Growing Young by Pastor Kim Montenegro
Fair Oaks United Methodist Church is unique in so many ways, it has been a joy over the last year discovering how we develop followers of Christ. In other ways, our church is like so many others in the United States, we are dedicated to leading and developing followers of Jesus—of all ages. But something’s missing.
We do not have many young people. Twenty-somethings. Teenagers. While they’re not completely absent, there sure aren’t as many as we’d like to see filtering in the doors on Sunday.
Every year we seem to age even more, and we’re not alone. We are actually part of an overwhelming trend. While 18-29 year olds make up 17% of our overall population, they constitute only 10% of churchgoers. In fact, many churches across the United States are shrinking and aging overall, and even closing their doors. The stats just don’t lie. Churches are both shrinking and aging as more young people disengage.
The California Nevada Annual Conference has partnered with Fuller Theological Seminary for a “Growing Young Cohort” in our conference. Much to our delight, Fair Oaks has been selected to be a part of the inaugural cohort. We will be part of 30 carefully selected churches, that will start a year-long process of working with the Fuller Youth Institute this fall, with the first of two summit gatherings. In between summits, churches will work in webinars and with coaches to advance their goals for growing young.
Based on groundbreaking research with over 250 of the nation’s leading congregations, Growing Young provides a strategy any church can use to involve and retain young people. From its detailed research with churches in more than 80 denominations, Growing Young has concluded that there are some essential keys that help congregations reverse decades-long decline and experience new vitality. It profiles innovative churches engaging 15- to 29-year-olds that are growing–spiritually, emotionally, missionally, and numerically. Packed with ideas, Growing Young shows ministry leaders how to position their churches to reach younger generations in a way that breathes life into the whole church.
Over the next year, we will discover what the Six Core Commitments of churches that grow young look like in our context (see Acorn newsletter page 3).
Please hold our team and our church in prayer over the next year while we work on this essential work. The Growing Young Cohort team includes myself, Melanie Cleland, Scott Cleland, Sydney Smith, Eliseo Paniagua, Cheryl Raney, and Helena Hurst.
Blessings,
Pastor Kim
Six Core Commitments of Growing Young
Unlock keychain leadership: Instead of centralizing authority, empower others—especially young people.
Empathize with today’s young people: Instead of judging or criticizing, step into the shoes of this generation.
Take Jesus’ message seriously: Instead of asserting formulaic gospel claims, welcome young people into a Jesus-centered way of life.
Fuel a warm community: Instead of focusing on cool worship or programs, aim for warm peer and intergenerational friendships.
Prioritize young people (and families) everywhere: Instead of giving lip service to how much young people matter, look for creative ways to tangibly support, resource, and involve them in all facets of your congregation.
Be the best neighbors: Instead of condemning the world outside your walls, enable young people to neighbor well locally and globally.