Dear Friends:

                                                                                “Passing On the Faith”

Suppose you are in your thirties.  Suppose we decided  that because you are in your thirties you must have a lot in common with everyone else in their thirties----- even if those people come from different towns , may have children or may be single or may be gay, may have different jobs from different social strata, may or may not  like sports,  may or may not have a deep Christian faith, may drink or not drink.  Suppose we put all the thirty year olds in a small room and said : “You have so much in common because you are all in your thirties ...so you can relate to one another well.”  And suppose we called you the thirties group and told you to do certain things in the church because these are the things the thirties group are allowed/expected  to do……..That would not work very well, would it?

In many ways this is often what churches do with the “youth, ”  the “teenagers”.   We assume that their age is what they have in common.  We segregate them in an age group and tell them or give them permission to do things we have decided the “youth’ are expected/allowed to do. 

Yes there are occasions when youth want to do things separately.  But it is important  to keep in mind that they may have less in common with one another (especially being from many different school districts) than we imagine.  They may actually discover deeper relationships, in our church, with people who are not in their age group.

We have been  learning that the bond of family is often much stronger than the bond of age.  Kids come to church with their family , are supported and encouraged by the presence of their family at church.  When you see youth active in the church—one factor is almost always obvious—they are active because the family is active in church. 

The family is a key factor in our ministry. We want  to encourage parents to be examples of faith for their children, and to learn with them. Parents also need to teach their children to be active Christians ---by teaching them the discipline of going to church.  The purpose of church is to worship God and to experience His presence in our lives, in order to be strengthened spiritually to deal with the trials of life.  

The church also needs to move from segregating activities into separate “adult” and “youth” activities;  but rather do activities which can involve the whole family.  Having the whole family usher together, doing work projects together, involving whole families in church events are key to strengthening the ministry of the whole church. 

Youth do not always want to be singled out as “youth”, but want to help in all areas of church life as a regular part of the church.  Youth can assist at worship, read lessons, help at meals, work at trash and treasure, and serve in the whole ministry of the church. Where tasks are difficult, parents can help, support and encourage them.   

There are occasions when youth can group together for prayer (like Ichurch) , retreats, trips, fun events…but this is only a part of the whole ministry of the church..and should not be the entire “youth ministry’ of the congregation.

Youth also need to be made to feel welcome at church.  Often at church the adults talk to one another while the children are not addressed.  One important statistic is that youth who stay active in church have at least six adults who say hi to them weekly and ask how things are going in their life/school/sports.  You might say the whole church is a village, and the children need to be noticed, recognized, spoken to, taught discipline,  and have positive things said to them ! 

This is a way that we can begin to positively address and change the perception that Confirmation is an exit rite in the church. ( Youth should not be given permission to drop out once it is finished!)   They will stay if they are encouraged, befriended, spoken to, allowed to participate fully and meaningfully, and taught to come to church with their families!

Please do not drop out of church for the summer--- Church is not simply “what I get out of it”. To be a Christian is to love God and give him praise—that’s why we were created!

Yours, In Christ,

Pastor Peter