Seventh Conversation Between Young People and Church Leader Centers on Church Involvement

April 23, 2006 São, Paulo, Brazil …. [Taashi Rowe/ANN]

Why should we remain a part of a church that won’t let us participate in it?

That was a recurring theme in the questions young people in São Paolo, Brazil, asked Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the global Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sunday, April 23. The live conversation between the world church leader and young people, called “Let’s Talk,” revealed that young people very much want to have a say in their churches.

Establishing a reputation as a leader who constantly encourages young people to participate in the church, Pastor Paulsen often restated his desire for everyone to become active in the church.

In response to one of the first questions asking what Pastor Paulsen’s dream is for young people in the church, he said: “I find that young people often become disengaged in the church. They are silent partners. Yes, they come to church, behave well, go to our schools but are not creatively and actively engaged in the church. As young persons you have supreme value before God. God has given you some gifts, some skills” that can be used in the church.

One of the Let’s Talk hosts, Larissa Preuss referred to Paulsen’s sermon at a recent gathering of the world church in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. She asked: “What does opening the doors of the church to young people mean in real life?”

He replied: “It means you need to be active in the church. It means to be participants in worship life, leadership life, and witnessing life. It’s really at a local [congregational] level where this is most fulfilling. And I say to church leaders trust young people with some roles in leadership. Involve them. They will make mistakes and that’s okay. I’ve made mistakes. Be open and let them have their place.”

Another young man said, “I grew up in the church. And now I’m seeing that our message is irrelevant to our youth. The way we talk to them is in the same language since I was a kid. I grew up with some friends who have left the church because to them Jesus is just a story. The church is just nonsense to some of them.”

Paulsen then challenged the young man and others to find ways to help other young people realize the “everlasting truth” that is Jesus. “Truth is not something you invent along the way. Truth is not something that is changed and given a new identity with each new generation. Christ is the same today as he was 2,000 years ago. So, how do we make something that is everlasting relevant [for today’s young people]?” Paulsen then asked the group for suggestions.

One young man said that from his observation older church leaders treat young people like children. “I think part of the problem is the way the church talks to the youth … as if they are eight-years-old when they are on a higher intellectual level. My thinking is that we must stop treating the youth like children.”

Co-host, Jônatas Ferreira, wondered if Paulsen could identify with some of the young people who consider leaving the church.

“Did you — anywhere in your life — ever think about leaving the church? Because that is a major, major problem in our community,” Ferreira said.

“I was born in this church. I grew up in this church,” Pastor Paulsen responded. “When you are [young] you make many mistakes. Some tend to think ‘I’m not really worthy … I might as well quit.’ Please don’t leave the church because you make mistakes. We’ve all made mistakes. There were moments in my youth when I felt ‘it’s a losing battle I’m never going to be good enough.'” But the Lord is wonderful, He doesn’t let go of you very easily.”

One young woman asked Pastor Paulsen, how can they as young people reach out to other young people and tell them Jesus is coming. Paulsen reiterated, his message of involvement in the church. “Choose to become active. … If you don’t become involved your spiritual life will die as well.”

This is the seventh in a series of conversations between the world church leader and young people from different areas of the world. Previous broadcasts showed young people from the United States, Germany, Australia and now Brazil. The live conversations are broadcast on the church’s Hope Channel. Although some of the questions are different, depending on the location of the program, others follow a similar theme as those from other locations. Questions such as women’s roles in the church, appropriate music for church and appropriate appearance and dress for Christians were asked in Brazil.

One young man spoke of how church members in Brazil formed a religious liberty association to protect the religious freedoms of all Adventists in that country. He mentioned that the association has worked to ensure that Adventist students are not forced to take exams on Saturday, which is the day of worship for church members.

Paulsen said this is one example of being active in the church without having to receive a salary from the church. “In many places in our world churches there are many church members actively and strongly involved in initiatives with government and are a public witness of the church. I want us to function as a whole. I get distressed when people draw a line that divides. Why would you want to separate? Aren’t we one? It is important to recognize [this] and give room to everyone in the church.”

In answer to a question from the same young man, Paulsen said, “It is possible for an Adventist to be involved in politics. They have got to make an important choice not to compromise their values. It is very important that Adventists enter the public arena and carry the values they have and do the best they can for society.”

Another young person added, “Growing up in Brazil we all worshiped together. Then I went to the United States for school, in one small town they had five different churches, all Adventist. We had the Spanish, a Chinese, black, youth and old. What does the church think of that? Because they don’t congregate together.”

Paulsen said: “In Washington, D.C., where I live there are many Spanish and Portuguese [congregations]. There are Chinese, Korean, Black and White. In some ways it is natural for many who first come to the United States, that they feel better able to enter into a mode of worship with people from the same country, with the same traditions and listen to the sermon in their own language. It’s not a bad thing. However I think the next generation there should be a merging, a gathering together of the church because the church is a very, very diverse community … but when it is all said and done we are one family.”

Pastor Paulsen was joined by his wife Kari, who also responded to questions from the group. A few of these centered on marriage, and Mrs. Paulsen commented that she and pastor Paulsen will celebrate their 51st anniversary this July.

One young man asked for advice for those who are planning to get married.

“In all marriages there are lots of bridges to cross. Just because there are some bridges doesn’t make it impossible. I think communication is very important,” Mrs. Paulsen advised. “You have to be able to communicate in all areas … because communication covers a multitude of sins.”

Pastor Paulsen says he initiated the Let’s Talk series to encourage young people and church leadership to talk. He explained at the opening of the program, “I want this church to function as a family, understand each other, to talk together … with understanding and tolerance and openness of receiving each other.”

Paulsen closed this program, the first of two that day, with a prayer and urged young people to take care of their spiritual lives.

Following the live “Let’s Talk” program, Paulsen taped a second broadcast which will be dubbed into Portuguese and aired at a later date for Portuguese-speaking audiences. The live broadcast was simultaneously translated into Portuguese and Spanish for the South American and Inter American church region’s audiences.

A production of the Communication Department at the World Church Headquarters, the program was facilitated by the production team at the newly opened SISTEMA Media Center in Jacarei, near São Paulo.

Related Sites
Let’s Talk Young people can send their questions to Pastor Paulsen via this Web site.

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