2022 has to date been a rewarding year, but certainly one that has called us to take a careful look at our discipleship of next generations through @ygchurch. This mid-year report is intended to offer a quick overview of our ministry operations so far and pose important questions as we prepare for the Fall.
Our missional intent is to deepen devotion to Christ Jesus through (1) worship; (2) fellowship; (3) evangelism/outreach. These three quadrants will serve as the structure for our review.
INTIMACY WITH GOD [WORSHIP]
In the first three weeks of the year, our average attendance was registered at 100 people. For the first three weeks of July our average attendance is now at 149 people, with a range over the year to date from 89 to 188. In comparison and contrast to Legacy and Mosaic, YG continues to be the “median” service as we emerge out of the pandemic era.
Although we have seen great faithfulness in our ministry teams and volunteers through the duration of the pandemic, it would be also fair to assess that a general weariness has resulted and noted challenges in recruiting new volunteers to augment our ministry base.
One final note, it would be important to note that during the nearly three years of the pandemic, we have seen our once “young adult” base mature into adulthood as well as moving into other forms of involvement and leadership in the church. While we praise GOD for this desired outcome, we are feeling the pinch of the pandemic’s impact on our typical mentoring and integration patterns given the time absent from in-person worship experiences.
COMMUNITY WITH EACH OTHER [FELLOWSHIP]
We are very proud of our ability to sustain online LIFEgroups through the entirety of the pandemic, investing heavily in Zoom and other technological solutions to make this possible. Even today, in hybrid adaptations these LIFEgroups continue. We have yet to see in-person groups be anymore than periodic social occasions, and we are also finding there to be some tentativeness on the part of young adults to commit to formal groups per se.
A poignant question posed in pastoral staff: “What does “community” look like for @ygchurch outside of our worship programming?”
A candid response is that it looks nothing like it did a year ago or even two years ago. We are praying and listening carefully to see what GOD presents to us this coming Fall.
INSPIRING THOSE AROUND US WITH THE HOPE OF GRACE [EVANGELISM/OUTREACH]
With the emergence of YG Shark Tank, our outreach and service activities have diversified significantly and have reflected the great creativity and passion of YGers to “share Christ Jesus and His love.” Here are some of the ways @ygchurch has shared hope and grace this year so far:
• A medical missionary trip to Cali, Columbia, in collaboration with Adventist World Radio and SWAU Nursing Department.
• A war-relief supplies drive by our Ukrainian young adults and personal delivery of tons of supplies to the border through Poland, in collaboration with various humanitarian agencies and Ukrainian relatives.
• Young adult discipleship training in Alaska in partnership with North Pacific Union.
• Construction of dozens of blankets for the homeless by Burton Adventist Academy students.
• Youth outreach night in collaboration with Union College and Burton Adventist Academy.
In addition to these creative endeavors, the Fall will have more “meeting-based” evangelistic opportunities as well including:
• Fall evangelistic event at University Texas Arlington in collaboration with Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church and Adventist Christian Fellowship.
• Passion Conference in December.
• GODencounters Conference with Pastor Sam Leonor in the Winter quarter of 2023.
• Spring Week of Prayer in collaboration with Adventist Development and Relief Agency and Burton Adventist Academy.
OVERFLOWING JESUS BEYOND OUR FOUR WALLS, BLESSING OUR COMMUNITY, TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD [VISION]
I would be remiss if I didn’t make mention of the impact of @ygchurch that transcends our building and typical church parameters. Thanks to GOD’s generosity, we are given glimpses of fruit that otherwise would be invisible to local church metrics. One example is the Torres family, a military family that have become part of YG through our media ministry. Last month, I had received the glad report from Emanuel and Joshua’s parents that they had made a decision to be baptized. Their sister had introduced the entire family to YG online several years ago and they have continued with us no matter where they have been stationed.
SUMMATION
In conclusion, let me share some great @ygchurch factoids:
• We have given primary focus to building relationships with our younger generations as well as collaborative ministry relationships with their educational settings [i.e. BAA, UTA, SWAU, UC, PUC, SAU].
• We are in the strongest financial position we have ever been in the history of Younger Generation Church.
• We have been able to provide strong financial support to all-church projects and needs, like the audio/visual systems for the sanctuary.
• We continue to build strong partnerships in our local church as well as with various Seventh-day Adventist organizations and institutions [i.e. ADRA, SWUC, Texas Conference, LLU].
• We are open and eager to learn how to improve our discipleship and mentoring of our young adults and church members, building quality relationships for the Kingdom.
Younger Generation Church is very excited about the coming Fall season, and solicit both your prayers and personal involvement as we look to, through GRACE, engage each other and the world.
