Building hope in our children

In "Grace Based Parenting" Dr. Tim Kimmel notes that "children develop a strong hope when they know their parents recognize their God-given abilities and liabilities and turn them into assets for the future" (p. 110). He goes on to note that Proverbs 22:6 addresses this point in saying, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it" (NASB).

Kimmel points out that in other Hebrew literature, the phrase "train up" was used to describe a maneuver that ancient midwives used to help newborns begin nursing. When used in Proverbs 22:6, the idea is that parents should use childhood as an opportunity to help a child develop a healthy "thirst" for the life that God has uniquely designed for that child - "the way he should go." Some translations say "train him in his way," which is a more literal translation of the Hebrew word dereck. We need to groom our children according to their natural, God-given proclivities ("bent") - not force them into some other mold.

As Kimmel notes, "this means coming alongside them with a plan to help leverage their natural and unique gifts and skills into highly developed assets that they can lean on in the future."

This is grace-based parenting that builds a strong hope in a child's heart.

Where are the 20-somethings?

In the current Threads online magazine, Aaron Stern has an article that asks "Where Have All the 20-somethings Gone?" (Click here to read Stern's article). Stern wonders what it will take to get 20-somethings engaged/re-engaged in church. Indeed, this age-group is prominently absent from most North American churches.

Stern cites Barna's research and his conclusion that “Americans in their twenties are significantly less likely than any other age group to attend church services, to donate to churches, to be absolutely committed to Christianity, to read the Bible, or to serve as a volunteer.” According to Barna, though many in this cohort were active in church during high school, only 3 out of 10 attend church consistently during their 20’s.

Some ask, "How do we get them back?" But Stern wonders if this is perhaps the wrong question. Rather he asks how we may provide this cohort with a place to encounter God - the God who shares their dreams and hopes, and also their disappointments and failures. Through it all, the God we know in Jesus loves them and includes them in his life.

Stern notes (and I concur) that young adults are hungry and eager to grow and to change. They long for a foundation of truth upon which to build their lives. They desire community: to know others deeply and to be known. All of this is evidence of the life of God in which they are included through Jesus - even if they do not know much about that life. Can we help them come to know?

Stern's primary goal with these young adults is not so much to get them into church (though he is a firm believer in the church). His goal is not so much to gain access to their volunteer labor or financial support (though he is eager to help them understand God's purpose for their life). Stern's primary goal and deep desire is to create for them an environment where they may meaningfully encounter God in powerful, personal ways - coming to understand there how they fit into the bigger picture of Christ's body and their place of belonging and purpose with God, in Christ. Stern believes that if we can provide such environments, they will want to stay.

Our goal in GenMin is to help congregations and families provide Christ-centered and cross-generational environments where people of all ages encounter God together. In those places and spaces all may experience the truth of their identify in Christ and in his body, the church.

I pray that God will show us how to connect with young adults and how to help them discover the connection we all share with God in Christ.

Your thoughts?