If I had a pound for every time I heard how hard it was to interest younger people in the church I would go a long way to helping the country through the recession...!
I am in my twenties, and part of an 'apathetic generation' so I'm told. My advice to those who ask for it is this; people want something to live for. We've seen consumerism bring us down, we've learnt the lessons of materialism, and we've seen generations before us search for enlightenment. What is bringing a crowd of young new volunteers from outside the church to my office wanting to get involved is more that just the need to add to a CV. It's the profound dissatisfaction with the world as it is, and the burning desire to do something to be part of the solution - whatever the cost.
My message to churches in particular is this - the church that looks outwards, gives sacrificially and seeks the Kingdom first... grows. Christian Aid allows us to act ecumenically, be practical about unity and bring the Kingdom of God to the here and now, 'out there' beyond our church walls. It puts the poorest and most vulnerable to the top of our agenda not as an optional extra but as the heart and soul of the church and the community. It puts flesh on the gospel and love - radical, outraged love, into action. That's the kind of movement me and my 'apathetic' friends would want to join!
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