Equipping the Next Generation of Church Leaders
For many, young adulthood is a time of growing awareness of their own identities and gifts, the real needs of the world, and the ways they might be called to serve God鈥檚 kingdom. But this is also a time of life when people are less likely to participate in a church community. That's a loss to young adults, but it's also a loss to congregations, who miss the chance to be challenged and refreshed by the experiences of young adults.
Westmont's Young Adult Leadership Lab (YALL) brings together young adults (ages 23-29) and California churches to imagine new possibilities for ministry together. Through a supportive learning community, we equip congregations to listen well, experiment courageously, and create sustainable ministries where young adults belong, lead, and offer their unique gifts to the life and mission of the church.
Interested in joining our 2026-2027 cohort? Apply below! We鈥檙e launching a new cohort in fall 2026 and we鈥檙e currently in conversation with prospective churches. Please contact us at yall@westmont.edu with any questions.
When?
Our first annual 2026-2027 YALL gathering will be held November 13-15, 2026.
Where?
911爆料, Santa Barbara
Who's Eligible?
Christian churches in California are eligible to participate in the Young Adult Leadership Lab
Congregational Grants
Thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc., participating congregations are invited to apply for funding for up to $30,000 to design and launch innovative ministries in partnership with young adults.
All Young Adult Leadership Lab activities are offered free of charge to participating church teams, including travel costs to and from Santa Barbara for our cohort gatherings.
Learn in Community
- Listen to the voices of young adults as they reflect on their stories of faith and lives in the church.
- Enhance your congregational understanding of the spiritual and social lives of young adults.
Reimagine Ministry
- Explore your congregational context as you consider new opportunities for ministry with young adults.
- Design, test, and refine innovative ministries with young adults.
- Receive funding for your ministries.
Reflect and Refine your Work
- Share your learnings and insights with the YALL community and your congregation.
- Celebrate progress and keep experimenting!
Contact Us
Continue Exploring God鈥檚 Call
The Young Adult Leadership Lab is one of five programs at Westmont that help churches and individuals explore God鈥檚 call. If you work with high school youth, we invite you to learn more about , a summer experience that invites young people to slow down and see how their lives might participate in God鈥檚 work. If you鈥檙e a pastor, please consider , a program that supports ministry professionals through seasons of visioning and transition.Thriving Communities gathers churches to explore how we can see and do the work God calls us to on California's Central Coast. And if preaching is a part of your ministry, we invite you to explore our new Incarnational Preaching Project.
