discipleship
  • Integration with whole church harder at scale

Best Practices:

  • Multi-campus approach for local connection
  • Small groups within large ministry for intimacy
  • High-quality teaching and worship
  • Clear pathways for connection despite size

Mid-Size Churches (500-2,000) - BRCC’s SIZE

Advantages:

  • Right size for personal connection and critical mass
  • Resources available without overwhelming scale
  • Young adults can make real impact on church
  • Integration with whole church more natural

Challenges:

  • Limited budget compared to megachurches
  • May struggle to reach critical mass (30-50 core)
  • Staff time spread across multiple ministries
  • Competition from larger churches

Best Practices:

  • Start simple and build slowly
  • Partnership with other churches for critical mass
  • Learn from successful models (visit, consult, adapt)
  • Leverage church size as advantage (personal, family feel)
  • Focus on quality relationships over production

Small Churches (Under 500)

Advantages:

  • Everyone knows everyone (strong relationships)
  • Young adults can lead significantly
  • Authentic, family atmosphere
  • Lower overhead costs

Challenges:

  • Critical mass very difficult (5-10 young adults)
  • Limited resources (budget, staff, facilities)
  • May not have young adults to start with
  • Difficult to compete with larger churches

Best Practices:

  • Partnership with other small churches essential
  • Focus on integration, not separate ministry
  • One-on-one mentoring over programmed events
  • Leverage intimacy as competitive advantage

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR BRCC

What These Case Studies Reveal:

  1. Geographic Proximity: Northview Church (Indianapolis) successfully learned from Watermark (Dallas). BRCC could learn from both.

  2. Mid-Size Success: Churches of BRCC’s size (500-2,000) CAN have thriving young adult ministries with adequate resourcing.

  3. Suburban Viability: Elevate Life Church (Frisco suburbs) and Ada Bible (Grand Rapids suburbs) prove suburban context can work.

  4. Integration Over Separation: Most successful models integrate young adults into whole church while providing targeted programming.

  5. Weekly > Monthly: Mariners Church doubled attendance by moving to weekly gatherings.

  6. Thursday Nights: Multiple successful ministries meet Thursday evenings.

  7. Partnership Options: Awaken (Indianapolis) offers collaboration model; Table for One and Singles Network provide resources.

  8. Learning Curve: Northview invested in learning from Watermark—BRCC could do same.

Action Steps for BRCC:

  1. Visit Northview Church (Indianapolis) to learn from their experience
  2. Study The Porch online to understand best-in-class model
  3. Consider partnership with Awaken or nearby evangelical church
  4. Connect with resource organizations (Table for One, Singles Network)
  5. Adapt, don’t imitate - learn principles, apply to BRCC context

Foundational Resources:

  • “Growing Young” by Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, Brad Griffin - Six essential strategies from Fuller Youth Institute
  • “Sticky Faith” by Kara Powell and Chap Clark - Research on lasting faith development
  • “The New Parish” by Paul Sparks, Tim Soerens, Dwight Friesen - Faithful presence in neighborhoods and communities

Sources

  • Church websites and young adult ministry pages
  • “Engaging Young Adults Through a New Form of Ministry” (Center for Congregations)
  • “Churches Across Indiana Put ‘Growing Young’ Into Action” (Indiana United Methodist Church)
  • Ministry organization websites (Awaken, Table for One, Singles Network)
  • Outreach Magazine articles on successful young adult ministries
  • Direct research from church ministry descriptions

Backlinks