While at the Alliance Seminary Library I saw this cover of Worship Leader Magazine. I don’t really pay attention to WLM bc I’m not one but I appreciated the cover story, entitled, “Why Are They Leaving” by Francis Chan (Crazy/Love). Chan is everywhere these days but anyway.
I’m not real sure he really got to why the youth are leaving, but it was a great article just awkwardly titled.
The article contains a good amount regarding the early church and church culture then and today and acknowledges that as a worship leader, you might not have a ton of control over that.
Toward the end of the article he writes, “So, why are you telling me this? I’m just a worship leader. And this article is supposed to be about youth. The answer to that is the simple fact that Jesus is the only reality that can be relied upon to reach the net generation of leaders and worshippers. That is the answer to reaching the youth. Not concert. Not t-shirts. Not rock stars, T.V. shows or movies. Jesus.
As a worship leader, our role is to help people encounter Jesus. But have you forgotten that you are supposed to be the tangible expression of Jesus. Jesus doesn’t just mysteriously appear as you sing. He’s chosen you to put Him on display by the way you live, not the way you sing (2 Cor. 5:20) …”
He goes on for a bit but that’s the gist. What I liked about it is the reminder that we don’t have to senior pastor to be shapers of the cultures of our church. And among these shapers is our practice of worship. Find and read it if interested.
By the way, if you want to know why the youth are leaving, pick up a copy of UnChristian by Dan Kinnaman.
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