Where are they all at? 

When holidays or long weekends occurred, as pastor there are times when I would stand up to preach and as I addressed the congregation I would ask the question, “Where are they all at?” 

I made a commitment several years ago, that I would never ask that question again, based solely on this, next week “they all” would be back after the long week or holiday.  Praise God! 

But, as I look back over my ministry, I had the opportunities to evangelize and visit many churches from different denominations.  I found myself asking my wife, Fran, after leaving the church, “Where are they all at?” 

The reference was not the congregation I had just ministered to, but to the children and youth of the congregation.  I was disturbed to find, from place to place, there were missing elements to the congregations – children and youth. 

As I look back at the Book of the Exodus, I hear Moses as he kept on telling Pharaoh “to Let my people Go”.  One day Pharaoh asked the question to Moses, “but who are they that shall go?” (KJV Ex. 10:8 - 11) 

Moses responds that he would “go with the young and the old, with sons and daughters, with flocks and with herds will we go”.  But Pharaoh said, “not so”.  Men you can go but leave your little ones here. 

As I look back at the Book  of Joshua and see how Joshua led God’s people into the Promise Land, I see a generation of people who followed God.  But that was short lived, because after Joshua’s death there arose a generation, “who knew not the Lord.” 

There is a generation that has been defined at the Bridger Generation, born 1980 – 1995.  This generation has been called such because they will bridge the millennium in there formative and working years. 

Their ages are 25 to 10 years old.  This time period suggests youth, energy, ideas, fun, and indestructibility.  It has been reported that the Bridgers will out size the Baby Boomers based solely on the number of offspring the Baby Boomers will have. 

You can find Bridgers in the Bible, they were referred to as princes of Israel, the next rulers of God’s people.  We have a great responsibility to minister the next generation, because they are the next generation of leaders. 

So, let’s look around, are there Bridgers in our churches?  If not let’s ask the question, “where are they all at?”

Let me share with you 10 keys that any church can do to influence the Bridgers:

1.   Give them their own space.  From Youth rooms to College-career classes, let them decorate their own space.

2.   Spend time with them one-on-one.  They are more interested in relationships than material possessions.  Outings, ski trips, tubing, skating, baseball, etc.  Be part of their activities.

3.   Let them know and feel like they are welcome.  Finger prints, scuff marks, and litter are easy to remove.  Don’t let them hear some fussing about a mess, don’t blow it!

4.   Give them time to worship God with their own music.  Praise and Worship are apart of Christian society and movement.  I’ve learned to love the youth more, than I like my likes.

5.   Provide game rooms, and visual aids.  This generation is visually sensitive.

6.   Help them financially.  Not everyone has the money to go on retreats, Youth Camps, and outings.

7.   Overlook their sometimes immaturity.  They are not perfect, yet!

8.   Love them and pray with them at the altars.  They have issues that are important.

9.   Don’t be a phony.  They can tell it.  Be real.

10.  If you don’t have any children or youth in your church.  This spring and summer, connect with another church and sponsor someone to Youth Camp.  They will love you for it.  Maybe he or she will be a future Preacher.

Let’s not only pray for the next generation, let’s leave them something.  My prayer is that the Bridger Generation will enjoy going to church and they will want to give their children the same thing.

 God Bless you as you serve the Most High God.

 Rev. Henry B. Shaffer Sr.

 Article by Rev. Henry B. Shaffer Sr.

Published in "Christian Monthly Reader"  April 2005