Introduction
God created the church to be a community of people sharing a common purpose and fellowship, continually growing in faith and in the knowledge of Christ. The New Testament describes the church as “his body, the fullness of him who filleth every thing in every way” (Ephesians 1:22).
God calls us into His body for the purpose of establishing a saving relationship with Him and community with one another. The Holy Spirit convicts our minds, leads us to repentance, and plants us within the church.
Thus the church is a servant body. Created for service, it serves the Lord in praise, serves one another in love, and serves the world in humility. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
God calls every member of the church into ministry. The church is a “kingdom of priests,” and that priesthood is to one another within the church and to the world. Those who assist in leading young adults, like any other church officer, are ministers or servants of God. Every Christian believer is called to ministry, gifted by the Holy Spirit, and in baptism ordained for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12).
From the record of Christ’s life, we receive an indication of the value He has placed upon the young. He selected young adults among the twelve apostles such as John “the beloved.” Those who would lead young adults today must see them as an important part of today’s church, not the church to come, for these young adults are about the same age as were the founders of Adventism.
Duties of the Young Adult Sabbath School Assistant
Although the program varies from church to church, the ministry to which a person is called as an assistant in the young adult division of the Sabbath School can best be described in the following ways:
1. Planning. Together with the leader, you should select young adults whose personalities and temperaments best fit them for helping run the program. This group should meet frequently to help you become comfortable in the performance of your tasks.
2. Spiritual helper. Young adults who have spiritual and relational problems will come to you with questions which need to be answered. This may occasionally require that you act as bridge between troubled young adults and their families. If you really care, they will be able to see it. Some are shy and you will want to preserve their dignity by not being too forward yourself. Others are gregarious and want to be asked questions that invite self-disclosing answers. Listening skills are important! As you learn to know more about what makes people tick, you will catch more of the nuances.
3. Teaching. Unless you are in a very large church, it will often be your job to teach the Sabbath School lesson. Your group may have a rotation plan in which many of the class members have a turn at leading the discussion. Skills in group process and learning styles are essential to this task.
4. Building a sense of community. You must not be afraid to give yourself to others. Many older adults find young adults intimidating, usually because young adults confront adults by being able to see through their facades. Unless you become open to others, your leadership will lose effectiveness. You are not called to lead from a position of strength, as if you had all of the answers. Enable your group to see that you, too, struggle with problems and search for answers. It is only through the honest sharing of your struggles that they will be able to see Christianity as an alive and practical choice. They need real people, with real problems and real solutions to lead them.
5. Interest in people.Relational skills are key in this process. Smiles and expressions of caring are very important! Even the most shy person warms to a smile. Some of the more gregarious ones benefit from a hug. In most situations, a warm handshake or touch to the shoulder to accompany a warm smile shows you care.
6. Commitment. Next to your commitment to have God’s presence in every aspect of your life, the commitment you make to serve your church body is perhaps the most important one you will make. It is just as important as your vocational and relational commitments. Group members need to know that they can depend on you and that your attendance and participation will be regular.
Responsibilities in the Local Church, by the Church Resources Consortium, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church. Copyright © 1997, Revised 2002.
