Real, Relevant or Both?

Recent studies have shown that as high as 70% of young Protestant adults between the ages of 18 and 22 have stopped attending church regularly. How could this happen? We tried so hard to reach them – with slick slogans, casual worship clothing, shorter sermons accompanied with power point pictures and video clips, upbeat music with live band on stage, no more welcoming of visitors, entertainment that almost matched the theater district, low lights and bright spot lights, etc. While there is nothing inherently wrong with any of the above methods, the relevant must be matched with the real. Young adults have been raised in a culture of distrust, dysfunction, and distaste. They are looking for something and someone that is real. The wrappings can be flashy or faded, but the contents must be authentic and genuine. Paul asked, “Do you look at things according to the outward appearance” (2 Cor. 10:7)? Could it be that we focused on the outward to the exclusion of the inward and in our zealous attempt to be relevant, we failed to be real?

Join me in remembering the following global concerns:
• Pray for those affected by unprecedented flooding in Pakistan. As many as 1600 people are reported dead and another 14 million have been affected.
• Pray for missionaries who will gather this week for a retreat in the northern part of Serbia.
• Continue to pray for those who minister among Muslims during their month of Ramadan, August 11-September 9, 2010.