Yesterday at Central United Methodist Church, we celebrated one of my favorite Sundays (and it’s not because I don’t have to preach on that day). We have a robust and active youth ministry here at Central. They fill the youth hall on Sunday nights, attend retreats and trips throughout the year, serve on local, state, and international mission trips, and lead in different roles throughout the church. For many of our members, our youth are unseen due to the incongruent times they gather and serve here at the church. Youth Sunday is a great reminder that youth are a vital part of our church. At their age, they are already equipped—and sometimes better equipped—to lead our church. They are more connected to the pulse of our culture and understanding how God is relevant and applying faith to current social issues. God is ripening fruit and gifts for ministry in them; they are intelligent, passionate, and love the Lord as much as anyone. Yet, I wonder if for some of us, they are invisible. We've stopped seeing them.
One of my favorite religious paintings is the Holy Trinity by Andrei Rublev. It depicts the Trinity—God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—around three sides of a table. The fourth and front side of the table is left open. God makes room at his table for us. God makes room at his table for all of us. God makes room at his table for children and youth. Youth Sunday reminds us of the value of young people, that God sees them as leaders in his kingdom, while we overlook them. God enabled a teenage Joseph to overcome treachery and imprisonment to become second in command to Pharoah. Teenage Daniel was deemed 10 times better than all the advisors to the king of Babylon. God ordained Samson at birth, called Samuel at 12 to serve as prophet, and raised up a boy David to be king. Teaching in the temple, 12-year-old Jesus amazed people.
Let's remember our youth are among us, primed to serve and lead. They are here, and they are ready. As we go about the tasks of ministry, let's imagine and vision new ways to empower and include them in all we do.