As I've spoken about the value of re-connecting the age groups in our churches it seems that the assumption is quickly made that I'm speaking about having everyone together in the same Sunday service. I know of some churches that have the ability to pull off an all-age gathering, and some people with the skills to lead one.
But they're rare, because it's not easy.
We often have the intention of holding a gathering that will involve and engage people of any age. Yet most of the time we end up with a service that suits the needs of some but has to be tolerated by the rest: young adults being cajoled into joining in the actions to the Sunday School songs, elderly people putting up with drums and electric guitars, or teenagers being forced to sit with their parents through sermons about paying your taxes or planning your retirement.
While the all-age gathering is still something worth working on, there are lots of other ways to get church members from different age groups to engage together.
One way is to hear the stories.
I've just got back from a great weekend hanging out at Evans Head with 180 teenagers from across the Northern Rivers at the annual North Coast Christian Youth Convention (YC 2010). One thing that keeps youth ministers (and youth ministry educators!) going is hearing the stories of commitment and faith from teenagers. Here's one that inspired me this weekend:
He's 14, let's call him Joe (not his real name). He only knows of two Christians in his High School other than his Scripture teacher. SRE (Scripture) is his lifeline and it's through SRE that he has come to know Jesus. His parents love him and want the best for him but because they're not Christians, Joe isn't allowed to go to church until he's 18 (though one day when he was 11 he snuck off to the local Salvation Army church in secret!). On Saturday night Joe put up his hand to trust in Jesus and follow him. He goes home with a new Bible of his own, the Jesus All About Life book, John's Gospel on mp3, and a good chance of being mocked and criticised for his faith. Joe also goes home with a confidence that Jesus is mighty to save, with the support of a committed Scripture teacher and the prayers of new-found friends.
There are stories like this going on every day in the lives of young people in our churches - stories we all need to hear so we can pray, so we can provide practical support, so we can be encouraged, so we can be challenged.
If you're a youth minister, you need to share these stories with the rest of the church.
If you're a senior minister, you need to find these stories so the rest of the church can be encouraged.
The North American National Study of Youth and Religion (conducted from 2001-2005, published in Christian Smith, (2005). Soul Searching: religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers) noted various factors that contribute to an increased level of involvement by young people in their faith communities. Here's one of their conclusions:
"Another important general way religious congregations may better engage youth is through simple, ordinary adult relationships with teenagers" (p.269).
I'm sure that knowing the real struggles and challenges of the young people in the church, and celebrating their signs of faithfulness, will be a great starting point to developing better relationships between teenagers and adults in our churches.
Have you got a story to share?
