These are some of the messages that have come out of the inaugural event of the Younger Leaders’ Forum of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
The Missing event took place in Birmingham on Saturday, aiming to look at why there is a missing generation of 18-30 year olds in our churches.
One of the speakers was Dr Rachel Jordan, the associate adviser for Mission and Evangelism for the Church of England and an Associate Missioner with the Fresh Expressions team.
She spoke of the cultural differences between the church of yesterday and of today, and the need to tap into this generation in a different way.
Dr Jordan said the challenge was a daunting one, as only 20 per cent of 20 year olds in the country have had any meaningful relationship with the church.
She later praised the YLF and those present as a ‘called’ generation, who needed much support and encouragement.
‘It was a privilege to be there with a wonderful group of young adults,’ she told The Baptist Times. 'They are the ones who have been called to reach out to their generation.
‘The decline in church across all denominations gets more serious with each generation. Their generation has a daunting challenge – and they need encouraging and resourcing to be fit to make the call.’
The Revd Ian Bunce, head of the BUGB mission department, described it as ‘inspiring’ day, adding that the YLF members were ‘phenomenal’.
Ways in which churches can help this generation, Mr Bunce said, include being more flexible.
‘There is a great belief that people need to come to our church, but it’s often at a time that doesn’t fit, and in a style that’s not relevant to the younger generation.’
Churches can also offer prayer, support, encouragement to affirm what the younger people are doing – and ‘stop trying to keep them so busy with church they don’t have the time to develop relationships outside of it.’
Hope’s youth director Phil Timson was another main speaker. Writing on Twitter, he said, ‘What an amazing group of young leaders @missingGen. Inspired by their faithfulness for Jesus. Lord may your Kingdom come.’
Ben Christine of Andover Baptist Church is the current moderator of the YLF. He said one of the advantages of the event was to hear shared stories and have the opportunity to network with others in a similar situation.
‘We were really, really happy with how it went. Everybody was saying similar things, that this is an issue. We are not alone.
‘Interestingly we had a couple of people from different denominations, and they were saying the same thing.
‘A lot of people were prayed for, a lot of people came to the event not knowing what to expect, but have gone away encouraged.’
The YLF will now report its findings, both from the Missing event and the Missing Generation website, to Baptist Union Council in November. It is also hosting a session at next year’s Baptist Assembly.
Recordings from Missing are to be posted at
http://missinggeneration.com/.