Gen Z raises its voice at young adults retreat
Gen Z raises its voice at young adults retreat
7 August 2019
(From left) Captain Kim Ashmore, Lincoln Proellocks, Pip Thompson, Major John Viles and Lieutenant Heather Stamp at the Victoria Division Young Adults Retreat.
Young Salvos have a voice, and they are ready to transform Australia one life at a time. This was the heartbeat of last week’s Victoria Division Young Adults Retreat.
The first combined state retreat since Victorian divisions merged, young Salvos came together at Big 4 Caravan Park on the Bellarine Peninsula to brainstorm what lies ahead for The Salvation Army in Australia.
“Young adults (aged 18-35) are often expected to be involved in kids and youth ministries, but we are rarely in core leadership or are not given a voice,” said Victorian Youth and Young Adults Secretary Lincoln Proellocks.
“We are persistent, think differently, and have time to offer. We often see that [the older generation] fear what they don’t know. So we want to take the first step to break down barriers, not just wait.”
Utilising the theme of ‘Anchored’ to steep the 40 attendees in God’s word over the weekend, guest speaker Major John Viles (NSW/ACT Youth and Young Adults Secretary) encouraged the campers to initiate their spiritual growth through mentoring, small groups and prayer.
“John reminded us to stand up for our own faith and feed ourselves. [Young adults] are spoon-fed their faith through childhood, and now they have the responsibility to own it,” said Lincoln.
After Commissioner Floyd Tidd’s call at Still Others last year for Gen Z to rise up and become the future of The Salvation Army, the weekend away equipped delegates to initiate action in their local corps.
“We are still incredibly passionate about the local church and want to be included. We see The Salvation Army as an incredible [movement] and see that God is doing incredible [things].”
Comments
The young people of to-day have to accept that what the older people feel comfortable with I.e. music, types of meetings etc are often uncomfortable with what some young people are trying to force on them. I have been a Salvationist all my life and have seen the change from two open airs and three meetings plus prayer meetings to one open air and two meetings to now no open airs and only one meeting From bands and timbrels to musical groups from uniforms to t-shirts and jeans.and we are asked to accept this. In the future as time goes by will these young people who are pressing for change now be prepared to accept the changes that the next generation will ask/demand of them? It will be left to them.
I am encouraged by what God is doing in the lives of our young people, and their response to the Holy Spirit's promptings. We must continue to pray earnestly that God will use them to make a difference in their sphere of influence, then to the broader community.