Seventh Conversation Between Young People and Church Leader Centers on
Church Involvement
São, Paulo, Brazil .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN]
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Why should we remain a part of a church that won't let us participate
in it?
That was a recurring theme in the questions young people in São Paolo,
Brazil, asked Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the global Seventh-day
Adventist Church, Sunday, April 23. The live conversation between the
world church leader and young people, called "Let's Talk," revealed
that young people very much want to have a say in their churches.
Establishing a reputation as a leader who constantly encourages young
people to participate in the church, Pastor Paulsen often restated his
desire for everyone to become active in the church.
In response to one of the first questions asking what Pastor Paulsen's
dream is for young people in the church, he said: "I find that young
people often become disengaged in the church. They are silent partners.
Yes, they come to church, behave well, go to our schools but are not
creatively and actively engaged in the church. As young persons you
have supreme value before God. God has given you some gifts, some
skills" that can be used in the church.
One of the Let's Talk hosts, Larissa Preuss referred to Paulsen's
sermon at a recent gathering of the world church in St. Louis,
Missouri, United States. She asked: "What does opening the doors of the
church to young people mean in real life?"
He replied: "It means you need to be active in the church. It means to
be participants in worship life, leadership life, and witnessing life.
It's really at a local [congregational] level where this is most
fulfilling. And I say to church leaders trust young people with some
roles in leadership. Involve them. They will make mistakes and that's
okay. I've made mistakes. Be open and let them have their place."
Another young man said, "I grew up in the church. And now I'm seeing
that our message is irrelevant to our youth. The way we talk to them is
in the same language since I was a kid. I grew up with some friends who
have left the church because to them Jesus is just a story. The church
is just nonsense to some of them."
Paulsen then challenged the young man and others to find ways to help
other young people realize the "everlasting truth" that is Jesus.
"Truth is not something you invent along the way. Truth is not
something that is changed and given a new identity with each new
generation. Christ is the same today as he was 2,000 years ago. So, how
do we make something that is everlasting relevant [for today's young
people]?" Paulsen then asked the group for suggestions.
One young man said that from his observation older church leaders treat
young people like children. "I think part of the problem is the way the
church talks to the youth ... as if they are eight-years-old when they
are on a higher intellectual level. My thinking is that we must stop
treating the youth like children."
Co-host, Jônatas Ferreira, wondered if Paulsen could identify with some
of the young people who consider leaving the church.
"Did you -- anywhere in your life -- ever think about leaving the
church? Because that is a major, major problem in our community,"
Ferreira said.
"I was born in this church. I grew up in this church," Pastor Paulsen
responded. "When you are [young] you make many mistakes. Some tend to
think 'I'm not really worthy ... I might as well quit.' Please don't
leave the church because you make mistakes. We've all made mistakes.
There were moments in my youth when I felt 'it's a losing battle I'm
never going to be good enough.'" But the Lord is wonderful, He doesn't
let go of you very easily."
One young woman asked Pastor Paulsen, how can they as young people
reach out to other young people and tell them Jesus is coming. Paulsen
reiterated, his message of involvement in the church. "Choose to become
active. ... If you don't become involved your spiritual life will die
as well."
This is the seventh in a series of conversations between the world
church leader and young people from different areas of the world.
Previous broadcasts showed young people from the United States,
Germany, Australia and now Brazil. The live conversations are broadcast
on the church's Hope Channel. Although some of the questions are
different, depending on the location of the program, others follow a
similar theme as those from other locations. Questions such as women's
roles in the church, appropriate music for church and appropriate
appearance and dress for Christians were asked in Brazil.
One young man spoke of how church members in Brazil formed a religious
liberty association to protect the religious freedoms of all Adventists
in that country. He mentioned that the association has worked to ensure
that Adventist students are not forced to take exams on Saturday, which
is the day of worship for church members.
Paulsen said this is one example of being active in the church without
having to receive a salary from the church. "In many places in our
world churches there are many church members actively and strongly
involved in initiatives with government and are a public witness of the
church. I want us to function as a whole. I get distressed when people
draw a line that divides. Why would you want to separate? Aren't we
one? It is important to recognize [this] and give room to everyone in
the church."
In answer to a question from the same young man, Paulsen said, "It is
possible for an Adventist to be involved in politics. They have got to
make an important choice not to compromise their values. It is very
important that Adventists enter the public arena and carry the values
they have and do the best they can for society."
Another young person added, "Growing up in Brazil we all worshiped
together. Then I went to the United States for school, in one small
town they had five different churches, all Adventist. We had the
Spanish, a Chinese, black, youth and old. What does the church think
of that? Because they don't congregate together."
Paulsen said: "In Washington, D.C., where I live there are many Spanish
and Portuguese [congregations]. There are Chinese, Korean, Black and
White. In some ways it is natural for many who first come to the United
States, that they feelbetter able to enter into a mode of worship
with people from the same country, with the same traditions and listen
to the sermon in their own language. It's not a bad thing. However I
think the next generation there should be a merging, a gathering
together of the church because the church is a very, very diverse
community ... but when it is all said and done we are one family."
Pastor Paulsen was joined by his wife Kari, who also responded to
questions from the group. A few of these centered on marriage, and Mrs.
Paulsen commented that she and pastor Paulsen will celebrate their 51st
anniversary this July.
One young man asked for advice for those who are planning to get
married.
"In all marriages there are lots of bridges to cross. Just because
there are some bridges doesn't make it impossible. I think
communication is very important," Mrs. Paulsen advised. "You have to be
able to communicate in all areas ... because communication covers a
multitude of sins."
Pastor Paulsen says he initiated the Let's Talk series to encourage
young people and church leadership to talk. He explained at the
opening of the program, "I want this church to function as a family,
understand each other, to talk together ... with understanding and
tolerance and openness of receiving each other."
Paulsen closed this program, the first of two that day, with a prayer
and urged young people to take care of their spiritual lives.
Following the live "Let's Talk" program, Paulsen taped a second
broadcast which will be dubbed into Portuguese and aired at a later
date for Portuguese-speaking audiences. The live broadcast was
simultaneously translated into Portuguese and Spanish for the South
American and Inter American church region's audiences.
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