20 Lessons From My 3 Churches

Yesterday I provided you a picture into the mind of a young teenage Christian in a composition paper written by my 13-year-old daughter Anna.  She creatively called this paper “My 3 Churches”.  Because of what they have been exposed to and how they view social justice and the world, I cannot wait to see how God uses this generation. 

The following are the insights from that paper that I think are very important for all Christian leaders.  This could be a window into what our future looks like.

1. FutGen Leaders, those 13 to 17 years old, will begin taking significant leadership roles in our churches during the decade of the 20s.
2. My objective as Anna’s father is for her enter adulthood with a sweet taste in her mouth for the things of Jesus.  Therefore, if she is begging to go to another church event or service at a time when our home church isn’t meeting, I am glad to take her.
3. A friend of mine recently told me that part of the attraction of texting is that you can carry on five conversations simultaneously.  This generation will be used to having multi-venue faith experiences as well.  Get used to it.
4. Teenagers desire relationships.  On Wednesday evenings, First Baptist Woodstock has created a venue and environment that is open to all middle schoolers in our region.  It has become THE place to be with your friends regardless of where they go to church on the weekends.  As a parent, I would rather help my daughter meet her relational needs on a Wednesday night at a thriving church rather than the food court at the mall.
5. Therefore, churches should begin crossing denominational and stylistic boundaries and create collaborative ministry experiences.  This requires a sense of security, an understanding of the global church, and a belief that it is not important who gets the credit as long as the kids develop a deep love for Jesus. 
6. This generation thrives on being challenged.
7. This generation loves the Word of God when applied directly to their lives.
8. Humor by those in teaching positions is attractive.
9. Relevant music is a non-negotiable. 
10. Young people desperately want mentors.
11. Young people need a healthy place that provides emotional safety.
12. Young people know when they are loved and valued and will navigate to those environments.
13. Louie Giglio says, “Young people want something that is alive!”  I agree Louie.  I agree.
14. Young people want something new.  Surprise them.
15. Young people remember sermons when they are memorable.
16. Young people are thinking about and experiencing Jesus at a deeper level than my generation did.
17. It is O.K. for church to be fun.  If it is, people will beg to go there.
18. Even young people do proper self-evaluation.
19. Young people, even a 13-year-old, have a wonderful understanding of worship.
20. Church is a very large part of their lives.

As I gleaned those learnings from Anna’s paper, it struck me how much the desires of a 13-year-old are not that much different from a 45-year-old one.  What I am also noticing is that many young Christians are seeing their desires realized while many my age or not.

My 3 Churches captures not only the current FutGen experience.  It captures what could be what all of us will experience in 10-15 years.

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