In today's world of increasingly diverse values and fast-paced lifestyles, attracting and retaining young people has become a common challenge for numerous churches. As the future and hope of society, young people often face obstacles in their faith journey, from evangelism to spiritual growth. Drawing on years of pastoral experience, Pastor H shared insights on how churches can walk alongside them in this process.
Pastor H noted that young people generally long for a sense of belonging, marked by enthusiasm, ambition, and active minds. Yet, significant challenges remain in guiding them toward faith. "Compared with the past, contemporary values and cultural environments have changed greatly, deeply shaping young people's lifestyles and beliefs. As digital natives, they tend to have shorter attention spans, find it difficult to focus for long, and often lack patience," he explained.
He also observed that some young believers occasionally skip church, often because they are still at an early stage in their spiritual lives. "When faced with major life challenges, such as sudden illness or financial hardship, they may begin to doubt God. In these moments, the church must offer timely support and care to help them endure. If the church fails to be present at such critical times, these young believers may simply drift away," Pastor H said.
In addition, Pastor H noted that if a church's preaching and pastoral approach fail to keep pace with the times, young people may easily feel that they "cannot understand sermons" or "do not fit in with the community," which only deepens the sense of distance.
"But these challenges do not hinder God's work. The acceptance of the gospel ultimately depends on God's work in people's hearts and the guidance of the Holy Spirit," Pastor H emphasized, adding that the key to personal conversion rests in God's timing—some may need to wait, while others may need to step back for a while.
He observed that many young people first come to church not because they fully grasp Christian doctrine, but because they experience a "love and warmth they cannot find elsewhere." He cited the example of a young couple who began attending church after being invited by fellow believers and eventually committed themselves to the faith, drawn by the love of the congregation and the spiritual nurture they received.
Speaking on young people's participation in religious life, such as their frequency of attending church and commitment to ministry, Pastor H noted that their level of engagement depends on spiritual maturity, which is directly shaped by the nurturing they receive from the church. "The more spiritually mature they are, the more they understand God's calling, and the more willing they become to devote themselves to the Lord and to the church," he said.
At his church, a clear discipleship system has been established. Classes are held in small groups, one-on-one, or two-on-one, beginning with a gospel course that introduces who Jesus is and what the Bible teaches, helping young believers understand sin and salvation, while guiding them to participate in worship and learn to pray. After completing the gospel course, they are offered more advanced discipleship classes.
"We must provide systematic training so that believers can build a structure of faith, firmly establish pillars of truth, and develop a basic theological framework," Pastor H said with conviction. "This process is never easy, as it involves spiritual battles. Human love alone can easily fade, but only truth brings lasting strength. We need to faithfully convey God's word so that their lives may be firmly rooted in the truth."
Reflecting on his pastoral experience, he added, "It usually takes about two years of consistent companionship for a person to grow from a new believer into stable maturity. During this period, alongside course learning, ministers must also give love and even tears. After two years, their lives will gradually mature, they will develop a sense of belonging to the church, and they will become more eager to serve and participate in ministry. Many problems resolve naturally at that point, and some even go on to become group leaders who can walk with others in their faith journey."
Pastor H exercises great caution when assigning service roles. "If believers who are still young in their spiritual lives and lack grace and strength are given too much responsibility, they may be enthusiastic at first, but eventually they might choose to leave," he explained. He observed that many people initially come to church because of life's pressures and difficulties. If they are burdened too heavily at that stage, they may not even pay attention to the sermons and could grow resentful or distance themselves from the church.
To help them build a sense of value and belonging, Pastor H still assigns them appropriate opportunities to serve but avoids giving them major responsibilities or delegating authority too quickly. Instead, he starts with small tasks, such as serving tea or water, and encourages them to work in teams of three to ease individual pressure, enabling them to learn and grow gradually through service.
He stressed that pastors should provide holistic care for young people. Acknowledging their shorter attention spans, Pastor H believes sermons should be concise, focused, and structured to ensure the message is clear.
Pastor H also highlighted the importance of preaching the "full gospel." This encompasses not only Jesus' salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, but also practical guidance for living with Jesus as Lord. After salvation, believers face real-life challenges in marriage, work, and interpersonal relationships, which require navigating according to a biblical worldview, values, and ethics. "All of these demand patient instruction and ongoing accompaniment in practice," Pastor H said.
Pastoral care during the weekday in small groups, he added, is equally essential. "Public preaching may not address everyone's concerns, but in small groups, young people are more willing to share, allowing us to provide guidance and support tailored to their needs," he explained.
Furthermore, Pastor H, mindful of the pressures many young people face today, such as mortgages and childcare, maintains a clear understanding of his congregation's work and family circumstances. He made a connection when he learned that one sister's family was facing financial difficulties and that another sister in the church, who works in education, provided a part-time position. This small act not only eased the family's burden but also strengthened their sense of belonging and commitment to the church.
"A pastor's life should be open to believers," he said. "Sharing one's own upbringing, family matters, and problem-solving experiences is far more impactful than preaching a hundred empty sermons." He also spoke candidly about finances, "Pastors should not pursue excessive wealth. While it is appropriate to encourage believers to be financially blessed, pastors themselves are best neither poor nor rich. If one's mind is consumed by money, he/she will have no energy to pray or preach."
"The church needs to establish a system of life growth rooted in the gospel," he concluded. "When young people enter this system and gradually live a faith-centered life—being nourished by truth, surrounded by love, and guided with patience—their spiritual lives will naturally mature."
(Pastor H is a pseudonym for safety reasons.)
Originally published by the Gospel Times
- Edited by Karen Luo and translated by Poppy Chan
