Over the last decade, COVID-19, social media, relentless busyness, and political turmoil have all contributed to a decline in meaningful human connection. Today, we face what many call an epidemic of loneliness across every generation—even as social media promises more “connections” than ever.
Yet, God does not leave us to drift in isolation. The Holy Spirit is at work, awakening us to the need for relationships that help us flourish as the people God created us to be. In fact, a growing movement among Gen Z is leading many young adults back to the church, seeking purpose and timeless truth. (Watch for a class on this in January.) Research shows that from college campuses to retirement homes, people of all ages need connection grounded in acceptance, forgiveness, and gracious accountability. The church has a tremendous opportunity to lead the way forward in this crisis of disconnection and loneliness.
Our engagement theme this year is “A Time to Connect – Mentoring Faith and Building Community.” God never intended us to live in stand-alone self-sufficiency. This year, we encourage everyone to be intentional about connecting with one another and with God—through small group Bible studies, serving our community, and worshiping together in person (as you are able). Our prayer is that every ministry of the church becomes a place to build meaningful relationships and to strengthen one another’s faith.
In the coming weeks, we will highlight opportunities to mentor faith and build community. We invite you to step into this year’s theme with openness and curiosity—listening for where the Spirit may be nudging you to connect. Whether through prayer, study, service, or simply being present with one another, may we discover that in mentoring faith and building community, God is shaping us into a people who reflect Christ’s love more deeply in the world.
