A Skatepark, a Conversation, and a Baptism

Sometimes ministry looks like Sunday morning worship, but sometimes it looks like a skatepark.

We recently invited ministry leaders to share moments when God’s Spirit showed up in their work.  It's so inspiring to see the wins that remind us why we do this and that we're not alone. Drew Fajen, Pastor of Intergenerational Ministry & the Arts at Village Church in Portland sent in this story, and it captures exactly what Faithful Futures is about:

I’m a youth pastor in Portland, OR. Last year one of our 9th grade guys was in a weird place in his faith. He knew that Jesus loved him but he wasn’t sure about actually following Jesus. I met up with him at the skatepark by his house and between gnarly falls, we had some real conversations about faith. A few months later we went out for Hawaiian plate lunch and he shared very authentically about his challenges and how he really wanted to get serious about Jesus. He asked to be baptized. At our youth camp a month later, he led our group in a sharing during a very honest, vulnerable time of worship. Now he is one of our most dedicated leaders, always asking good questions and including people and on Sunday, his birthday, he got to see his little brother get baptized. God’s Spirit has been working in his life and all I did was show up, ask questions, pray, and listen. 

This is what relational ministry looks like: meeting young people where they are and creating space for faith to grow. The transformation came through showing up, asking good questions, and listening with care.

That posture of curiosity, reliability, and presence is at the heart of Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Younger Generations. Stories like this remind us that the next generation isn’t unreachable. They’re just waiting for someone to listen long enough for faith to take root.

If you’ve seen God move through simple acts of presence, we’d love to hear your story too. Find out more at www.futureoffaith.org/faithfulfutures

Stay updated on Drew's work and his ministry on socials:

@drewfajen and @villagebeavertonyouth.