As young adults, we are generally always looked to for something new – a new word, a new way, an understanding of new technology. In our Western culture, newness is valued highly (as is youthfulness), so many of us have the opportunity to be “the expert” on any number of topics prized by those around us.
Yet, it often seems like a different story when we walk through the doors of the Church.
Sometimes, though the presence of young adults in church life and leadership causes great excitement and celebration, the voices, opinions and ideas of those same young adults aren’t taken seriously. This is especially the case when a younger leader suggests a course of action that requires change! Suddenly chants of “we’ve always done it this way!” put us in our place and we are reminded that others built our church, others charted out her trajectory, others mapped out her ministries before we were ever on the scene (even new church starts can fall into this mode after a year or two).