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’s 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. In a multi-year 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.
First Cohort Gathering: November 13-15, 2026 | Santa Barbara, CA
Interested in joining our 2026-2027 cohort? Apply below! We’re launching a new cohort in fall 2026 and we’re currently in conversation with prospective churches. Please contact us at yall@westmont.edu with any questions.
Thursday, October 17th, 2024 | 6:20 pm-8:30 pm
Address and Parking Info Provided When Registration Complete
Hosted by the Westmont Center for Dialogue & Deliberation and The Gaede Institute for the Liberal Arts (Thriving Communities and Young Adult Leadership Lab)
Partisan politics affects congregations, from how we fellowship with one another, to how clergy preach their sermons, to how (or if) we engage in the public square. In the midst of this complexity, churches wrestle with how to live out their faith in an increasingly divided society. Some believe that church leaders should avoid political issues entirely. Others think the church should be a neutral forum for navigating politics from different points of view. Still others believe that churches have a duty to speak for God and God's people in the public square.
You're warmly invited to join us for an evening of structured conversation around these and other questions. How are political tensions felt in our congregations? How might the church help people live and speak Christianly in this polarized time? Does the church have a role to play in addressing the root causes of division? How do we bring our faith to bear without further widening the gaps among people who hold different political views?
October 5, 2023 7-9PM, GLC Simmons
Churches are houses of worship and also sites of neighborhood connection. They cultivate Christian disciples and facilitate social activity. They care for congregants in need and reach out to communities beyond their walls. Churches can be and do many things, but which ones are most important? How might God be calling your church, right now?
Join us for an evening of structured conversation about these questions, led by Dr. Deborah Dunn, a specialist in civil dialogue and public deliberation. Bring a group from your church, or come individually—all are welcome.
This event reprises a conversation that Westmont hosted in 2022; we invite participants in that event and newcomers alike to join in renewed discussion of the vital purposes of the church. We just ask that you RSVP to let us know you're coming.
January 23, 2023
Please join us at Westmont on January 23 for A Conversation on Young Adults and the Church. We’ll hear from Steve Argue, author of Young Adult Ministry Now and a specialist in emerging adulthood. We’ll also hear from young adults themselves as they reflect on their stories of faith and lives in the church. We'll gather at 9:30 am and conclude by 1:30 pm. Thanks to the generosity of Lilly Endowment Inc. travel stipends are available for attendees. Please email yall@westmont.edu to inquire about travel support by Wednesday, January 18.
YALL in Practice
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.
Experiment with New Ministry Ideas
- 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!
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.
Key Program Information
Our 2026-2027 Young Adult Leadership Lab learning community will launch in fall 2026 with our first annual gathering, to be held at Westmont College November 13-15, 2026. Participating congregations are asked to:
- Participate as a team in an in-person Young Adult Leadership Lab gathering in late fall 2026 and summer/fall 2027.
- Meet at least monthly as a congregational team.
- Participate in a monthly conversation with the YALL directors. This conversation typically includes the pastoral representative and one of the YALL directors.
- Participate in a quarterly virtual YALL community gathering.
- Maintain regular communication with the Westmont Young Adult Leadership Lab directors.
- Share insights, learnings, and plans with the YALL learning community and your congregation.
The November 2026 gathering will feature interactive opportunities for church teams to learn more about the social and spiritual lives of young adults through activities that highlight the voices of young adults. There will also be ample opportunities for fellowship as we explore the Santa Barbara area together.
Thanks to the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc., 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.
Christian churches in California are eligible to participate in the Young Adult Leadership Lab.
We're currently assembling our third YALL cohort which will begin in fall 2026. If your congregation is interested in applying, you can view our online application here. Please contact us at yall@westmont.edu with any questions.
Contact Us
The Young Adult Leadership Lab is one of five programs at Westmont that help churches and individuals explore God’s call. If you work with high school youth, we invite you to learn more about Trailhead, a summer experience that invites young people to slow down and see how their lives might participate in God’s work. If you’re a pastor, please consider Frontiers, 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.