No Youth, No Future

By Miya Johnson, Connectional YPD Stewardship & Finance Committee Chairperson

Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.

Proverbs 22:6 (NRSV)

When young people graduate from the Young People’s and Children’s Division (YPD), do you make space for them in your organization? Do you welcome them with open arms or tell them to sit in the back and be quiet? How you welcome people to your organization can determine how long they stay and how active they will be. Consider starting a new job; everyone greets you with big smiles, attempts to get to know you, and someone takes you under their wing to show you the ropes. A person is more likely to be excited to come to work and willing to jump in and help wherever possible if they feel welcomed. This welcoming is the kind of experience we should have in the church. The church cannot grow if we do not accept new people and invite them into our different organizations to serve.

We make young people feel welcomed by allowing them to use their skills to complement the work already being done. We can embrace young people by listening to their ideas and learning from their new perspectives. Being open to these new perspectives can help grow our organizations, the church, and, most importantly, the body of Christ. Remember, people want to join a church where they feel welcomed and not judged. Being open to new ways of thinking is the best way to keep and retain new and young members. Our Zion has the tools to be greater than it is; it is just a matter of looking to our youth. The youth are the key to keeping Bishop Richard Allen’s dream and legacy alive