• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • LCA Portal
  • Login to LAMP2
  • LCA Online Donations
  • IT Help
  • Contact

Qld District

Engaging people with God's love in everyday life

24 McDougall Street
Milton QLD 4064
Phone 07 3511 4000

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Our District
  • News & Events
    • The Latest News
    • What’s On
    • LCAQD Convention of the Synod 2025
      • 2025 Synod Livestream
    • LCAQD Pastors Conference 2025
  • Support for Congregations
    • Mission
    • Worship Planning Page
    • Congregational Life Hub
    • Administration
    • Disaster Support
    • Drought Support
    • Contact
  • Governance
    • Governance Change Program
    • Nominations & Appointments
    • LCAQD Convention of the Synod 2025
      • 2025 Synod Livestream

Growing Church Young

24 April 2019

by Pastor David Schmidt

Growing Church Young

Part 3 of 7 Series on ‘Growing the Church Young‘

A lot of my friends don’t really want to go to their church. But we want to be here, and the older people in our church can see that… so they want us to be here. Our whole church treats us like we’re the church of today, not the church of the future. – Ashlee, age 17 (Growing Young p 13)

In a recent blog, Church Health consultant, Thom S Rainer shared the following statistic; “Only 42% of Millennial Churchgoers believe church members are authentic and caring”. By implication, that suggests that nearly 60% of millennials (those aged in their 20s and 30s) either don’t hold an opinion or believe that church members are inauthentic and lack the capacity to care. How tragic!

I wonder what the statistics would look like in our church? In your church? What stories could you share which would give clarity to those statistics?

In their book, Growing Young, (Baker Books, 2016) Powell, Mulder and Griffin share “6 essential strategies to help young people discover and love your church”. These were uncovered through the Churches Engaging Young People project (2012-2015). The six strategies are:

Unlocking keychain leadership: instead of centralising authority, empower others – especially young people.

Empathise with today’s young people: instead of judging or criticising, step into the shoes of this generation.

Take Jesus’ message seriously: instead of asserting formulaic gospel claims, welcome young people into a Jesus-centred way of life.

Fuel a warm community: instead of focussing on cool worship or programs, aim for warm peer and intergenerational friendships.

Prioritise 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 neighbours: instead of condemning the world outside your walls, enable young people to neighbour well locally and globally.

Each of these strategies will be unpacked a little over the next six articles. Use them with church councils, leadership groups or simply as an individual to help reflect and respond to the implications from Growing Young.

If you wish to learn more, purchase the book Growing Young. It provides deeper insights as well as further reflective questions to help shape and transform your congregation.

 

To think about and discuss

  • Reflect on the quote by Ashlee. What stands out for you?
  • What evidence can you share within your congregation that could provide insight as to how millennials feel about your church?
  • Which core commitment (essential strategy) immediately stands out to you? Why?
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Please follow and like us: https://www.facebook.com/LCAQD/
fb-share-icon

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT Growing Church Young, ministry, mission, mission & ministry

« The Mission of Easter
Unlocking keychain leadership: empower others – especially young people. »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Bishop
  • Blogs
  • Community News
  • Feature Stories
  • Job
  • Living Faithfully
  • Ministry & Mission
  • News
  • Notice Board
  • Synod
  • Uncategorised

Archives for all Posts

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • Tags

    advent ALC alws Anniversary Australian Lutheran College bishop Camping Ministry Christmas church community community news Conference coronavirus Devotion Easter event faith fellowship Grow Ministries In Memoriam Installation Job Vacancy LCAQD LCAQD Synod 2023 LCAQD Synod 2025 Lent LEQ Living Faithfully Lutheran Services Lutheran Tract Mission LYQ ministry mission mission & ministry ordination prayer Resources retreat Synod Synod 2022 Training Walk my way Way Forward Women workshop

    Footer

    Contact Us

    24 McDougall Street Milton QLD 4064
    Phone 07 3511 4000
    Email district@qld.lca.org.au

    Copyright LCAQD © 2025
    Privacy Policy