Recently a friend who is starting a young adult ministry in the Cleveland area asked me about my experience with 'thirst' here in Milwaukee. I share with you some of my thoughts:
(1) Don't give me your rehearsed answers and all too familiar traditions. I want mystery -- a sense of awe in the presence of something bigger than all of us. I want an authentic experience of the holy (like all of us do, I think, deep down below our routine traditionalism);
(2) Along with authenticity comes discipline. That is, if it's not authentic then why should I commit to it? But if I experience presence of holy mystery, then I yearn for deeper commitment through discipline (read: discipleship). So in doing ministry with young adults, be intentional and up front about making disciples rather than offering entertainment or social networking, and trying to sneak discipleship in the side door;
(3) Young adulthood can be a lonely time for those living on their own for the first time, but many young adults aren't living on their own. Many live with parents or friends/roomates. Unlike older adults w/ spouses, w/ children, etc., young adults are more natural at finding opportunities for networking. So social networking events aren't a strong attraction in and of themselves to many young adults. BUT...social networking specifically with those who want a deeper and more authentic awareness of the presence of the divine mystery is appealling. I'm thirsting for it;
(4) Finally, the term "young adult" is itself in-house church-speak. It puts us in the framework of how we typically do "youth ministry", as in "we need a program for young adults." I don't necessarily think of myself as a "young adult", and I don't want to be part of a youth group for adults. Again, for those active in the church -- we want to have peers who are committed to discipleship. As a mark of discipleship, this generation is stoked about doing community service, hands on work to help people. It's one of the main ways we experience the presence of the divine mystery. Service is the natural connection with young adults not active in the church. Without knowing about Jesus' mission or participating in God's kingdom, they experience something bigger than themselves in doing service, and this provides the setting for helping them put the story of Jesus as the framework for understanding their experience of the divine mystery.
(5) What an authentic experience of the holy that inspires my commitment looks like for me is: hitting the streets with a parnter or two in hands-on apostleship ministry. I'm dying to meet someone who is as eager as I am to hang out in bars, clubs, coffee shops, malls, and cafe's to talk with people about their thoughts on spirituality and their experience of the presence of holy mystery in their lives. What a great opportunity we'd have then to invite them to a gathering of folks who are having similar conversations and thirsting for the same awareness!
I don't want to try to convince people about Jesus with my words. I want people to come experience Jesus in this community that thirsts for the experience of holy mystery.
Kevan D Penvose, M.Div, S.T.M.
Discipleship Coach for Family Ministries
St. Stephen the Martyr Lutheran Church
6101 S 51st Street Greendale, WI 53129
work: 414.421.3543 home: 414.258.0858
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