Engaging Youth in Outreach: Empowering the Next Generation

by Kathrine Pimentel

 

Whatever you do, don’t say the word “evangelism.” That’s what a small group of Christian high schoolers told me while discussing the topic of sharing the Gospel. In a world where everything has become offensive, you can add the word “evangelism” to the list. In the moment, it would have been easy to write this off as another wild idea of Generation Z, but as I dug deeper into the topic with them, I found that love was at the root of their word of caution to me, love for their friends, neighbors, and families. They had all witnessed the damage done to the name of Christ by well-meaning Christians who had wielded the Gospel like a battering ram, forcefully sharing their convictions with complete disregard for the feelings of their target audiences.  As we talked, my mind was immediately drawn to a time when I was guilty of this exact behavior. 

Freshly off a church retreat as a sophomore in high school, I marched into lunch on Monday prepared to go to battle for the Lord. I said a quick prayer, sat down at my lunch table, then turned to my dear Jewish friend and said, “I know you are Jewish, but would you consider converting to be a Christian like me?” Needless to say, it did not go well, and things were never the same between us. I felt guilty about this for years. But looking back on the situation, I now have compassion for my little fifteen-year-old self. My heart was in the right place. I loved my friend, and I didn’t want her to end up separated from God for eternity. I wanted her to experience the joy and peace of Christ that had transformed my own life. You know what they say about the best-laid intentions, though. They actually pave the road to hell. 

Now you may be wondering why I’m spending so much time on the word “evangelism” when the title of this article has to do with outreach. That’s because I believe that had I taken an approach of outreach with my friend, things would have gone very differently. For better or for worse, to this next generation of leaders in the church, “evangelism” implies judgment and self-righteousness, while “outreach” implies loving and serving others in the name of Jesus. What if I had approached my friend with sincere kindness, engaging in conversations with her about her own faith, showing her unconditional love, and praying for her when she was hurting? And more importantly, what if I had prayed daily for the Holy Spirit to give me the opportunity and words to share the Gospel with my friend? I can guarantee that God would have done a much better job than I did.

If we want to empower the next generation of believers to share their faith, we must teach them to do this within the context of outreach. Peter said it best in 1 Peter 3 when he said, “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.” As we encourage this next generation to engage with the world through acts of service and love, it is imperative that we equip them to give an answer to those who ask why. Why are you serving when you get nothing in return? Why are you continuing to love and forgive me when I have been so cruel? Why are you always the one willing to do the most difficult job? And with respect in their hearts and a gentle tongue, they will be able to reply, “Because that is what Jesus has done for me and for you.”

 

About the Author: 

Kathrine Pimentel is the mom of three amazing girls, ages 5, 11, and 14. She is also the high school minister at Westover Hills Church in Austin, TX. She has worked with middle and high school students for the past 20 years, serving as a middle school teacher, counselor, and most recently, a student minister. She is thankful that God has allowed her to teach the Gospel to students over and over again throughout her life, because it constantly reminds her of God’s grace and goodness. Kathrine is married to Christian, who is also a minister at Westover Hills Church, and they feel incredibly blessed to be able to work together both in ministry and as parents to their daughters.