Fr. Richard OMOLADE

The narrative we have heard for far too long is that Christianity is dying in Europe and the Americas and that Africa and some part of Asia is the future of Christianity. This narrative to say the least is now outdated and a dangerous cliché to hold onto. Yes by some statistics Christianity and even Catholicism is growing, but at the same time, there is a remarkable and significant drainage that if not arrested, portents grave danger to the relevance of the Christian faith.

 

For children and youth to grow in faith, the exemplary life of adult is necessary, yet significant adults are often weak in faith for many youth such that there is no one to motivate them to explore the faith route or give faith a chance.  Time after time, mega events for children and youth continue to show the beneficial nature of practicing one's faith. Such events help to rejuvenate faith and give meaning to their life.

 

In many Churches the pews are filled with senior citizens with the belief that the GEN-Z and the Generation Alfa are in the street pursuing wealth and the comfortable life. Given this climate faith does not seem to be of major concern to many people. No wonder, Churches are empty except for familiar celebrations, our youths are permanent residents of social media world but aversive to spiritual events. Even when they are plagued by guilt and depression, doubts and failure, going to Church or approaching pastors is not often their forte.

 

Church programmes must be planned with intentionality, that is, with focus on children and youth. Our programmes must interest them and benefit them. Precise and adequate planning are non-negotiables. We also must not spare any expenses to achieve this goal. We must enter their world and use their language, only then shall we be able to speak higher truth to them in a way that will make them to listen. We must train personnel that will be involved in children and youth apostolate so that they can acquire the appropriate skills necessary to excel. Our mode of delivery must also change. Our young generation are much more virtual than auditory and ICT and social media offer us incredible opportunities to utilize. Appropriate ICT will capture the imagination of children and when utilized well, open their imagination to level of faith that we cannot imagine.

 

 

As human beings, doing is integral to proper human functioning. Doing is our way of being. Our young ones must be given opportunities to be actively involved in Church life and in the practice of the faith. They become what they do and when it comes to faith, it is what they celebrate that they will profess and live out in the context of daily life. Yes, there are many things our children and Youths can do in our faith community. They can lead at prayers with their peers, they should be allowed to read, join children choir and even be involved in Church Cleaning. If the Church of tomorrow belong to today's children and youths, then we must prepare them today for tomorrow's challenges. Now is the time to catch them young, when they can still be formed according to the mind of God and not allowed to be shaped by the world around them.

 

As parents demand progress from children in their educational pursuit, they must demand the same in the spiritual journey of their children. But this is difficult to implement because many parents are themselves spiritually clueless. Pastors of souls must therefore bridge the gap by assisting parents to grow in their faith and also equipped to help their children. Parents are teachers to their children, they must also teach the faith through their words and example of life.

 

Let the children come to me, says the LORD. There is no better time to allow this to happen than at this time.  Every Church planning today must factor in the place of children and the roles to be played by the youth. This dream must not die, what has become commonplace in Nigeria's political landscape must not be allowed to truncate the spread of the faith and the transformation of the world. Therefore, reasonable adults, that is, parents and pastors must embrace this task and prepare our children for the Church that will be relevant for them tomorrow.  The goal to be accomplished is more than what we can delegate to Sunday school programmes. It requires new thinking, new approach, new personnel and new method. Yes, let's catch them young but with faith and purpose and not just with biscuits and nursery rhymes.