The MCBC LEAD Conference focused on learning about our young adults and their hopes for the future of the church. In the photo, Rob Brown and Chris Dirkson are leading the worship singing (pastors at Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack). The words of the song on the screen, "Jesus, all for Jesus" are rather fitting. Sometimes our young adults have been frustrated by the church, but they do love Jesus. We had a movie made with interviews of a number of young adults who are, or have been, a part of our churches. The primary things I heard from these young people about what they would like to see in the future of the church are: openness to new ideas and to people who are different than ourselves, love, respect and relationships. The LEAD Conference theme was "Old Coat, New Cloth," based on the Scripture, Matthew 9:16. These are days when the usable cloth of the old coats that have made up the church is becoming the new cloth that is being used to shape the church. The Word of God remains steady and unchanging. It has been said that this generation of young adults are the most culturally engaged ever. I think they also have amazing opportunities to shine the light of the gospel into the lives of their many pre-Christian friends. Many in my generation don't have a lot of close non-Christian friends, so I commend our young adults for the connections they have. Angelika Dawson told us about Columbia Bible College students working at the MCC warehouse in Abbotsford, redesigning old garments into new products that reflect their interests. Gareth Brandt taught using jazz as the image to represent this generation of Christians. The jazz image being one of improvization and one of a band working together to form new music as they go along. The form of the faith of these young adult Christians has this kind of improvization, yet is also deeply authentic and real.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Young Adults in Focus
The MCBC LEAD Conference focused on learning about our young adults and their hopes for the future of the church. In the photo, Rob Brown and Chris Dirkson are leading the worship singing (pastors at Eden Mennonite Church in Chilliwack). The words of the song on the screen, "Jesus, all for Jesus" are rather fitting. Sometimes our young adults have been frustrated by the church, but they do love Jesus. We had a movie made with interviews of a number of young adults who are, or have been, a part of our churches. The primary things I heard from these young people about what they would like to see in the future of the church are: openness to new ideas and to people who are different than ourselves, love, respect and relationships. The LEAD Conference theme was "Old Coat, New Cloth," based on the Scripture, Matthew 9:16. These are days when the usable cloth of the old coats that have made up the church is becoming the new cloth that is being used to shape the church. The Word of God remains steady and unchanging. It has been said that this generation of young adults are the most culturally engaged ever. I think they also have amazing opportunities to shine the light of the gospel into the lives of their many pre-Christian friends. Many in my generation don't have a lot of close non-Christian friends, so I commend our young adults for the connections they have. Angelika Dawson told us about Columbia Bible College students working at the MCC warehouse in Abbotsford, redesigning old garments into new products that reflect their interests. Gareth Brandt taught using jazz as the image to represent this generation of Christians. The jazz image being one of improvization and one of a band working together to form new music as they go along. The form of the faith of these young adult Christians has this kind of improvization, yet is also deeply authentic and real.
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