I love hiking, and I love being able to bring brothers and sisters to hikes the past few months, especially when they are from different age groups – from teenagers to adults.

       It reminds me of when the English-Speaking Youth Worship Service first started in October 2000. Despite what it was called, there were also young adults and adults in the congregation, and some came as a family. What about after almost 25 years? It is the same, except that we also have babies and seniors among us.

       Intergenerational worship service has been a significant characteristic of the English Ministry. Apart from age-specific Sunday School classes and fellowships, all people gather to worship God, with children leaving for Children’s Program after praise and corporate prayer.

       I give thanks to God that in the English congregation, people of different ages and life stages can get to know each other and be partners in serving God. They serve on the same Welcome Team or Praise Team in worship service, go on overseas mission trips and do  outreach in Hong Kong together. It still moves my heart when I recall the time when a teenager was leading praise and the pianist was her Sunday School teacher! What a beautiful picture!

       We are no strangers to the saying, “Young people are the future of the church!” While it is true that they are the future of the church, they are also the present of the church. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit (John 14), but He has not prepared a miniature version of the Holy Spirit for those children and teenagers who have believed in Him as Lord and Savior. It is the same Holy Spirit that we have all received! So, the younger ones are parts of the body of Christ – the church (1 Corinthians 12). While it is true that they are still developing in various ways and need to be taught and guided in their walk with God (who doesn’t need it?), they can also contribute to the growth of Christ’s body. I am often inspired and even enlightened by the teenagers’ insights into the Bible passages or topics we are studying. Indeed, the younger ones are not merely recipients of the older ones’ service at church. They have their ways, as prepared by God, to serve and build up others.

        Young people are the present of the church. They are already among us and can be active participants and contributors in the faith community. Young people are also the future of the church. Their experiences in church and engagement with the faith in the present shape the direction of the church and affect the future generations to come.

        May God help the NPAC family to become the church that He wants us to be!