In my last blog I wrote about “Ways To Keep Young Families”, and although it seems I am writing these in the wrong order, if you are not prepared for the young families to attend your church, you are not prepared to be reaching them. To read that blog click this link –> Ways to Keep Young Visiting Families.
But how do we reach them? I am assuming that if you are reading this that you find yourself in the difficult situation of having no or very few young families attending your church regularly. It seems as though we need young families to reach young families, and so without young families we are stuck. Although it may be more difficult, it is still very possible. Below I will give you just 2 things you can do that will hopefully help you reach young families in your community. If you are discouraged by these 2 things, I encourage you to read the “PS.” at the end.
1. Inspire Your People
I was working as a Youth Pastor, and was told by the Lead Pastor that I had to work my normal 9-5 in the office. Before this I was the type of pastor that would take students out to McDonalds during the day, coach sports teams, volunteer in schools, but this time I wasn’t allowed to do these things. I was angry, more so at God than my leader, as my passion is for evangelism. God said something clearly to me as I drove a little too fast on my way into work one morning. He told me that I needed to train my students to reach students. So, although the ministry only had a few students in it, that’s what I did. I emphasized a few things in that ministry that now continue to follow me in every ministry setting. These are those few things.
- Experience: In order to inspire people to share about their faith, they need to be experiencing God for themselves. Powerful, heartfelt worship, times of prayer, and opportunities to serve the larger community as a church community.
- Discipleship: I had to teach my students the Word of God, and how it practically applies to them and the world around them.
- The Work of the Spirit: To this day I pray the same prayer before I preach/teach. I pray that God would speak to the peoples hearts. Every time I do this, I talk for less then 30 seconds to emphasize the need of the Holy Spirit in sharing the Gospel.
As I emphasized these 3 things students would invite their friends that were asking hard questions, and seeking more than an event or club. The friends they invited were looking for purpose, and they were finding it in Jesus. Although my story was with a Youth Ministry and not for a whole church, I have witnessed this work for other leaders, and believe that as people experience God for themselves, are discipled, and see and rely on the work of the Holy Spirit, they are driven to share the love and power of God with those they interact with.
Although you may not have younger people in your church to reach those young people, your people may still possibly interacting with younger generations at work, and in the community. If your church is full of retiree’s with no connections to a younger generation (I’ve been there) the second is just as important as the first.
2. Serve the Community You Want to Reach
Churches and Pastors have become so bogged down with programming. I work as a Children’s Pastor now in a medium sized church, and just my ministry alone has 3 programs on a Sunday (x2 as we have two services), a midweek, a kids bible study, a toddler ministry, plus monthly family events, and a couple of camps. If you’re serving in a church as the lone ranger (done that too) being program heavy is not feasible. So, pick one need within your community that greatly impacts young families. This could be (but is not limited to) cost of living/finances, education, or single parent homes. Pick just one need that impacts those you want to reach, and fill that need. Maybe it’s providing free tutoring, or an after school program for kids, or a food bank, or free baby sitting once a month. Do it consistently (with those who are older serving the ministry), and as your people are driven to share Christ’s love, people will, by the grace of God, gravitate to your church.
PS. You’re not alone.
Reading these two points may be discouraging to you. You have been trying for months, years even to draw people in, but those sheep God has entrusted to you have no fire, no life, no desire to reach a younger generation. You need to know that you are not alone. For a short 6 months I was a Lead Pastor in a church that said with their mouths “We want to reach our community” but didn’t really mean it. If you find yourself in that position talk to a friend, or if you have no one to talk to, click “Contact Me” below and send me a message. I want to encourage you, and be praying along side you.
Maybe you’re just tired. Ministry feels exhausting and it has changed so much since the pandemic. You have nothing left to give, and so inspiring others, or reaching your community feels exhausting. Maybe you’re spent for volunteers, and your own time is robbed by other matters in the church, or at home. I invite you to click “Contact Me” below so that I can take time to minister to you.
Jonathan DuHamel 