“There is a hunger for the Word of God among young adults”: State of the Church Singapore 2023
Rev Dr Ben Thompson // November 27, 2023, 5:09 pm
"It gives me great encouragement that we are not living in an age where people have lost their appetite for the Word of God," says Rev Dr Ben Thompson in response to the results of the State of the Church Singapore 2023 survey. Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.
Did you know that, between 2020 and 2022, the single most frequently cited pull factor for young adults to a Singapore church was the church’s preaching ministry?
“This reflects a confidence that (churches) do not need to make the Scripture relevant to people’s lives, as though it was somehow irrelevant, but that as it is faithfully taught, God will speak,” said Rev Dr Ben Thompson, a faculty member at ETCAsia and a member of the Churches Attracting Young Adults research team from the State of the Church Singapore 2023 qualitative survey.
The 2023 survey looked at the movement of young adults (aged 19 to 35 years) across churches, covering a period which included the COVID-19 pandemic (roughly March 2020 to April 2022).
“Unlike the 2022 study, which sought to objectively capture the reality of church health across Singapore, this year’s State of the Church 2023 researchers wanted to go deeper into why some churches are doing better than others, especially among young adults,” said Salt&Light Editor Edric Sng.
“Hence, 12 churches known for their growth in this demographic were handpicked for this series of conversations.
“There are so many positive lessons to glean and best practices to emulate, be it in the realm of preaching, spirituality, evangelism, building community, or engaging the generations.”
The following response to the State of the Church Singapore 2023 survey is by Rev Dr Ben Thompson.
I approach the results of this survey with a number of different reasons for interest.
“Many would say that Christianity is a religion of the past, of little relevance to the modern world. This survey would suggest the opposite.”
First, having been involved in pastoral ministry in the United Kingdom for nearly two decades, including leading a group of churches through the early stages of the pandemic, I am aware of the great challenges facing those entrusted with the responsibility of leading Christ’s people at this time.
Second, having moved to Singapore during the height of the pandemic, I found myself thrust into the position of needing to find a church to belong to.
While I have long since graduated out of the 20-to-35 age bracket which was the focus of the study, I readily empathise with those who have been seeking a spiritual family to belong to during this season.
Finally, having come here to teach and train future church leaders, the survey has given me the opportunity to reflect on what is needful for faithful and effective ministry as we enter the post-Covid world.
Not by might, but by the Spirit
In saying that the concern is for faithful and effective ministry, it is not accidental that I have led with the word “faithful”, and this highlights one of the limitations of the study.
The growth of the Kingdom is a spiritual matter rather than a (simply) sociological one. Attracting large numbers to a particular movement is not necessarily to be equated with a genuine work of God by his Spirit.
Those of us entrusted with responsibility for Christ’s flock must not simply adopt whatever ministry philosophy is currently en vogue, but must take care to make sure that we are discharging our duty in line with the heart and priorities of our great over-Shepherd.
That is revealed to us not by a survey, but by the Word of God. And yet, a survey such as this one might, perhaps, give us the opportunity to reflect on whether there are blind spots or emphases in our ministries that could be reformed by the Spirit freshly applying the Gospel both to our hearts and then to those we serve.
Four reasons for encouragement
With that caveat, I came away from the report with four distinct encouragements that spur me on in the work of ministry here in Singapore.
1. Substantial numbers of unchurched are joining the Church
It is sometimes suggested that these churches only grow through transfer growth. Clearly, there are significant movements of churched young people.
And yet, in the work of ministry, it is typically much easier to help someone who is already a churchgoer move churches, than to help someone not currently attending church to see the importance and benefit of so doing.
The fact that nearly one-quarter of those who joined these churches did so having been previously unchurched (or nearly one-half if the full set of churches is included) is a cause for great rejoicing. Christ is using these churches to grow the Kingdom.
Further evidence of an evangelistic zeal is seen in the way that these churches typically have a clear evangelistic strategy.
We live at a time when many would want to say that Christianity is a religion of the past, of little relevance to the modern world. This survey would suggest the opposite.
2. There is a hunger for the Word of God among young adults
It is striking how many of the churches seeing growth have an expository style of preaching. This reflects a confidence that they do not need to make the Scripture relevant to people’s lives, as though it was somehow irrelevant, but that as it is faithfully taught, God will speak.
The pastors are willing to do the demanding work in their studies of labouring to understand the text, trusting that the young adults will have a passion to grapple seriously with the Word of God as they seek to grow in Christ.
This gives me great encouragement that we are not living in an age where people have lost their appetite for the Word of God.
I’m very aware from years in ministry of how hard it can be to safeguard time at the desk for deep study, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. But this survey confirms the conviction that this has to be a priority for those in pastoral ministry.
3. The distinctives of these churches were not novel or radical
These churches have not unearthed an entirely new ministry philosophy, but they are simply keeping the main thing the main thing as they seek to keep the Word of Christ dwelling richly among the people of Christ.
It is encouraging and challenging to see that Christ is still building his Church as he always has done.
Having led a church through the early stages of COVID-19 that perhaps lost as many people as it gained, this report is a chance to reflect on whether there were aspects of church life that were allowed to obscure the things of first importance, or whether even some of those primary areas of a healthy church – preaching, discipleship, evangelism, fellowship – were neglected.
4. Leaders saw an opportunity for growth
Finally, the report challenges me personally, as I reflect upon the humility, wisdom, faith and courage of the leaders that God has raised up for these churches.
Leadership is exhausting, draining and, at times, terrifying. The temptation to seek to lead out of human resources and strengths rather than out of the Gospel is constant, especially in a time of crisis.
I am struck by the way that each of the leaders in these churches responded to COVID-19 not as a problem, but as an opportunity for the growth of the Gospel; how they personally demonstrated great faith in the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as they stepped into an entirely unknown ministry context; how they made an absolute and unwavering priority of the Great Commission to make disciples, alongside a courageous flexibility that was willing to reimagine church in a way that best served that calling.
As we enter the post-COVID-19 world, and in some ways we find a new normal, the reality is that we will continue to heed those same qualities.
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