Is Our Church Already Too Youth Focused?
This morning after our church gathering, we held a special lunch so that the pastors could share the vision and ideas behind some major internal restructuring that is happening in our church; restructuring that will help to strengthen and multiply our efforts to reach Ames and the ISU campus.
After the vision was shared (which I should probably write a post about), a question and answer session held, with questions being submitted by note card so they could be asked anonymously. I’d like to address one of the questions, with all respect and love intended toward the asker of the question (who is still anonymous to me).
The question was: “Is our church already too youth-focused?”
The Simple Answer: No
In fact, we are not “youth focused” enough.
Youth, in this discussion is being defined as 18-24. Perhaps we should include a little younger ages in this as well, and maybe slightly older. Let’s talk about the vast decade of life that is 16-26. There are about three or four life phases potentially contained in that range, but we’ll use it, because the key life phase (which usually hits somewhere between 18-24) is contained in here. I believe the Bible refers to this age as “Youth” and I still consider myself to be a Youth (though now that I have a family I consider myself on the tale-end of youth…).
This phase is typified by a search for: a place in the world, life direction, beliefs and values, a career, a mate, and a mission. It is also at this phase that we have the fewest (real) solid time and life commitments, and have the greatest flexibility, energy, and zeal. It is critical to bring this age range in to the church. This is where the majority of your laborers, new leaders, creative types, and church planters come from.
The Church must focus it’s efforts on youth, or it will surely fail in its mission.
And let me say that, aside from our efforts in the “youth group” and our college ministry to “The Rock”, the Church does not focus on this age range. In fact, our focus is somewhere between late thirties, and late forties. Most of our church building’s decor, our advertising, our communications, and a lot of our production efforts are geared at this age range.
By focus, I do not mean exclusion, I mean a majority of resources, effort, creative thinking and production being directed here. Of course we need to care for everyone God brings through our doors. But we need to be strategic in all our efforts. Otherwise we take a shot-gunned, piecemeal, confusing approach at everything we do.
But What About Me?
I am coming to think that this is the question that kills effectiveness. An inward, self-focus, is the key to an unfruitful life.
We need to be aware of our heart, and be good stewards of it, there are issues that we need to heal from, pasts that we need to leave behind, an “old man” that we are commanded to “put off”, and therefore must be able to identify, however, I really do believe the truth communicated so well by the prayer St. Francis of Assissi is well known for:
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
We have a mission to reach the world with Christ’s message. We have a responsibility to pass this mission on to the next generation. To accomplish either, we must be focused on the youth.
I don’t know about the rest of church, but I am too “me” focused. I was really convicted by the passage Brad shared this morning in John, when Jesus said that He came not to do His will, but the will of God. I think its very likely that it would be God’s will that we really try to be a ministry that is inviting and welcoming to the youth in our area. I know that my personal preference and agenda would be to reach the youth. But in light of Brad’s message this morning, maybe we all need to take a step back, both the young and the old, and really ask each other and God what His will is. I’d imagine His will is to not show partiality (which at times seems impossible for me). I think thats one of the keys of healthy spiritual life, to continually be asking ourselves if we really do know for certain what God wants.
Strong thoughts, Matt. Thank you for sharing them.
One place that I think of where God clearly lays out His will is I Timothy 2: 4 that says that God “wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.”
This obviously doesn’t say only young people. God clearly loves and died for all people. But who will pull up the stakes and risk life and limb to get the gospel to all people? Proverbs clues us in, “The glory of young men is their strength…” (Prov. 20:29).
One thing’s for sure about all of us that are older than twenty six–we were all 16-26 at one point in our life.
I am glad that Stonebrook is rethinking where they need to focus their efforts, I see it in too many churches that as a generation grows older, the focus remains with that generation and changes from youth focus to mid-thirties/forties type focus. It is important that while we focus on the age-groups of our community that make up the majority, and where most people are willing to serve in the church that we do not let our other programs degrade. A faith community should be seen as a place to grow for the rest of life, meaning that it has strong programs for all walks of life.
I believe the children are our future - teach them well and let them lead the way!
[...] I talked about the rest of the reasons here. [...]