As a millennial himself, Jonathan JP Pokluda is in a unique place to offer advice on ministering to this generation, which seems increasingly distant from the church. In "Welcoming the Future Church: How to Reach, Teach, and Engage Young Adults," Pokluda begins by offering some broad qualities of the millennial generation. These qualities then lead Pokluda to suggest some specific idea regarding ministry. Many of these ideas emerge from his own pastoring at The Porch. Some of the most helpful lean on the fact that millennials long for purpose. Giving them purpose through an understanding that they are all pastors, witnessing to their peers is the base for ministering with this age group.
Pokluda also helpfully explores various teaching strategies that are attractive to this generation. A teacher of the Gospel should share their own story, warts and all. A teacher of the Gospel should also be honest regarding Scripture. Help people to wrestle with those places in Scripture that are notoriously difficult. Help people to discover where culture tempts us to compromise the message of Scripture so that they might know the truth present within.
Some of what Pokluda writes sounds very familiar. Many suggestions regarding church structure and leadership training are applicable across generations in the church. It seems that these suggestions could be applied to many churches with many generations so that Gospel sharing might be more effective.
Overall, "Welcoming the Future Church" helps familiarize ministers of the Gospel with the unique culture of this generation. It also assists in helping ministers of the Gospel to consider how they might integrate young adults into existing ministries so that the entire church might be more effective in sharing the Gospel.
I received this book from the publisher as part of their blogging program.
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