The nature of any church family is that our longevity is only guaranteed to the next generation. Churches, much like other living organized groups from nations to our own personal families, depend on younger generations stepping up to take the baton as older persons age and then pass on to eternity. If younger Christians do not step up into a living relationship with Christ that includes gathering together to actively partner in worship, service, and evangelism, the church faces a practical hard stop in the near future.
That’s why it is important to recognize that the American Church in general, and our own denominational family in particular, face an “aging” challenge. The average age of a pastor is increasing, suggesting younger ministry-called people are not being identified and engaged in pastoral work. In the meantime, trends over several years suggest that each successive generation is becoming less involved in church life and ministry.
In response, our East Central Region leaders have identified “engaging, encouraging, equipping and deploying next gens in ministry” as a key result area for our churches in the next few years. (For reference, “next gens” include “gen Zs”–15-28 years old–and “gen Alphas”–under 15 years old).
But how do we do that?
Let me suggest that we might all begin with a scripturally rooted Ephesians 2.10 strategy. Here’s that verse: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
It’s clear from this passage that the gen Zs and gen Alphas in our circles of influence, particularly those who have made a commitment to Jesus, are walking masterpieces of promised potential. It might not be obvious now, but each one of them is specially made and chosen for some great eternity-impacting role in God’s Kingdom.
All too often, those young persons live a reality that threatens to hide and steal that promise from them. Further, many young adults speak of growing up in a church but never having older Christians speak words of encouragement and support directly to them. If they are invisible in church as individuals when they are “next gens,” the likelihood increases that they will move on to become uninvolved with church later in life.
Our role as older Christians begins with “seeing them and blessing them.” We must ask God for His discernment to intentionally engage children, teens, and young adults in our congregations, make eye contact, and declare that we see Jesus in that young person. We should ask to pray for them and speak the blessing of Ephesians 2.10 over them in that prayer, with words like this:
“Heavenly Father, I see Jesus in _________, and I know you love ________ and have promised they will do great things for you as they trust you. Fulfill your life purpose for them, and let them experience your goodness and joy.”
Following up with “is there anything else I can be praying for you?” opens the door to another chance to provide encouragement.
Next steps like providing opportunities for service with a “safe place to fail,” training, and mentoring are all needed, but they follow the starting point of “seeing them and blessing them.” All of us can do that—and all of us should.