As we approach the milestone of our 185th anniversary as a church, we find ourselves at a crossroads. It’s a time to look back and celebrate the faithfulness of generations past, but it’s also a time to look forward—toward a future that calls us to reflect and transform. While we honor our rich history, we must also ask: how do we ensure that our legacy of faith continues? How do we remain vital and vibrant for the next 185 years? These are questions that have been stirring in me a while now and came to the fore in the mountains of Colorado as I mentioned last week.
To help answer these questions, I’ll be diving into a three-week series based on the six core strategies outlined in Growing Young by Kara Powell, Brad Griffin, and Jake Mulder. Their research focuses on churches that are successfully engaging younger generations without alienating older members—churches that are ‘growing young.’ These strategies serve as a roadmap, not just for becoming a church that is attractive to younger people, but for becoming a community that is thriving, intergenerational, and transformative! And if we put in the work, I think we can do it!
Each week, I’ll explore two of these strategies in depth, reflecting on how they can guide us into the future. Today, I want to set the stage for this journey and dive into the first two strategies.
Prioritize Young People Everywhere
One of the most striking findings in Growing Young is that churches that effectively engage younger generations do so by making young people a priority—everywhere. This doesn’t mean just creating programs for youth or hiring a young pastor. It means reorienting the entire church’s mindset to prioritize the presence and voices of young people across every aspect of ministry.
As the authors put it, “In churches growing young, prioritizing young people is not merely a token gesture; it is a matter of mission and purpose” (Powell, Griffin, Mulder). These churches don’t just see young people as the future—they see them as part of the church right now. This means giving them real leadership roles, trusting their insights, and listening to their unique perspectives. It also means shaping our ministries, sermons, and worship services in ways that resonate with their experiences. This is exactly what our Church Assessment of 2022 told us!
Reflecting on this strategy raises an important question for us: How are we prioritizing young people here at UMCG? Are we making room for their leadership, their ideas, their questions? Or do we see them more as a commodity to help us do what we no longer have the energy to do, instead of building ministries they need to be faithful?
To grow young as a church, we need to intentionally seek ways to give young people a meaningful role in every corner of our ministry. It’s not just about increasing attendance; it’s about integrating their voices into the fabric of who we are. As we celebrate our 185th year, it’s an opportunity to renew our commitment to building a church where young people feel they belong now.
Empathize with Young People’s Journey
The second key strategy is to practice empathy—deep, genuine empathy for the experiences and struggles of younger generations. Powell and her co-authors found that churches that grow young don’t just preach to young people; they walk alongside them. They listen before offering advice, and they take the time to understand the unique challenges young people face in today’s world.
As one church leader quoted in the book said, “We stopped talking about young people and started talking with them.”
Empathy doesn’t mean trying to make our church more ‘cool’ or relevant in a superficial way. Instead, it’s about stepping into the shoes of young people and truly understanding the pressures they face—whether it’s navigating questions of identity, dealing with anxiety, or wrestling with faith in a world full of distractions. It’s about showing them that we’re not just here to preach at them, but to walk with them through life’s ups and downs.
In Growing Young, the authors talk about how empathy is the antidote to judgment. In many churches, young people feel judged for their doubts, their questions, or even their lifestyle choices. But in churches that grow young, empathy opens the door to connection, and connection opens the door to transformation. “When young people experience empathy from the church, they are far more likely to stay engaged and committed,” the authors explain.
This strategy invites us to ask: How well are we practicing empathy at UMCG? Do young people feel like they can be themselves here, or do they feel they have to fit into a mold? Are we willing to listen to their struggles without jumping to conclusions or offering quick fixes?
As we celebrate 185 years, let’s make it our mission to understand and walk alongside young people in their faith journeys. Empathy isn’t just a strategy; it’s the way of Jesus. And it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for building a church that feels like home for all generations.
A Time for Reflection and Transformation
In the coming weeks, we’ll explore more of these strategies—looking at how creating a warm community, engaging with families, taking Jesus’ message seriously, and empowering leaders of all ages can help us grow younger while honoring our rich history. But for now, I invite you to reflect on these first two strategies. How can we better prioritize young people? How can we practice empathy in deeper ways?
As we ramp up to celebrate our 185th anniversary, we’re not just looking back—we’re looking forward, too. Let’s use this moment to consider how God might be calling us to grow young and to transform in ways that will ensure our legacy continues for generations to come.
Thank you for your continued support and for being part of this exciting journey.
