University, Revival, and the Future Church: Why Young Adults Can’t Be Optional – with Chris Hilken
· 48 min · Episode 400
Episode University, Revival, and the Future Church: Why Young Adults Can’t Be Optional – with Chris Hilken
In this episode of Young Adults Today, Josiah and Micah sit down with Pastor Chris Hilken—young adult pastor, widowed single dad of five, and lead pastor at College Avenue Baptist in San Diego.
Chris unpacks:
• Why young adults are the seeds of revival, historically and right now • How a declining, aging church next to a universitybecame a movement of 1,200–1,300 young adults on Sunday nights • His personal journey from pastor’s kid, to youth pastor, to teaching pastor, to single dad after losing his wife to suicide • Why senior pastors must prioritize young adultswithout sacrificing their family, health, or boundaries • The growing trend of young adults (especially young men) moving from secularism past Protestantism toward orthodoxy, and how churches can respond
This conversation is raw, practical, and deeply hopeful for anyone leading or dreaming about young adult ministry. More about us: www.youngadults.today Resources & Action Steps: Sign up for the West Coast Leader Gathering August 12-13th, 2026 in Irvine, CA: https://www.youngadults.today/west-coast-conference Give to the mission of youngadultstoday: https://tithe.ly/give?c=5350133 Resources: Free eBook "10 Steps to Starting a Successful Young Adult Ministry: https://www.youngadults.today/book/starting-a-successful-young-adult-ministry Join our FaceBook Group Community with 2500+ leaders: https://www.facebook.com/groups/796270437396021 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngadults.today/
Links in the notes 5
Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them. Explicit shows are for adult profiles only, and children’s profiles hear only children’s shows. More about this list.