GROWING YOUNG

​      I suspect that you have already noticed this, but there are a lot of people with gray hair (or no hair) in our congregations.  I’m definitely not against people with gray hair, because I am one.  But the reality is that most churches, by and large, we are not effectively reaching and keeping young people.  And I’m not just talking about Wesleyan Churches, I mean all churches.  Adults ages 18 to 29 comprise 17% of the adult population in the United States and yet that age group represents less than 10% of church attendees.
      As I visit the churches in our district, I often hear comments like, “Young people just aren’t interested in God anymore,” or “The younger generation doesn’t want anything to do with church.”  Both of those statements are false.  Young people are as hungry for God as ever and are as willing as ever to connect with churches that will really value them.  That’s why I’m excited about our upcoming Pastors’ Round Tables where we will be digging into the book, “GROWING YOUNG.” 
      In case you are tempted to believe that your church can’t reach and keep young people, check out this list of qualities that churches DON’T need to grow young:

1. A precise size. There is no “just right” size.  Churches of all sizes can reach and keep young people.
2. A trendy location. Urban centers, rural areas or middle-class suburbs; location isn’t a limitation.
3. A certain church age.  Churches over a century-old as well as new church plants can be equally effective.
4. Denomination or no denomination. Young people are not drawn to or turned off by denominational affiliation.
5. An off-the-charts-cool quotient. Don’t waste your time trying to build a cool church culture.  For today’s young people, warm is the new cool.
6. A big, modern building.  You don’t need new state-of-the-art facilities.
7. A big budget. Churches that grow young invest in young people, but while financial investment can be helpful, relational investment is what wins the day.
8. A “contemporary” worship service.  While young people tend to prefer “casual and contemporary,” young people have an appreciation for older forms of worship as well.  But it has to be meaningful and well-done.
9. Watered-down teaching.  Young people want to hear about Jesus and the cost of following him.
10. A hyper-entertaining ministry program.  Good news we don’t have to compete with the entertainment industry.  Slick doesn’t equal success.

      Don’t give up on reaching younger generations.  They are very reachable, but not if we continue to do ministry in a business-as-usual manner.  It’s time to get strategic about GROWING YOUNG!