The Generation Game

Recently at our church we had a generation sharing moment, and split the congregation into the traditional market research categories, you know, the ones that rudely awaken most people into realising that they aren't as young as they thought.

On this occasion, I got a shock in addition to the now obligatory reminder that I'm nearly 30.

I was the only member of the congregation to fit in the 21-30 category.

I cast my mind onto those not in attendance and worked out that even with the absent folk, literally only a handful of people in our church fit into this age category.

I don't really know the breakdown of the ages for others churches in Andover, but don't feel optimistic that any of them are hiding away hordes of people in their twenties.

Maybe it's just an Andover phenomenon. Perhaps bigger towns and cities find it easier to attract twentysomethings and keep them part of the church family.

But I've been alone with this thought for a couple of weeks, so thought I'd blog it in the hope that it stops bothering me.

In a way, I hope it doesn't though.

It reminds me that for all my concentration on working with young people and getting the message out to them, there's an even greater need to get the message out to my peers. It may be more difficult to appeal to them, as the lure of careers, mortgages, socialising, relationships and so on gradually impeaches on their time.

But it's necessary to take on the challenge of doing what is difficult.

Without that, there will be a missing generation in our church.