Dear Friends,
I recently completed an excellent book by
Jason Tucker titled Speaking Their Language. The book is written by a
pastor friend who now leads a church I once pastored in the 90's. It is a book
about church revitalization.
Jason has successfully led his church through
dramatic change by redesigning church programs to attract the younger
generations. Tower Hill Church, which is now one of the largest Presbyterian
churches in the country, has focused its programming on reaching those in the
Gen X and Gen Z demographics by 'speaking their language.'
Jason has pastored the church for the last 11
years, and while change has been slow but steady, the church now has two
contemporary services and one traditional service, and for Christmas, they
offered six worship services to accommodate the large number of worshippers.
Jason would tell you that the changes have not
always been easy, especially in worship, where adjustments from a more
traditional style of worship have often been difficult for some of the older
generation.
Jason points out, "That research tells us
that younger generations will avoid a church that primarily offers programs and
ministries geared to another generation.
He points out that the church was shaped to
reach the post-World War generation, and changes in 'how to do Church’ must be
made if it is to remain relevant.
"This being said, I've never met an older
church member who didn't long to see younger generations engage in the life of
the Church. In fact, they absolutely crave it. The problem is when they dictate
the terms."
Jason continues, "Every congregation is a
generational relay and must prepare for an eventual passing of the baton of
leadership to a successive generation. Our observation is that the leading
reason churches are declining is because most are staffed, programmed, and
envisioned to reach one generation."
Older generations often find such change
difficult, and they wonder if there is a place for them in the church. He says,
"The best thing we can do for older or more traditional generations is to
empower them to reach and disciple younger generations. When they do, they grow
deeper in their faith."
"What about nurturing the faith of older
generations? What are we doing for them? We're exhorting them not to waste
their lives. We're helping them grow by empowering them to perform a successful
generational faith handoff as a first- order faith priority."
He concludes by telling one of my favorite
stories told by John Piper at a conference in 2,000 where John exhorted his
listeners not to waste their lives.
"I'll tell you what tragedy is. I'll read
to you from Reader's Digest what a tragedy is. Bob and Penny took early
retirement from their jobs in the Northeast. Five years ago, when he was 59 and
she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise in their
30-foot trawler, play softball, and collect shells. That's a tragedy, and
people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that
tragic dream. And I get 40 minutes to plead with you: Don't buy in. With all my
heart, I plead with you: Don't buy that dream. The American dream: a nice
house, a nice car, a nice job, a nice family, a nice retirement, collecting
shells as the last chapter before you stand before the creator of the universe
to give an account of what you did. ‘Here it is. Lord- my shell collection! And
I've got a nice swing and look at my boat!' Don't waste your life; don't waste
it."
I sometimes worship at Tower Hill, and I can
tell you something very exciting is happening in the midst of that fast-growing
congregation. If you would like to know more about those changes, I encourage
you to pick up a copy of Speaking Their Language
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
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