Young Seventh-day Adventists should continue reaching out to peers and seek more active roles in church, the president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church said to church members during a live television broadcast earlier this month.
Jan Paulsen also told the group of young adults from the church's Inter-American region, to embrace peers who are considering leaving the church or acting out in rebellion.
"Let's love them back," said Paulsen, referring to Jesus' example of the Prodigal Son. "God is in the business of saving people."
The broadcast was the most recent installment of the Let's Talk series, in which Paulsen fields impromptu questions from youth. The series has run more than 20 times in locations worldwide. The February 6 broadcast included interpreters for the Spanish-speaking studio audience of 18.
During the unscripted broadcast at San Salvador's Channel 33 television studio, Paulsen reiterated themes from previous episodes. Again he encouraged youth to actively participate in church, and for church leaders to bring youth into positions of church leadership.
"To my colleagues ... trust them enough to give them responsibility," Paulsen said. "Many [young people] have said, if the church doesn't need me today, I'm gone tomorrow."
Paulsen also encouraged youth to share biblical principles with peers instead of feeing they need to adapt to other lifestyles to share the gospel.
"You don't have to change any biblical values. You just have to talk about them as values which can enrich their life ... both for a secure future and to shape the way we live now," he said.
Regarding teens in the church who act rebelliously, Paulsen said, "Teenagers are very sensitive and can feel guilty very easily. Support your young people, show that you care for them."
"Everyone makes mistakes," Paulsen said, including himself in the statement.
Regarding local ministry and education resources, Paulsen said regional leaders were the ones to make decisions for their own areas. Responding to a question about the possibility of each country in Central America establishing its own Adventist university, Paulsen said there is no limit to the number of institutions that could be built, but the needs of the community and the nation need to be considered.
"We want it to be top quality with whatever we establish," Paulsen said. The church now operates universities in the region in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela.
Paulsen answered a question about sexual abuse, calling it a "huge challenge" for the victim, but saying that person should "not have any doubt that God loves them."
"That person should find a trusted person to talk to ... or some therapy. No one should have to carry that burden alone," Paulsen said. He said sexual abuse should be reported to the authorities. "Even if it happened in the church," Paulsen said, referring to the church's written policy requiring such charges to be reported to the police.
The next Let's Talk is scheduled for March 7 in the Netherlands.
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"Let's love them back," said Paulsen, referring to Jesus' example of the Prodigal Son. "God is in the business of saving people."
The broadcast was the most recent installment of the Let's Talk series, in which Paulsen fields impromptu questions from youth. The series has run more than 20 times in locations worldwide. The February 6 broadcast included interpreters for the Spanish-speaking studio audience of 18.
During the unscripted broadcast at San Salvador's Channel 33 television studio, Paulsen reiterated themes from previous episodes. Again he encouraged youth to actively participate in church, and for church leaders to bring youth into positions of church leadership.
"To my colleagues ... trust them enough to give them responsibility," Paulsen said. "Many [young people] have said, if the church doesn't need me today, I'm gone tomorrow."
Paulsen also encouraged youth to share biblical principles with peers instead of feeing they need to adapt to other lifestyles to share the gospel.
"You don't have to change any biblical values. You just have to talk about them as values which can enrich their life ... both for a secure future and to shape the way we live now," he said.
Regarding teens in the church who act rebelliously, Paulsen said, "Teenagers are very sensitive and can feel guilty very easily. Support your young people, show that you care for them."
"Everyone makes mistakes," Paulsen said, including himself in the statement.
Regarding local ministry and education resources, Paulsen said regional leaders were the ones to make decisions for their own areas. Responding to a question about the possibility of each country in Central America establishing its own Adventist university, Paulsen said there is no limit to the number of institutions that could be built, but the needs of the community and the nation need to be considered.
"We want it to be top quality with whatever we establish," Paulsen said. The church now operates universities in the region in Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Venezuela.
Paulsen answered a question about sexual abuse, calling it a "huge challenge" for the victim, but saying that person should "not have any doubt that God loves them."
"That person should find a trusted person to talk to ... or some therapy. No one should have to carry that burden alone," Paulsen said. He said sexual abuse should be reported to the authorities. "Even if it happened in the church," Paulsen said, referring to the church's written policy requiring such charges to be reported to the police.
The next Let's Talk is scheduled for March 7 in the Netherlands.
Let's Talk El Salvador from GC Communication on Vimeo.
I would like to state that the young adults lack leadership and I think they would like to see that conservatism fall away, and be absolutely free to worship their Creator. The churches are empty and generally lack the vibrancy of the youth. I agree with Jan Paulsen and would not like to see the youth stagnate in the local church and it has a very cold atmosphere. Youth need the warmth of members and to be nurtured with love and care.
