Young Adults Explore Bible at Regular Meetings

South County has a large number of young adults who live here
but commute to jobs in San Jose, leaving them little time to
develop their social lives or spirituality.
 Others may work locally but not know many people their own
age.
South County has a large number of young adults who live here but commute to jobs in San Jose, leaving them little time to develop their social lives or spirituality. Others may work locally but not know many people their own age.

Recently the Gilroy Presbyterian Church began a Young Adult Bible Study for 22- to 28-year-olds. This gives them an opportunity to study the Bible in a friendly, small-group setting. The group meets on alternating Mondays from 8 to 9pm at First Street Coffee Exchange, 1211 First St. in Gilroy.

“This is a good place for people to come together, share insights into Bible passages and talk about the role of Christ in our lives,” said Jennie Gopp, a 25-year-old substitute teacher in Gilroy and the contact for the group. 

People of all levels of knowledge and experience with the Bible are attending the group. It is open to anyone with questions about the Bible and to those who would just like to know more about it.

Right now the group is studying the Book of Psalms, a section of the Old Testament that contains many poems attributed to King David. The members decide together which book to study next.

The format of the meetings is not very structured. Any member can volunteer to lead a session.  The leader e-mails all of the members before the next session with some questions to consider.  On the evening of the class, members discuss what they have read, answer the questions and allow the discussion to lead them where it may. Often they discuss how the words they’ve read apply to their own lives and the real situations they have dealt with during the week. Members always close the meeting with prayer. 

Gopp hopes to add a community-service component to the Bible study. Already, the group has made pies for The Lord’s Table, a local faith-based charity, at Thanksgiving. Another idea for a future activity is to write letters to soldiers in Iraq. The group is open to other suggestions of ways they can help the community.

Other kinds of social and recreational activities for the group are also a possibility, such as camping, ice skating or going to the theater or the movies. Because the group is just getting started, the people who attend will decide the direction they want it to go.

Get involved

If you would like to help others in the community to form different kinds of Bible study groups, call Lynn Viale, director of small group ministries at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, at (408) 842-6200, or e-mail her at ly**@********es.org.