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THE under-35 generation is missing from the church, and World Vision is hosting
a leaders’ forum in cities across Canada, to explore what can be done about it. Called ‘35 and Out of the Church: Re-engaging a Missing Generation,’ the forum will take place in Vancouver November 3.
“Over the last 20 years, more and more young people think the church is
irrelevant, out of touch and narrowminded,” said Paul Robertson, youth culture specialist for Youth Unlimited in Toronto,
and a presenter at the forum. Part of the problem, he suggested, is that
under-35s have been taught to be materialistic and self-centred. As a result,
if a church doesn’t make them feel happy and fulfilled, they leave.
The other presenter is Colin McCartney, founder of UrbanPromise Toronto. He
suggested the under-35 generation has a negative view of the church because of
unflattering portrayals of Christians in the media; negative responses to U.S.
president George Bush, whose faith was a very public part of his image; and
reactions to church scandals.
Solutions, the two men suggested, are not as obvious as the causes. Trying to be
“cool” will not work, and any church that “plays along” with youthful self-centredness will fail, Robertson said. While Robertson has
studied youth culture extensively, McCartney said his knowledge is based mainly
on his experience working with young people.
Robertson and McCartney expect that most of the people at the forum will be
church leaders from traditional churches who want to learn how to reach
under-35s, and that is precisely the target audience they are aiming for.
There is no point in traditional churches criticizing youth churches and
emergent churches, which are reaching the younger generation, McCartney said.
Instead, they should do what is necessary to reach under-35s themselves.
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“There is a great opportunity,” he stated. “The traditional church is a sleeping giant” that can change the world if it will “get back to Jesus.”
Robertson suggested some churches are like aircraft carriers: they take a long
time to turn around. The situation can’t be fixed overnight, he said, but the forum will “stimulate discussion,” and be a first step to help churches refocus.
Info: 905.565.6200 ext. 3648; worldvision.ca/forum; or
churchrelations@worldvision.ca. – Jim Coggins
November 2009
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