I had the privilege of attending the ELCA Extravaganza (the E for short) in New Orleans this past weekend. The Extravaganza is the ELCA Youth Ministry Network’s annual conference, drawing over 1,000 leaders (paid staff positions and volunteers) in children, youth, and family ministry, along with the teachers, resource providers, and leaders from the ELCA, all for four days of renewal, education, and networking.
We have a tendency at churches to say the youth are our future. This gathering emphasized that our youth are present now, in a complicated world and need us to meet them where they are. Who has God created them to be right now, in this moment?
How can we root our youth in a lifelong and transformative faith in Jesus Christ? We all have a part to play through this life-giving community. One session I attended about research in youth ministry showed the three things that impact the faith of our youth significantly:
- ) Congregations, though imperfect, make possible an encounter with God - teaching the language of faith.
- ) Relationships are the single greatest factor in a lifelong faith. It takes an average of 5 adults to create this impact.
- ) Each person is made in God’s image with gifts to share with the community. They are enough and beloved by God.
Adults tend to “read” young people as uninterested, busy, and preoccupied. It’s actually the opposite. They want to be included, belong, feel listened to, and engage with purpose in their activities. I know I sometimes wonder as I’m teaching Junior High on Sunday mornings if they are really interested in being there or if it’s just the donuts they came for. Then they will surprise me with an answer about helping others, empathize with another student, or jump in with enthusiasm to act out a play about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. We have so much to learn from them.
We are blessed with adults in this congregation who invest in relationships with our youth, showing up as one of the five adults needed in their lives. They chaperone youth retreats and sleep on plywood bunk beds on their weekend off work. They are creating a community with a group of youth through serving in the choir and band or at the media desk. Just last night, a parent of high schoolers taught our young Exploring Communion class in an amazing bread-baking night. They serve alongside them, converse with them, and build relationships, welcoming them unconditionally into God's loving community. Our youth need your heart and gifts. How can you engage with our youth?
Join me in praying:
O God, we want to raise children
Who know they are loved
By their creator
With a love so big
It would take a lifetime
To swim in the ocean of Your grace –
And even then It wouldn’t be enough
May we honor the humanity
Of our children.
May we remember You are always in pursuit.
May we point our children to You
In times of great rejoicing and deep sorrow.
For as long as we have the gift
Of guiding them on this earth
May they see You in every star
And every cloud.
May they feel You in the breeze
And in the dirt under their feet.
Thank you, Lord
For You are never far from our children
Or from us. Amen
Prayer from To Light Their Way by Kayla Craig
Serving, giving thanks, and loving along with you,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation