Matthew 9:36-37
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
Today's Prayer Focus
- For a spiritual movement among young adults in and through our church to the city.
- For a real sense of community among our growing numbers of both singles and marrieds.
- For multiplying small groups among young adults to grow organically.
- For a spiritual harvest among millennials moving into Baldwin Park.
"A Spiritual Harvest Among Millennials"
Mike Tilley
The young Millennial Generation is comprised of those born from the early 1980s to the early 2000s. Much has been written to attempt to describe what they are looking for in a church. In Orlando, Millennial participation in churches is actually quite diverse, from large churches to small churches, from traditional to progressive. Like other generations, this group defies simplistic categories.
LBC was birthed with a mix of boomers and 20-somethings, setting the stage for an intergenerational community. We have been enriched by all age groups, and there is an amazing desire to learn from one another. From my experience, Millennials add incredible value to our body life. They lead us in social media and technology; they often think differently about social and political issues; they improve my sermons; and they have a built-in honesty meter.
Jesus would view all of us through his lens of compassion. We all are like sheep without a shepherd. Millennials need for the Lord of the harvest to raise up laborers to love them, to show hospitality, to mentor them, to learn from them, and to introduce them to the good shepherd. May we all show the love and compassion of Christ for all generations, including the Millennials.
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.