CYRIL | February 26, 2010 4:55 AM | Reply
Without the youth there is no church tomorrow. Let us all join hands and support our youth for stronger spiritual nourishment.
samuel oluoch abong'o | March 2, 2010 3:26 AM | Reply
I think we need more things like GYC! For many of us youth, church has become a one-day thing. Worship on Sabbath and that's it.
I think we need something deeper than what has always been offered -- older people trying to predict and do stuff that THEY think the youths will like.
It kinda worked but the problem is we youth face the same challenges as everyone else and more than ever before we need a deeper understanding of God.
Many of our church programs today involve things like music, dance, sports ... things we could always get from places apart from the church. What does the Seventh-day Adventist Church have to offer us that is unique???
jokatama Prasad | March 3, 2010 1:55 AM | Reply
I would like to thank our church for the times they address and try to incorporate the youth in church activities. This upgrades the lifestyles and spiritual growth of the youth.
But the conservatism of our church must stand since that's what makes us different and firm in purpose.The principles must stand but the way of doing things must change only for the good.
Rael Sum | March 3, 2010 3:12 AM | Reply
The only way the youth will stay in the church is for the youth to get involved in the church mission. Jokatama is right... church should not try to offer us the same things we can find out of the chouch... I will stay in the church because i believe in its mission and i want to be part of it. Know, What the church should do? Challenge me, trust me and get me involved in its mission.
Oscar | March 6, 2010 10:59 AM | Reply
I totally agree with the notion that youth stay in the church if we they are allowed to take part and be involved. Many times young people are labled that they are not up to the standard to take part and be responsible in church major functions and decision-making regarding the welfare of the church. I strongly believe that youth is a vital part of this church. The church's role is to mentor and coach them to be accountable for the church becasue that is their responsibility. Every single adult in this church should have one youth to mentor and make it as a partnership that will lead them to become strong believers of the church but most importantly to make them promising leaders of the church when their mentors are gone. I really want to see that take place in this church that is very dear to my heart because our young people are the future of this church.
Uluaiaso Tuaumu/American Samoa | March 9, 2010 5:15 PM | Reply
Let's pray for our young people to have that spirit of servanthood in the cause of God. The world has many things to offer to our youth, but if our church has some things to offer to them most especially in their spiritual growth like spiritual retreat, youth congress, seminars, and the like then we could help them stay in church and not doing pleasures that are of the world.
Mike Severino | March 26, 2010 3:38 PM | Reply
True, the church must maintain its purity and sanctity while at the same time acknowledging the challenges that young people face in the modern world. dance, clapping and any other modern worship trends should be left out of traditional Adventist worship.
The separation of chaff from grains is on and we should not fight the spirit of God and deliberately put ourselves in the wrong folds.
i am a young person and i love Adventism the traditional way. Please give me just that!
beryl subia | June 7, 2010 10:34 PM | Reply
Youth want a church that feels alive, relevant and caring. Most church programs are so steeped in traditions from the Organ playing preludes to postludes, responsive reading etc. Everything that was good for Grandpa including the pews are considered holy. We argue over music styles and even have church splits unrelated to salvation issues. The church must be willing to recognize what's traditions and what's biblical. Start over. There shouldn't be delays, from one thing to another. Invite the youth to rewrite the service and get them engaged. How many more generations will we watch leave the church, simply because we're inflexible, stuffy and unchanging. Kudos for those brave churches who quit doing business as usual as young people walked out of church and did something different. Start looking at everything as if there be good fruit.. then we should be in that harvest. The dried up old olive tree needs to be cut and replanted with fruit bearing. Keep praying that you're hearts are changed and your eyes are opened to what God's trying to put in your heart.
darryl larson | August 18, 2010 5:54 PM | Reply
Beryl what you enjoy might be completely different than what someone else does. Simply a personality difference would compel you to enjoy something related to that personality. Evaluate all things by biblical principles. Why do we discredit biblical texts so easily while they are relating to singing, clapping and shouting to the Lord. Ellen G. White writes that the dress shouldn't stay at the ankles but relate to the times. Wouldn't we look silly if we had all ladies wearing their dresses down to their ankles? Yet that would show us outwardly as being separate from the world. I don't consider other Christians as being of the world. There's nothing ever written that only S.D.A.'s will be in heaven. The narrow tunnel vision is one of the reasons that the church looks inflexible and cold to youth. I applaud you that you find the conservative church appealing. You have lots of SDA churches that you can attend. How many are out there who are presenting anything to that contrary?
darryl larson | August 18, 2010 6:03 PM | Reply