Empowerment For My Youngins': Bringing God’s Word To Life In An Urban Setting Kindle Edition

In America, the number of churches total more than 350,000. According to episode 795 of the Rainer on Leadership podcast entitled Church Members Are Getting Much Older (The Real Stat and What It Means) released April 4, 2024, Thom and Sam Rainer discussed that, "The median age of active adult church members is between 50 and 60 years old, and more than half are 60 or older." They also note, “The median age of the US population is 39 years old.” Lifeway Research, on the other hand, also offers three very interesting statistics for us to consider:“The average age of a US pastor is 57, up from 50 in 2000”“The percentage of senior participants (65 and older) in congregations has increased 5% since 2008.”“Only 14% of churchgoers are young adults, even though they make up 23% of the [overall] population.”Though alarming, these statistics should not be generalized as bad. After all, senior congregants are fundamental and often the most faithful volunteers and attendees. They are also the strongest financial givers and supporters of ministries. Furthermore, they possess a plethora of wealth, history, and wisdom.Likewise, there is value in having an older Pastor. Generally, they are more poised, their experience and education gives them a greater rapport with congregants, and they often have a greater level of financial health. As spiritual leaders, these are very important characteristics to possess. However, this doesn’t eliminate the need for young people in our congregations, and the importance of Jesus Christ in their lives. But, where are they?From personal experience, aside from the busyness of their lives, I’ve noted a few reasons we don’t see a greater population of adolescents and young adults in our ministries. Even though young adults desire a relationship with God they struggle with:Tradition has consumed the churchEducation has taken precedence over spirituality, leading to hypocrisyCongregants have been robbed by ministries and devalued by leadersAll in all, many people lost confidence in the church and its ministry. This led to a mass exodus, a generation living in the perpetual and liminal state of “church hurt,” and many leaders are left shamefully watching many begin to denounce their allegiance to Jesus Christ, His church, and the ministry. Thus, the way we do ministry must change. This text is the first step in a new direction.Empowerment For My Youngins’: Bringing God’s Word To Life In An Urban Setting is divided into three sections, comprising seven devotions each. Here, readers will have the opportunity to connect modern day language, slang, and urban concepts to biblical principles. These principles are centered around:The need for salvation,The Reception of Salvation, andThe Life of SalvationTogether, it is my prayer that this text will serve the dual purpose of bringing basic biblical principles to life and serve as a guide and inspiration for the minister to adjust its ministry to grow to be more appealing to the diluted populace of young people dwelling in the church and ministry. Read more