<\/p>\n
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n
God has entrusted the young people of our synod to the spiritual care of Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and fellow believers. At a time when many teenagers and young adults can feel isolated or disconnected, we have the privilege of surrounding them with God\u2019s Word and with relationships that remind them they belong to Christ and his church. In the following article, Rev. Donn Dobberstein encourages us to consider how each of us can help young people know that they do not walk alone.<\/p>\n
Consider two 18-year-olds, both confirmed together, both participants in the church youth group. Five years later, one is still connected to church. The other has not attended since high school graduation.<\/p>\n
What made the difference?<\/p>\n
I posed that question at a WELS youth leader breakout. The responses were fascinating and revealing. They showed that someone had taken a personal interest in the young person who remained connected. Someone showed up at a game. Someone listened. Someone invited that teenager to participate in the congregation\u2019s ministry\u2014not simply attend a program in the youth room.<\/p>\n
Programs end. Relationships do not.<\/p>\n
At a synod or area youth gathering, I watch teenagers connect with one another. A young person who may be one of a few teens in the home congregation enters a room filled with Christians his or her own age.<\/p>\n
The message is immediate: \u201cI am not the only one who believes this. I am not alone walking with Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
The number of WELS members ages 14 through 24 declined from 48,183 in 2015 to 41,701 in 2025\u2014a decrease of 13.5 percent. The reasons are complex, and the implication is clear: We dare not assume young people will remain connected to Christ and his church without intentional spiritual care.<\/p>\n
Young adults need Christians who know their names, listen to them, open Scripture with them, and model a lifelong walk with Christ. Christian relationships allow us to keep placing a better message before them: \u201cYou are a baptized child of God. You belong to Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
How can we help them develop healthy independence without severing their connection to their faith and church? Part of the answer is greater spiritual mentorship. The relationships of the Christian home and congregation widen the circle of encouragement surrounding a young person.<\/p>\n
That emphasis is reflected in \u201cChrist through us,\u201d WELS\u2019 long-range plan. It calls us to build deep Christian community, engage all God\u2019s people in ministry, provide sound Lutheran resources, and elevate the home as the first mission field. WELS supports that work through resources for parents and congregations, training for youth leaders, online Bible studies, Youth Nights, and the WELS International Youth Rally. These efforts provide another opportunity to place young people within reach of God\u2019s promises\u2014and among God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n
Our teenagers are not merely the future of the church. They are Christ\u2019s people today and Christ\u2019s ambassadors now.<\/p>\n
So, learn a teenager\u2019s name. Ask a thoughtful question\u2014and listen to the answer. Encourage a parent or youth leader. Invite young people to serve. Above all, keep bringing them to Jesus and his promises.<\/p>\n
Programs end. Relationships do not. Through us, Christ continues to assure another generation: \u201cYou belong to me. You do not walk alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rev. Donn Dobberstein
WELS Director of Discipleship<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
We pray for the young people of our synod. Keep them close to you and your Word. Give Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and congregation members wisdom, patience, and genuine love as they listen to, encourage, and walk alongside the next generation. Use our homes and congregations to assure young people that they belong to Christ and that, in him, they never walk alone.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Serving together with you in Christ,<\/p>\n
WELS President Mark Schroeder<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Related resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God has entrusted the young people of our synod to the spiritual care of Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and fellow believers. At a time when many teenagers and young adults can feel isolated or disconnected, we have the privilege of surrounding them with God\u2019s Word and with<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[303,290],"class_list":["post-32402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-daily-verse","tag-walk","tag-wels"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}