This Sunday at Church: Talk to someone at church that has no fellow peer in the person’s age group

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Talk to someone at church that has no fellow peer in the person’s age group.

 

This might be largely applicable in smaller churches.  But then again sometimes big churches has a large segment of a certain demographics be it young family, young adults, etc.  In such a context there might be those who are older or younger who can be marginalized.  Yet let us be intentional to make sure they are a part of the body of Christ.  One way is to talk to them.  Hear them.  

I also think this is quite relevant in small churches.  As many of you know my church is small.  I was thinking about how some of our youth are the only at their grade level.  Or even there’s a few years age gap with them and the next closest peers.  And when you are young even one year difference seems to be important differences.  Even more important for all of us to make sure they are loved and care for. 

Over the years there’s time when there’s only person in my wife’s Sunday school class!  The person can feel out of place. The person can feel they don’t belong there.  Sometimes we gotta pray for them and show Christ loving hospitality and family care.

Talk about God.  Talk about the Gospel. Ask them how are they doing.  Pray with them. Text them during the week.

One thing to talk about is how God doesn’t wait for a perfect ideal community of similiar peers before there’s a community; nor does it have to be a lot of people of one’s age before God is working in us and through us.  I have been with my local church for over twenty years, its the only church I known as a local church both as a pastor and just ordinary member.  Over the years I have seen in our small church some of the kids who had  no peers grown a lot through those difficult years where they can feel alone.  I truly believe we need to be reminded that God works even when our expectation isn’t what we want.  And I also think God can work even when we feel lonely or different from others.  For myself I have seen God sanctified me and even clarify that the motivation why I’m at church and serving isn’t because I just want to have friends; sometimes when things are all bigger as a community I have also seen people confuse community or activity as the same thing as seeking God.  Now seeking God does drive one to be part of God’s family and to service.  But we can easily confuse them for seeking God, to the neglect of trusting in Christ and God. And I’ve seen how those difficult times at church when one is young can sanctify us, can mold us and develop our characters in ways that we wouldn’t grow if we didn’t grow in difficulties.

One of my deacon is a younger man who grew up in the church and never really had much kids his age.  It made me think about how sometimes when one is in this situation God can use that to make us a leader for the younger ones at an earlier age.  I recall the days when I was young and in the Marines still caring and concern for our church and those younger than myself.  I see how God used that to form in me a pastoral heart.

We need these conversations in small churches. And in big churches.