Faith
Scripture-Centered Youth Ministry Urged
Faith Facts
- The Church faces challenges engaging Gen Z shaped by digital culture and complex issues of identity.
- Ashish Hirday stresses relational discipleship rooted in Scripture and empathy for young people.
- He advocates for parents to take a leading role in teaching biblical values at home, supported by the Church.
The rapid changes in today’s world have left churches seeking ways to connect with a generation questioning identity and morality. Ashish Hirday, of the World Evangelical Alliance Youth Commission, insists the foundation must be God’s Word and not shallow programming.
He said
“Many pastors understand what young people are going through, and they want to help.”
“But the problem is how to help.”
“Seminaries never trained us to have counseling talks about issues like sexuality or identity.”
“Those conversations are happening now whether the church is ready or not.”
Hirday observes that pastors often lack the relational skills needed to walk alongside youth wrestling with tough questions. Listening with true compassion and addressing past hurts is essential to meaningful discipleship.
He said
“If someone comes to church and says, ‘I’m gay,’ we immediately say, ‘He’s a sinner.'”
“But we don’t listen further.”
“We don’t ask what happened in that person’s past or what led to this point.”
He draws from Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, noting the balance between acknowledging sin and showing hope.
He said
“Jesus knew her sin, but He still spoke into her life, naming her reality while offering hope.”
“That’s what changes people—truth with compassion.”
In his own ministry, Hirday has seen genuine transformation by welcoming people as they are and nurturing real relationships based on the gospel. Emphasizing love opens hearts and allows truth to take root.
Formation, Hirday believes, starts at home—parents must reclaim their biblical duty to train up children in God’s ways. He urges churches to equip parents, not replace them, and calls for better training on parenting within seminaries.
He said
“More than pastors, parents have the key role in speaking about sexuality and identity.”
“And not just about biology, but about the deeper questions of purpose, temptation, and boundaries that their children face.”
Bridging generational gaps, especially with Gen Z, takes humility and a willingness for leaders to step down from authority and truly listen. Hirday shares that genuine relationships grow when leaders approach youth as friends and co-learners rather than just authority figures.
He said
“When leaders insist on keeping a distance, they lose the ability to influence.”
“But when we show vulnerability, we gain respect.”
Finally, he calls for deeper mentorship—life-on-life investment that breaks out of formal structures and lives out the love of Christ through everyday moments. The future of the Church depends on passing down faith through families, humble leaders, and genuine discipleship centered on Scripture.
Invest in the next generation by equipping parents, practicing empathy, and bringing God’s Word to the heart of youth ministry. Together, we can nurture faith that stands firm and lights the way for our children and nation.
Faith Facts
- The majority of pastors now use AI tools such as ChatGPT and Grammarly to prepare sermons.
- Sixty-one percent of pastors report using AI weekly or daily, a significant rise from the previous year.
- Church leaders express concerns over the ethical and spiritual impacts of AI-generated content.
Many pastors are turning to AI technology to enhance sermon preparation while emphasizing the importance of maintaining spiritual discernment and personal connection.
Commonly used AI tools in ministry include ChatGPT for research and creative support, and Grammarly for refining church communications.
Researchers found that church leaders see value in AI for efficiency, yet remain vigilant about upholding biblical truth and safeguarding the unique role of human guidance in ministry.
Churches of various sizes and denominations are participating in the adoption of AI, with a majority willing to invest in further education and ethical training regarding its use.
Leaders are encouraged to approach technological tools with wisdom and transparency, prioritizing faith-based values and community trust as they navigate these new opportunities.
Faith Facts
- Sherry Pogue transformed a French château into a free spiritual retreat for Christian missionaries and their families.
- The ministry, Restored & Renewed, was founded to renew missionaries’ strength and prevent burnout.
- The château also fosters community outreach and Christian fellowship in a largely secular region of France.
Sherry Pogue purchased the 6,000-square-foot Château Claire Fontaine in rural eastern France to advance God’s calling by providing rest and renewal to missionaries. Built in 1870, the four-level home now welcomes missionaries at no cost, offering comfort, recreation, and biblical counseling.
“Our goal is to keep missionaries on the field,” Pogue shared, noting many face exhaustion worldwide.
Sue Foster, a veteran missionary, expressed that Restored & Renewed has “been a tremendous blessing to a great many missionaries around the world, including myself!!”
Pogue, working with life coaches and even a helpful poodle, intentionally opens her doors to missionaries of all biblical backgrounds, emphasizing Christian unity and support. She observed the challenges large missionary families face in affording rest, so her property’s expansive grounds and tranquil setting provide much-needed relief.
Luk Brazle, another missionary, described the experience as healing: “A place where we could sleep, be cooked for and nothing was expected of us was healing.” His family found fellowship with other missionary families, strengthening their connections and faith.
Pogue’s commitment is rooted in her extensive background in education and counseling, all guided by her strong faith in God’s direction. She credits God’s hand for preparing her path, from her early days studying French to her present ministry work in France.
Beyond the château, Pogue organizes Christian services in the local Catholic church—often closed and without a priest—to share the hope of Christ in the village. Professor Robert McCready, whose students join these events, testified, “We would talk about the Lord between songs…it was very encouraging.” His involvement in these faith-filled gatherings was so positive that the mayor honored him as an honorary citizen and welcomed continued Christian fellowship.
Through dedication to biblical values, Sherry Pogue’s faithful obedience is a powerful testimony to the difference one believer can make in God’s kingdom and in the lives of His servants.
Stay connected with us for more stories of faith in action. Subscribe and follow Faith and Freedom Report as we spotlight believers living out Christ’s commission and bringing hope to the world.
Faith Facts
- St Bernard of Clairvaux, born in 1090, was a leading Cistercian abbot and theologian who shaped church life in medieval Europe.
- He described three distinct Advents: Christ’s past coming, His future coming, and His present coming into believers’ hearts.
- St Bernard’s Advent sermons inspired the faithful to experience Jesus’s presence as fulfillment, hope, and joy.
St Bernard of Clairvaux, canonized in 1174, was renowned for his spirituality, wisdom, and service to Christ’s church.
He taught that Advent is a sacred journey, reflecting on Christ’s incarnation, promised return, and daily presence in the hearts of believers.
“If anyone loves me and keeps my word, my Father will love them, and my Father and I will come to them and live with them.”
Jesus’ message in John 14:23 calls Christians to open their hearts to His love and guidance today.
Let this Advent be a time to renew our faith, honor Christ’s coming, and share His hope in our families and nation.
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