A Growing Young Transformation

Since coming on board with the Pulse team in November, my major project has been going through all our Growing Young materials and preparing for a major relaunch in 2024. We have spent some time in December and January consulting with the Fuller Youth Institute and are now in the final stages of crafting a ‘Growing Young Journey’ for congregations across our Synod. If you would like to find out more information about this, you can read about it on the Synod website here and/or submit an expression of interest by filling out this form. 

Rather than explaining more of the nuts and bolts here, I would like to take this opportunity to share my own experience of a growing young journey. I cut my teeth in ministry in a church on the Gold Coast that was in the midst of a major transformation. Several years prior to my becoming their youth pastor, they were an ageing church that had resources of people, time, and money, but realised that alone would not ensure they thrive into the future. There was a distinct lack of young people in their congregation.  

They made a bold and courageous decision not to settle for the ‘inevitable’ but do everything in their power, both spiritually and practically, to write a different narrative for their church.  

It all began with a prayer group that met every week and prayed over the chairs of their church. Prayed that they would be filled with families and children once again. They paired their spiritual fervour with practical wisdom and hired a pastor who had a passion for family ministry and slowly things began to change. Fast forward 2-3 years and I arrive on the scene to a church that is really discovering itself and becoming a vibrant intergenerational community.  

I was immediately struck by the heartfelt desire and willingness to experiment with ideas and risk making change in the hopes of reaching young families. In the three years I was there, they hit a phase of exponential growth that ultimately led to the church more than doubling in size, primarily from those under the age of 30 and their parents. Despite that radical shift in demographic, most of those who began the journey more than a decade ago, remain to this day, active members and leaders in the congregation – it has become a truly intergenerational Church.  

Having seen a small part of that journey, I have so much hope and belief in what is possible for our Synod. I don’t doubt for a moment that God has great things in store for the next generation of the Uniting Church in NSW, and I’m so excited to already be hearing stories of transformation and growth as churches across our Synod undertake their own growing young journeys.  

I had the honour of hearing one such story when meeting Rev. Sharon Jacobs from Tuggeranong Uniting Church last week. She regaled me with inspirational stories of two of their ministries: Fam@4 – a multi-congregation ‘Messy Church’ experience that Tuggeranong regularly hosts that sees engagement of young people with their families learning the bible story together; and intergenerational church – on the first Sunday of the month they gather in circles instead of rows and celebrate God creatively together.  

This is one of many congregations in our Synod with wonderful stories of vibrance and transformation. I’m starting a collection and planning on sharing more! If you have a story or three to share, reach out! I'd love to hear them. Or, if you would like to explore what a growing young journey might look like in your context, click the link below.  

Growing Young Expression of Interest

Tuggeranong Uniting Church - Rainbow Retreat

Tuggeranong Uniting Church - Intergenerational Service