I have been losing sleep lately, not because my kids are sick or I'm stressed out about getting kids signed up for summer camp but over a friend.
A former student from our high school group, decided art school wasn't for him. So he is home now. He did great at school, good grades, made friends; just came to the decision that he wasn't sure he wanted to waste his parents money on another semester of something he just wasn't sure about.
So the thought that is keeping me awake is this: I don't think he really got involved in any kind of church while he was at school. Will he come back to church? The thought that thought grows into is: Once, all our kids leave high school will they find a church? Once their parents aren't there to kick them out of bed, will they get up and go to church? Will they pick up their bibles? Will they search out other people following Christ? Is church, our church, a place, both literally and figuratively, where post-high school age people can come, will want to come, to explore faith and Jesus Christ?
Am I even asking the right question? Is our community of faith, a community that is willing to hang out with young adults?
I am happy my friend is home. It will be good to reconnect with them.
This is a subject I hope to return to often. Its potential upside is huge as far as reaching young adults goes, and it's potential downside is just as large, in that we are at risk of losing a generation.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I can't give advice. But I can share my experience - which is that for folks like me, who wandered far afield from church for some time, the last thing I wanted to hear from anyone was "You need to get back to church, bubba."
A ministry of presence - of being open to friendship, and fellowship, and lacking pressure to "come back home" - worked best with me. After all, the Prodigal Son didn't come home when he got a telegram from Dad; he came home when he had a "change of heart." All you can do is be present, accept where he is (even if he's walkin' in significant darkness, as I was), and open the door. And pray...a lot.
In the recovery community, there's a wise saying: "If he's ready, you can't say anything wrong; if he's not, you can't say anything right."
What a great phrase..."a ministry of presence." Great words, Steve, Thanks.
TK
Post a Comment