Young adults. Could there be two words any more diverse than these two? College students, working adults, married with kids, living at home, living alone, living with roommates. There is simply no way to categorize all people who are in their twenties and thirties. It is with a sense of awe, excitement, wonder, and humility that I have begun engaging the younger adults in our church and community.
In modern church life, there is a tendency to view youth and young adults as the “future” of the church, but the truth is they are our church already! Because of this, I think it is important to resist the temptation to silo off our younger parts of the church body as strictly having their own ministry needs and desires. We need each other. Each demographic may possess different perspectives, experiences, gifts and needs, but it is only in mutual community where these gifts and needs can be fully celebrated and engaged.
It is because of this that I will be exploring ways not only to connect young adults in our community and church with each other, but also for ways to connect them to the greater church body. Those of us who have been around the church potluck block a few times can disciple those who are just pulling up a seat, just as those who are younger can teach the rest a few new recipes. Whether a book study aiming to engage younger folks and older alike, or a group discussion that can connect the experiences of our older congregants to our younger who are trying to hear God’s Spirit in the personal and vocational threads of their life, I look forward to setting up formalized times where we can all connect with each other.
However, I encourage all of you to connect in ways perhaps you have been to intimidated to do in the past. Already, we have a few newer people in their twenties and thirties attending our services and events. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to invite some of them over for a cookout or out for dessert. And those of you who are younger, don’t be intimidated to do the same. I believe we are on the cusp of some even more exciting and enriching times in our church body. In a world that is fractured in disunity, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the love of Christ, as we start by loving those whom God has called together as the church.
Thank you, Hope Church, for the opportunity to see the church at work!
Blessings,
Pastor Beth