Parents Should Build a Culture in their Home Stronger than the Culture in the World; Christian Leaders Address Evangelizing Today's Youth
"The more students were involved in intergenerational worship before graduation, the better they held to their faith in college."
(Minneapolis, Minnesota)—Miles McPherson, pastor of the The Rock Church in San Diego, California, addressed the Mission America Coalition (MAC) gathering of evangelism leaders from around the country on Wednesday about the issue of youth becoming disengaged with their faith once they leave home. More than 120 ministry leaders who gathered in Minneapolis this week heard a challenge from McPherson to rethink evangelism strategy to reach younger generations. (Photo: McPherson/The Rock, San Diego)
"If you want to get people to be fired up about evangelism and if you want to reach young people," McPherson said, "we have to think of the starting point of evangelism…Instead of telling your story, listen to the cries of a broken world."
He encouraged the MAC gathering to listen to the cries of the younger generation. "Respond to someone's pain," he told the pastors, ministry leaders, and city-reachers attending. "Don't assume you know their pain. Go listen. If we go to church and don't deal with that, God says, 'What good are you?' Kids want to know how to stand up for righteousness. They want to be challenged and do stuff that we won't do anymore. They have no fear....These kids are ready, they are willing. God made them to serve Him."
Kara Powell, executive director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary, was quoted as saying the more students were involved in intergenerational worship before graduation, the better they held to their faith in college. Worship with adults of all ages offers opportunities for young people to experience the support and encouragement of many in the church, not just other youth or a youth leader, she said.
Jeff Schadt, founder of the Youth Transition Network, noted that 93 percent of students leaving a high school youth ministry do not know the name of any college Christian ministry. "We send our fruit off into enemy territory alone, with no connection to the Body of Christ—and then we are shocked at the outcome," Schadt said.
Ron Luce, founder of Teen Mania ministries, one of the world's largest Christian youth organizations, offered a hopeful challenge. "Whoever owns their heart has the most authority in their lives," he said, urging parents to "build a culture in your home stronger than the culture destroying your kids."
