Ministry in the hurricane

 

"I am convinced that we are in the midst of a societal hurricane that I would characterize as a category five hurricane, meaning it has the potential to cause widespread havoc and destruction." These thought-provoking words from Jimmy Long are found in the introduction to his timely and challenging book Generating Hope: A Strategy for Reaching the Postmodern Generation (InterVarsity Press, 1997 - ISBN 0-8308-1680-1).

 

An InterVarsity campus minister for over 20 years, Long's passion to share Christ with today's emerging generation of young adults has led him to a deep understanding of who they are, how they think and how they express the spiritual longings of their souls. He's concluded that Generation X has been steered and shaped by postmodernism, the dominant world view behind so much of today's societal change.

 

We agree that Generation X is the first generation that offers a peek into the implications of embracing the postmodern world view. Consequently, this opportunity must be viewed as no different from any other foreign missions venture. Today's missionaries to young people must come to a deep understanding of postmodernism as a prerequisite to effectively communicating the Good News about Jesus Christ to young hearts and minds. Generating Hope is one of the most valuable resources we've found to prepare the church for this task. Jimmy Long has done us a favor by offering a balanced and hopeful look into our changing cultural climate.

 

In the first section of Generating Hope, Long offers insight and analysis of current societal changes. His purpose is to "encourage the church to seriously consider the changes taking place in society by examining the connections between postmodernism and Generation X." Long's overview of postmodernism is especially helpful.

 

Section two contains a Biblically sound theological foundation for connecting to this disconnected generation. Long argues convincingly that the church must communicate with theological terms that speak to the hearts of young adults. Because they yearn for a place to belong and call home, the church must emphasize community by modeling healthy relationships. Because their longings are rooted in spiritual emptiness and alienation from God, the church must call young adults out of a life of shame to adoption into God's eternal family. And finally, because this generation "suffers from a sense of past abandonment, as well as hopelessness about the future, the church should live and teach the past, present and future faithfulness of God."

 

In Generating Hope's final section, Long calls the church to reconsider our ministry strategies so we might be more effective in leading people to true spiritual maturity. Long presents "the small-group community as an appropriate context for ministry, the spiritual journey as a model for Christian growth, and offering hope as a basis for evangelism." This final section is filled with practical and thought-provoking ideas that deserve serious consideration and warrant implementation.

 

The Center for Parent/Youth Understanding recommends Generating Hope as a must-read for youth pastors, pastors, church leaders and parents. For several years, CPYU has been working to convince the church of the need to understand postmodernism as both a world view and cultural force shaping Generation X. We also believe the Millennial Generation (the generation that follows Generation X) is being powerfully shaped in the image of the postmodern world view as well.

 

To communicate the Good News, we have to understand our young audience. To understand our young audience, we must come to grips with their postmodern context. Generating Hope by Jimmy Long is one of the most helpful tools we've found for the task of leading young hearts and minds through the hurricane and into life.