Why reach the next generation?

The season of life between the ages of about 12 and 22 is important. Young people make important life decisions in those years. They tend to be less set in their ways and more open about spiritual things. The school system forms and trains them. The values taught by their teachers and professors eventually become the values of the nation, as these students become law-makers, authors, entertainers, teachers, or other influencers in their communities. They are the future leaders of society. And the older I get, the shorter this opportune season seems to last; they don’t stay young for long.

A classic example of the significance of reaching young people for Christ is the work of Professor William S. Clark, who remains a national figure in Japan to this day. He was only in Sapporo for eight months from 1876 to 1877, working at what is now Hokkaido University. But during his short time there, he prayerfully poured his life into a handful of students. These young men went on to influence Japanese Christianity and Japanese society for generations to come.

Sadly though, this key demographic is often conspicuously absent from our local churches today. One Japanese pastor, a mentor of mine in his 80s, encouraged me not to give up on reaching out to the youth, because they are the future of the church. I am convinced he was right. When we invest in the youth, we are really investing in the church’s future.

Making the gospel attractive

A church in Tokyo creates a trendy atmosphere, which attracts young people. The church uses the same cutting-edge lighting and video that one would expect to see at a J-pop concert. Their leaders purposefully dress and talk in ways that appeal to young working professionals and university students. Before each service, hundreds of youth in their 20s gather expectantly and count down the seconds until the worship music begins. They are excited about their faith, and they show it in their enthusiastic praise-and-worship time.

Is it just the music and fashion that attracts these youth? In this Japanese furoshiki (wrapping cloth) culture, we know that the wrapping is almost as important as the gift inside. So it’s not surprising that Japanese youth appreciate an attractively packaged worship service. We do well if we engage young people where they are; whether it is through their music, on their campuses, or through life testimonies from their popular heroes. But engaging them with an attractive “wrapping” on the gift of the gospel is just the first step.

Young people may not express it out loud, they might not even be consciously aware of it, but what they are really hungry for is a deep connection with God. So how do we get them there? An article published by a church research company in the United States a few years ago claims that young people who have a personal relationship with a pastor are twice as likely to stay in church, and that those who have a mentor in the church are much more likely to stay in church than those who don’t.¹ These relationships are important, and I think they are even more important in Japan than in many other countries. Building deeper relationships with our youth is the first step in moving them to a deeper relationship with God. So, like the Tokyo church mentioned above, our worship service “packaging” should be of high quality and attractive, but it is even more important in the long run to establish discipleship-centered relationships.

Connecting with small groups

A church in Yokohama is reaching Japanese youth using small-group ministry. They have worked hard to make small groups simple and easy to lead so that young leaders can do the work of the ministry. Both outreach and discipleship happen through small groups. First, young believers pray for their classmates, friends, and relatives. They are encouraged to start doing this as soon as they themselves are saved. Brand-new believers are sometimes the most enthusiastic evangelists.

In these small groups, discipleship happens through discussion around what the church is learning from the Bible and how it should be applied personally. Because young people are praying and encouraging each other to reach out, more young people are saved. As these newer ones are added, the more mature believers learn how to mentor and lead them.

The first time I played in a school basketball game, I ran onto the court, received a pass, and started dribbling toward the wrong hoop! Fortunately, my teammates corrected me and turned me around before things got too embarrassing. Of course, I understood the game well in theory, but it was different when I was responsible for the ball in a real game. I know now that if that coach had not taken a risk on me, I would have never really learned how to play. All too often, in our churches, we have believers who sit through lots of teaching, but who have never really learned how to minister to others. We are in ministry today because someone took a chance on us and gave us some responsibility when we were younger. Shouldn’t we also be prayerfully looking for young leaders to put in the game too? Even brand-new players become veterans with the proper mentoring relationships.

The Yokohama church took a chance on me when I was younger and that is why I am a church planter today. They now have 50 small-group leaders, but only because at some point someone took a chance on young people and empowered them to lead.

Investing in young people is worth the cost

Working with future leaders takes a lot of time and energy. They can cause problems—especially the first time you try to put them in the game. Young people are naturally inexperienced and they do make mistakes. They might need to be taken out and coached for a while before they become successful team players. I have had people tell me that you can’t build with young people. Young people are irresponsible. Young people don’t make as much money as older members, so we should focus on the ones who give more. Young people move away when it’s time to go to college or after they finish college. Why not just focus on the more mature believers who are more stable?

Just imagine a sports team in which every player is only one year away from retirement. The team might look great now, but how is the coach going to look next season? He hasn’t spent any time building the rookies and future stars. That coach would probably lose his job! I am convinced that the youth are the future of the church. If we begin to reach them now, revival in Japan is not far off. If we ignore them, we are only robbing from our future. It is vital that we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show us how to build mentoring relationships with the youth that God has entrusted to us in our own context. Will you accept the challenge of equipping and empowering this next generation for the work of the ministry? They don’t stay young for long. 

1. “5 Reasons Millennials Stay Connected to Church”, Barna Group, September 17, 2013, https://www.barna.org/barna-update/millennials/635-5-reasons-millennials-stay-connected-to-church.