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Many of our African American Young Adults who are in there twenties and thirties want us to know that they are "Young but not forgotten." After Confirmation and graduation from High School many of them have a greater sense of independence, yet quite often they find very little offered to them in the structure of parish life. They are hungry for God. Just as in Psalm 63:1, "O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where no water is." They recognize that they are the largest age group that seems to be lost and forgotten about by the Church. My vision for Ministry with African American Young Singles and Couples in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is clear. I envision young singles and couples being invited to and by faith-filled and healing parish communities, where their needs are addressed in a wholeistic manner, their spirituality is nurtured, their gifts are affirmed, and their imagination is captivated. I see them becoming rooted in Jesus Christ, fulfilled in relationships with peers and mentors, and committed to service, justice and peace in all parts of their lives. I see the steady growth of balanced and vibrant leaders, both young and old, ordained, vowed and lay, volunteer and paid working collaboratively to realize this vision. Now that I am no longer a "young adult," I am convinced that ministry with today's African American Young Adults is a life changing and faith sustaining act of social justice. The young adult community in our Church is the heart and soul of the life of the Church, and they are navigating their way through the pitfalls of life. This is a time of great pressure; many have young children, new jobs - with a growing sense of job insecurity. Life's issues and challenges that tend to feel insurmountable bombard them. Vices such as drugs, alcohol and extramarital sex become seemingly viable options to meet their immediate and tangible felt needs. Their need for scripture to become the Living Word in each other, His felt presence is a matter of life or death. They truly desire to choose life. They don't want any more "same old thing." They realize that many of their peers are going through what they are, and they have common conversion - faith journey stories. In the sharing of their stories they are encouraged and connected, which is their lived experience of church. His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony, Archbishop of Los Angeles says in A Fresh Encounter with Jesus Christ: Directions in Evangelization, "even with all our programs, the vitality of our ministries, vibrant worship and strong outreach, no matter how hard we work, so often it seems that something is missing. What is that? It is my sense that many of our people feel they lack that personal encounter with Christ, which transforms one's life, and the language in which to talk about it with others." Any program of evangelization must begin from a "fresh encounter with Jesus Christ" (John Paul II, Ecclesia in America 7).  They need an inspirational, relaxed, and free environment in which they are empowered to open up and feel comfortable about authentically expressing their deepest thoughts and emotions. This helps them learn how to discern their true calling because many are afraid that they are not strong enough in their beliefs. They are accepted and appreciated, welcomed and invited to serve the Lord in each other. This gives them a place to belong which makes Religious Vocations a Viable option worthy of pursuit which becomes their natural response to God's outpouring of grace and unconditional love. The love and support that they receive lets them know that they are not alone. This leads to a shift in their priorities, and serving the Lord in each other becomes more important than any of their vices. Small faith communities are helpful. They allow the young adults to get to know each other better, especially in larger parishes. This allows them to take a step back towards God when for so long they have been wondering lost. There is no pressure there. Communicating in this environment feels much better than being preached at. For many, each individual's testimony means more to them then "some verses from the Bible, because they are more real and relevant to real life." There is a strong connection that increases their desire to be closer to God. I believe we are called to be "wounded healers." This results from a vivid awareness of one's affinity with sin, loneliness, alienation, and despair. This becomes possible when we become aware of the awesome power of God's amazing grace in our lives. It is in the telling and remembering of our sacred stories that we become Disciples of Christ, learners and servants of the master teacher. Our sacred stories are a tapestry, which shapes our Christian consciousness. The Jesus story is a story in which the liberating, forgiving and reconciling grace of God reaches out to transform us. We respond to this story by becoming disciples, by becoming persons and communities whose whole lives are being reshaped by God's revelation in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As I look back over my life I have come to realize that my faith story and Jesus' story of his life death and resurrection are becoming more and more as one. Many young adults need help seeing things clearly. They desire a new perspective that is honest and not intimidating. This facilitates their journey back home. Janna, an African American Young adult who recently attended one of our retreats entitled "Here I am Send Me" exclaimed, "Now I don't have to feel ashamed about my love of and relationship with God." Too often we forget that persons are not only unique, but also social, and that both individuality and community are essential, complementary dimensions of being human. Often it is as communities that we both experience and respond to the "moral tug" to do the right thing. In other words, we must always remember and keep in mind the awesome impression that our relationship with our community has on our behavior. They are looking for ways to do things differently, "out side the box." In stead of having masses at the same place and same time, it makes a difference to go where they are, for example, home masses, back yard praise and worship services and even ministry in the parks, restaurants, and nightclubs. Consider that, finding the transforming power of Jesus everywhere. "That which is always and everywhere true must be noticed and accepted, and celebrated somewhere, sometime" Michael Himes. When they sense themselves as lovable and worthwhile, in spite of their mistakes, they can begin to feel love and tenderness for others. This is the power of Agape Love. African American Young Adults in Los Angeles are searching for a kind of trusting and encouraging environment in which they are able to discover their gifts that they can utilize in order to be a blessing to others. Kasey Lott says, "The sharing of gifts creates a chemistry that is like pieces of a puzzle that fit together for an ultimate purpose that will emerge and grow." This ultimate purpose is embracing and building up the body of Christ. Our faith communities have their own distinctive moral character, a character that shapes and is shaped by the character and actions of individual persons. The particular character of our faith communities will radically affect our ability to respond to the moral call as a community and at the same time the community's character will shape our individual acts and lives. In other words the way we behave in our faith communities will shape the way we make our moral decisions. I believe Jesus invites us to go to the deeper waters of our baptism. Take what you have, through if find a new way. He challenges us to risk getting in trouble for the sake of welcoming others into our congregations. He reminds us that if we follow him there will be moments with stretched out and hands crushed. We must still inter into relationship, and minister from the inside. Reaching out to the poor and the youth is definitely worth the effort. We don't have to agree, yet we must come together at the table of the Lord with reckless generosity. We must be willing to face criticism to achieve reconciliation with the whole body of Christ. It is important and valuable for leaders to just hang out with the margenalized like our youth and young adults. This is truly the way Jesus lived. We must try new things in order to achieve new results. We can and we must live in compassion and love. African American Young Adult Ministry is nonpossessive warmth, to experience unconditional positive regard. This is the human equivalent of grace in a relationship. Nurturing relationships wherever this is present is very nourishing because I believe this is where the healing power of God resides. The actions we take in African American Young Adult Ministry are acts of self-determination: in them we not only reaffirm what we have been but also determine what we will be in the future. By our actions we not only shape a particular situation, we also form ourselves to meet future situations in a particular way. I believe African American Young Adults are looking for the ultimate love relationship. They are hungry and thirsty to be spiritually fed. To encounter the living God through His living Word, and if we do not respond to the voice of God in their community we are actively participating in Social Injustice. |
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