I’m Tammy Jones West and it is an honor to be called to serve this synod as Youth & Family Ministry Coordinator. It is good to be with you today.
I am a trend spotter. Notice I did not say trend setter. OK, I confess to you that in order for me to spot a trend more than 12 of you have to call me and ask the same question. More than 12 of you did this year and the question centered around this – what do we do with young adults? How can we get them into our pews?
In the midst of this my pastor Dave Keck sent me a list from an actual living, breathing young adult who addressed this issue. She had a list of 20 points to make and in my time here I want to share one. She said this – “Remind yourself that you don’t have to take God to anyone. God is already with everyone. So, rather than taking the approach that you need to take the truth out to people who need it, adopt the approach that you need to go find the truth that others have and you are missing. Go be evangelized.” If we are going to be empowered and equipped for mission – let’s truly be the “Evangelical” Lutheran Church in America. Young people want to be with people who are hurting, not to just pray for them or throw money at the issue but to actually hold their hand, accompany them in their times of trouble. Youth and young adults are relational.
Ask First, Greensboro. They lost a young person in their congregation and without the first phone call, email or newsletter – arranged a candlelight vigil through facebook and texting that was attended by over 300 people. They may be stunting their ability to spell through texting but they know how to draw a crowd and good reasons to do so.
We seem to have lost our ability to ask the right questions of youth and young adults because we feel like we can’t relate. We don’t ask actual youth or young adults, we ask each other. My friend, Pastor Matthew Bolz-Weber is an inspiring blogger and said this in his blog this past year. He said – “Scripture tells us that old people will dream dreams ~ these are important and valuable, and we need to listen to them. But at the same time, scripture tells us that young people will see visions ~ these, too, are valuable and important, but I wonder whether we take the time to listen deeply and intentionally?” This is my favorite part – “If we are not willing to actively give up the idea that young people are the church of tomorrow, then I’m tempted to start talking about older people as the church of yesterday.”
The church of tomorrow vs. the church of yesterday. I’d like for us to think of a new church of today. If we are to be empowered and equipped for mission then we need to walk together, sharing Christ – all of us – children, youth, young adults and those of us who no longer fit into those categories. Together we can be empowered, equipped and ENERGIZED for mission in this world that needs our rich theology, our story of grace, our music – all of the good stuff, our hands and feet and our commitment to dream dreams and see visions.
In 2009 our church went to New Orleans and changed how many view young people. Another Lutheran church body went to New Orleans in 2010 for their youth event. Afterwards – the people of New Orleans differentiated between the two groups in this way. When referring to us they said ‘Oh, you’re the evangelicals.” You laugh b/c we don’t see ourselves in that way. I know our youth and young adults are very much that way and they would call themselves evangelicals because of what they did together in New Orleans – they served, shared, listened and were out in the world where God was already waiting.
Let’s be that church today – together. Thank you.
Oh, Tammy, imagine the innovation of actually listening, deeply listening to one another. We might hear the dreams and visions of all of our faith family! We might hear the hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations of God’s people. We will hear directly, rather than have well-intentioned leaders make their well-intentioned, but oft erroneous guesses. This is a gift. Thank you, from one who hears the same question repeatedly.