From the Pastor – April 2024
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~Matthew 19:14
You may have heard that our Youth Group has roared back to life. Well, it’s true! We have been
meeting with the middle school youth on mostWednesdays for about a month now. Last time we met, I lost count of the people there–they move pretty fast! I counted more than 19 young people and six adults. To tell the truth, I’m not sure which number is more exciting, that of the young people or the adult helpers.
Having a big group of young people tells me that we definitely have a strong nucleus. Our group will be able to grow in leadership skills, have opportunities to grow in character and especially in faith, with numbers like that. This is all exceptionally good news, especially considering our group went dormant over the COVID period. I am eager to see what God does in the lives of these young people!
The other number may be even more impressive. Most churches in the land that have a youth group are run by the pastor or other adult–solo. To have six supportive, nurturing adults that make time for young people is truly astonishing. We had adults that helped cook, some helped clean up, and everyone of them related kindly to the youth. It makes me thankful to be a part of this ministry. It makes me proud that the church as a whole cares.
The thing that really ought to get our attention is something far more important than numbers and programs. Let me share the story with you. When I go to a youth event, I have a system. I always sit next to a young person and strike up a conversation that they can steer. I specifically look for the new kid or the kid that no one else is sitting alone. You never know what you will learn in these conversations! These people always have something to say. For two out of the last three gatherings now, the same thing has happened! I sat down next to the new kid and introduced myself. They answer with their name, when prompted, then ask me a question. The question is, “What is this place?” I say, “This is a church!” Then, they ask, “What happens in a church? I’ve never been in one before.” I answer, “A church is where people gather to learn about God’s love. Then we help each other grow and care for the
community”. So, far, these kids keep coming back.
Youth Ministry really is the quintessential mission field. We were all young once, even if we don’t remember it. We all had a first encounter with God. For many of us, it was at a youth group. It is common to say the youth are the church of tomorrow, but really, the youth are also the church of today. Even so, if we want to build a better tomorrow, the young people are a great place to start. The session is continuing to find a staff person to help shepherd the youth. For all these reasons, a thriving youth ministry is one of the most important things we can do as a church. I ask you to be in prayer for the young people, the Session as they search for a youth leader, the staff person that God is preparing for us, and especially the adult helpers as we try to be role models that reflect Christ. In the end, maybe it is best to call it our first mission field. Perhaps that is part of what Jesus meant by saying, “…for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Peace,
Jim