From 0 to 100
"One generation commends Your works to another; they tell of Your mighty acts.”- Psalm 145:4
This past Saturday was amazing! How special, powerful, energizing, unifying it was to have ALL AGES sharing their faith and praying a blessing on the generation above them. What we experienced in seeing kids, youth, young adults, adults, and seniors come together to lead this time was a confirming of our VISION and an advancing of our MISSION. As I watched the service unfold, I was flooded with such joy and hope. I am sure this was similar to what the beloved disciple felt when he wrote in 3 John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
In the last 18 months we have witnessed a whole lot of NEWNESS to our church. We moved to Saturday Nights and changed our name to Restoration Church. Another awesome thing is the many ages helping our church flourish and making our assignment possible. We have AWESOME Young Leaders (20 somethings leading as a Worship Leader, Youth Pastor, and Council Member) and ACTIVE Older Leaders (three seasoned Foursquare Pastors have joined us in the last six months). God is doing something NEW in our demographics, in our development, in our distinct calling here in Thousand Oaks. What we are living out is what the Holy Spirit poured out on the day the Church began. Peter declared in Acts 2:17, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
As we receive and release all ages to make their contributions, our church will be better and stronger! We need everyone’s voice, experience, talents, passions, and resources to be on display and put to action. Ephesians 4:16 tells us, “From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Young people let’s learn from the faithfulness and wisdom of our elders. Their stories of overcoming the odds; knowledge of God’s Word; diligence in prayer; perspective on life’s priorities; and stellar church attendance should be acknowledged and followed.
Elders let’s allow this next generation to speak into this season of the church. Their passion for worship; heart for their peers; understanding of cultural realities; vast array of pursuits (i.e.- the arts, athletics, and academics); ability to communicate in this high-speed, technology saturated world; and fresh perspective in processing God’s Word, should be welcomed and appreciated.
As we continue to welcome all from 0-100, may we move forward in Christ, living out the fullness of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”