You are probably reading this blog article because you were invited to see it; and that would be because you identify as a Christian living in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Area. We would like to take a bit of your time to cast a vision, or perhaps renew a previous vision, for your hometown.
The Indy metro area has a current estimated population of 2,004,230, making it the 34th largest metro area in the United States. The city of Indianapolis itself is the 13th largest city in the United States. It is similar in size to other cities/metro areas within a short drive, such as Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Unlike Cincinnati or Columbus, the Indy metro area has a uniquely evangelical Christian heritage. That would include you. And it’s your status as a Christian in the Indy metro area that we are most interested in.
Many young people, perhaps including you, were raised in Christian homes in Indiana. My own family migrated from Germany to Pennsylvania and eventually out to Ohio County in southeastern Indiana. Many of us can be grateful for the Christian heritage provided by our families.
Other young people may not have had much spiritual influence in their homes, but when they moved off to college they were invited to join a Christian group on campus. Many Christians who attended college can point to a time of significant flourishing in their Christian lives.
The something began to happen. It was called commencement, otherwise known as graduation day from college. The word commencement has to do with beginning something new. For most college grads, that new thing is full-time employment. We diligently search for it and find something that seems to fit our personality and desires, or at least can lead toward those.
As we dig into work life, we begin to realize that we aren’t completely prepared for this new venture. There’s so much that did not get passed on from our families and college professors. “Suddenly” we have to get up early in the morning in order to make it to work on time (no more sleeping in until mid-morning, and no more being late like we could be for class). Eating becomes a problem. We either have to get up even earlier to make a meal, go through a drive-thru to grab something, or just settle for coffee.
The eight-hour work day seems to be more like a ten-hour hour day, maybe even more when we include the commute time. We get to work and find that the majority of people we now interface with are not like our college friends who were all within a couple years of our own age. We struggle to communicate with co-workers who are twice our age and don’t use the same social media or popular movie language as we do.
We get home after battling rush-hour traffic and realize we have nothing to eat for dinner. It’s either make a quick run to a local fast food joint or grab the phone to order delivery with DoorDash or GrubHub. In the meantime, we find some comfortable clothes and sit down to catch up on Instagram or television or relax with the X-Box. The day ends with the realization that you’ve got to get to bed before midnight, so you can do it all over again tomorrow.
The weekend is prime time for us! Finally, Friday night with friends, and Saturday, too! Exhausted, we sleep in on Sunday to catch up on much needed sleep. We roll out of bed just before noon and realize we didn’t make it to church again this week. (Remember how you never missed during college, even before mid-terms and end-of-semester exams?)
But church doesn’t really work for you. In college, there were churches very close to campus that catered to your needs (okay, desires). You loved the music, all your friends were there, the message was uplifting and relevant.
You tried a couple churches, even the mega-church, when you landed the new job, but there are so many old people. The music just isn’t up to par. And why does the pastor talk so much about things of interest to “old people.” You just can’t find something that clicks with you, so you tend to stay home, or use Sunday as a second Saturday. Besides, you need to do laundry by the end of the day, and maybe try some meal prep, and all those other things that we now refer to as #adulting.
Okay you’ve read this far, and maybe some of the paragraphs were dead ringers for you, and others were totally off. But the gist is this, your life has significantly changed and so has your Christian walk. It’s time to get your act together (how rude to imply that your act itself together; that’s not very nice and doesn’t lead toward co-existing).
We are in the groundswell of the #adulting movement and want to help Christians in their 20s maintain their spiritual lives—not just to endure but flourish—and grow in workplace success. You see, we believe that in order to reach the non-believers that represent a full half of the Indy metro area, you need help in your spiritual life and work life.
This is NOT an invitation to attend a specific church. Nope. Stay in the church where you are, and we can help you begin to influence that congregation and neighborhood. Be the kind of worker that co-workers watch and wonder what’s different about you, and THEY will initiate conversations that can bring them a step closer to Christ.
See your neighborhood and your workplace as a mission field to which God has sent you—even that woman who is old enough to be your grandmother!
We are the Indy20s, a group of 20s and early-30s who are interested in being disciples of Jesus Christ where we live, work and play, and helping others be disciples of Jesus where they live, work and play. We meet on a monthly basis as a large group for fellowship, encouragement, and a little push toward what we already know we should be doing (but maybe haven’t figured out how). We also spend time one-on-one, life-on-life, mentoring, coaching, and discipling toward a vibrant Christian walk that reaches the people whom God has placed in our paths.
Would you consider getting onboard? Send a message below:
