– Kim R. Smith, Sound District Lay Leader
Have you looked around your congregation lately and lamented the absence of younger people? How many conversations has your administrative team had about ways to get those young people back into the church? We’ve heard all the supposed reasons, like they want everything done for them or they don’t give financially like other generations. We have mumbled about their priorities and, quite frankly, judged them enough that we probably need a little spiritual healing of our own.
I have two daughters in their thirties. They are not lazy. These balls of fire put themselves through college with work and scholarships. They are both middle school teachers now with master’s degrees who no longer attend church. Priorities and being lazy aren’t the reasons. These girls want to change the world, not just be a part of a congregation. One has leaned close to Haywood Street because that congregation is changing their community in beautiful and tangible ways. They have thrown any semblance of a box to operate within… away. That appeals to her. She sees Jesus in the way they love the homeless.
Both give quite generously to organizations they thoroughly vet. Both volunteer with organizations that have meaningful plans to try and make communities, our nation, and the world…a better place here and now. Both participate in elections and are incredibly knowledgeable about every candidate at every level who gets their valued vote. They do the research. They are not unlike many of the other young adults their age. Maybe we have underestimated them and not held ourselves as accountable as we should have for showing them so many ways The United Methodist Church is changing the world here and now.
For example, if your congregation is small and you feel like you don’t have the resources to reach young people who visit, are you connecting them to the district, conference, and worldwide opportunities? That young woman might love to read and could join a community of readers from around the world with one simple click. She might want to take that passion and bring it to your church. It’s possible that those young hearts might be incredibly passionate about the environment. Have you shared with them the opportunities to put their faith into action with a creation care team? If you watch the news, you know they are passionate about Social Justice, so are we connecting them to the pathways within our denomination where they can contribute to changing the world while walking alongside Jesus?
What about mothers who are completely exhausted? Do you have a way to connect them with the UWFaith Soul Care retreats? Even those who work long hours can join podcasts and gatherings online at times that work best for them. A nurtured soul can offer your congregation hope. You can’t offer a morning devotion each day? Have you introduced them to the Pray as You Go app?
It’s okay to be unable to offer everything to everyone in your congregation of any size. Especially when our connection makes it possible to offer them what they need so easily. Make yourselves a sheet with all the resources! Add the links to your newsletters and social media pages. Speak of the connection often and the opportunities to change the world in a hundred different ways within The United Methodist Church. They don’t want less Jesus…this crowd wants MORE. Are we ready to step into that passion and make sure they have it so that… TOGETHER, we can transform this world here and now?
image credit to Kowshon Ye