For many students, the first 18 years of life have a semblance of familiarity and stability: same town, same core group of friends, same church. Following graduation from high school, however, many things change. Students may leave the only town they have ever known and have to find new friends, community, and church. Some students may stay in town for school or work only to see friends and family move away. Still others move back to the area after being away for 5-10 years to find their life take on a much different look than it did when they lived there prior. In all cases, the transition can be difficult.
For the last year The Bridge 20/30 Group has existed to help young adults in the Fort Wayne area find Christian community with other like-minded individuals in their same-age/stage demographic. I, along with CLHS Admissions Director Dawn Schuller, co-lead this young adults ministry for local Lutheran church congregations. Meeting every Tuesday at 7:00 pm, The Bridge hosts a variety of events throughout Fort Wayne for individuals in their 20’s and 30’s to get together, grow in faith, and enjoy each other’s company. From devotions and message series to restaurant meetups and recreational athletic events, we aim to provide a blend of digging deep into faith-based topics with social opportunities and competition. Past message series have included “¼ Life Crisis” and “Vanity: A Study on the Book of Ecclesiastes,” while devotions have explored topics such as “God’s Will for Your Life” and “Forgiveness.” Recreational events have seen Bridge young adults playing pickleball, ultimate frisbee, kickball, sand volleyball, and square dancing. Whatever the event, our goal is to have a people, place and purpose of fun, fellowship, and faith.
The Bridge regularly sees ~40 young adults gathering each week from Fort Wayne, Angola, New Haven, Decatur, Ohio, and even as far away as Finland (!), but a large portion of the group is composed of graduates from Concordia. For Dawn and me, it has been a blessing to minister to all these individuals, and specifically our graduates. Getting to hear their stories, successes, failures, and questions has given us opportunities to speak truth into their lives from the Bible. Helping them get adjusted to the changes and difficulties of young adult life allows us to continue caring for the students of Concordia even after graduation.
For more information about The Bridge 20/30 Group, you can contact Dawn Schuller ([email protected]) or myself ([email protected]) or follow the group on Facebook (The Bridge 20/30 Group Ft Wayne) and Instagram (@thebridge2030).