By Courtney Roberts
Not only did this conference pour into me spiritually, but it also poured into me relationally. I was able to reconnect with old friends of mine I’d previously met but was also able to build and make new friendships including my best friend, Joslyn. The gathering opened up many eyes and hearts among Next Gen 10:2 attendees and mentors.
We received many amazing messages over the weekend, and that wouldn’t have been possible without the Lord moving in the place. Personally, a takeaway I received was how no matter who you are, how old you are, or where you’re from, you have a testimony that tells of the Lord’s merciful love and power.
During this weekend gathering, we learned the importance of disciple-making and where to get the resources that we can share.
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“Personally, a takeaway I received was how no matter who you are, how old you are, or where you’re from, you have a testimony that tells of the Lord’s merciful love and power.”
People and Places
One of the exercises we did was a relational and/or physical map of ministry opportunities. Let me explain what those were. Each participant had a blank piece of paper. On this paper, we were instructed to let the Lord guide us toward people or places to pour into. We wrote down names, places, and situations.
With our map, we answered questions on how we could plan to connect and build the relationships to pour into our friends, coworkers, or even places we loved and cared for. From this, we wrote down ideas and plans and shared them with others in our conference groups to hold each other accountable.
Reaching This Generation
The Next Gen 10:2 Gathering is one I would urge people to attend, no matter the age, if they ever get the opportunity to. As Next Gen attendees, we were asked how the church can reach this generation.
My response is this: If we want to reach the next generation, we don’t have to become them. We have to love them, listen to them, understand them, disciple them, and make room for them. We don’t need to compromise biblical truth to reach Gen Z, but we may need to change the way we communicate that truth.
Gen Z doesn’t need another generation telling us what’s wrong with us. We need a generation willing to walk alongside us. We need older men and women who will listen to our questions, share their wisdom, admit their failures, demonstrate authentic faith, and introduce us to Jesus.
We aren’t called to preserve our preferred version of church culture. We’re called to make disciples. And sometimes making disciples means crossing a cultural bridge so someone else can hear the gospel.
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“We don’t need to compromise biblical truth to reach Gen Z, but we may need to change the way we communicate that truth.”
Our question should shift from “How can we get Gen Z to come to our church?” to instead be “How do we become the kind of church where Gen Z can encounter Jesus, belong to a community, ask honest questions, grow in faith, and eventually lead others?”
The Next Gen 10:2 Gathering showed me that we do have people in the church willing to do what it takes to care for and reach my generation, and that is truly an answer to prayers. The way to reach my generation is not what most in the church are used to or what they may have in mind, but it requires complete reliance on the Lord over one’s own opinion and desire.
This gathering will forever hold a special place in my heart. It not only helped me grow in my faith, but it also brought me friendships and community at the best possible time, when I least expected it.
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Courtney Roberts is a member of River City Church in Lawrence, Kansas. She is a follower of Christ who is passionate about sharing the love of Christ and encouraging others to trust God through every season of life. Her faith has taught her the importance of surrendering her plans to the Lord, leaning on Him in difficult moments, and finding hope in His promises. Her greatest desire is to glorify God and encourage others to draw closer to Him in all that she does.
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