Holding onto the hearts of our youth

An article in the October 6 issue of The New York Times carried the dire warning that if current trends continue, only 4 percent of teenagers will be “Bible-believing Christians” as adults. Even if this is an overly pessimistic estimate, as some Christian leaders have been quick to claim, healthy churches know the importance of being intentional about holding onto the hearts of youth.

In a little less than two months from now (December 27–30, 2006), Brethren in Christ congregations will have an opportunity to encourage their young people in the faith by making it possible for them to be part of YouthQuest. Congregational leaders are encouraged to:

Look for creative ways to assist youth with the costs of attending YouthQuest. Many churches sponsor fundraisers (e.g. auctions, car washes, spaghetti suppers, etc.) to assist young people with registration and travel costs. A NOTE TO GRANDPARENTS: Picking up the registration fee for your teenage grandchild(ren) makes a great Christmas gift.

Plan to send young people, even if your church doesn’t have a regular youth program. Teens from smaller churches depend on YouthQuest as a life-changing opportunity to connect with other BIC youth.

As Bishop Ken Letner (Susquehanna Conference) puts it: “The vision for YouthQuest has changed from year to year. But the underlying purpose has remained the same: to draw the young people of the BIC together for a common experience—under a common banner—and to give them a one-church experience.” In short, YouthQuest is a great way for churches to hold onto the hearts of young believers.

Learn more about YouthQuest ’06.

<<Return to Momentum home>>

WELCOME