As the sun dipped below the horizon on a cold November evening, a steady stream of people flowed in and out of With Love and Market Café in downtown Los Angeles. Newcomers were greeted by a vibrant atmosphere filled with welcoming smiles and the sound of lively conversations.
One House, the Senior Youth and Young Adult Ministries Department of the Southern California Conference (SCC), had set up shop for the evening to cultivate a space for young adults to convene, worship, socialize, and enjoy good food in each other’s company.
“The primary premise of the event was to have a space where you can just feel safe to hang out,” said Geoff Sewell, SCC senior youth and young adult ministries director.
The event began just before sunset with a worship time. Praise and music were brought by the Crosswalk L.A. team. The energetic “One House bingo” icebreaker brought people together as they mingled to find people who matched the descriptions on their bingo card. An inspiring message was given by Justino Jorge, associate/ youth pastor at Tamarind Avenue church, taken from the book of Jonah with a focus on the importance of mental health.
Tirza’s taco truck showed up shortly after sunset, and once everyone had a chance to get some tacos, the games began. From trivia to board games and video games, attendees were sure to find something they could enjoy. Trivia games focused on the theme of the early 2000s (2000-2010)—from famous people and movies to a “name that thing” game with pictures of notorious early 2000s things like Tamagotchis and a Razor scooter.
“Through this endeavor, we sought to cultivate connections among young adults across the Southern California Conference,” Sewell shared, “particularly those not typically present in our churches, serving as a reminder that they have a welcoming space within our conference.”
In December, One House hosted a Christmas gala, and a day of service was planned for January. As the 2024 calendar comes together, One House continues creating events with a purpose. Sewell said, “Our upcoming young adult events are inspired by stories like this one shared at our recent hangout: A college student expressed the loneliness experienced on a secular campus with few Christians and the joy of connecting with other Christian young adults at the One House hangout.”
The downtown L.A. hangout kicked off future events created just for young adults in SCC. “If we were successful for any reason,” Sewell said, “it was that no matter who you were and what your interests were, you could find a place where you could feel comfortable there.”
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