Young Leader Panel at MACBF's What's Next Church Conference
Mid-Atlantic CBF has a host of gifted young leaders and we were grateful to have the opportunity to hear from five of them Sunday, September 13 at Our What's Next Church Conference.
The Panel was Moderated by Sean Roberds, Mid-Atlantic CBF's Executive Coordinator and consisted of both young ministers and lay leaders.
Young Leaders Panel
Rev. Caleb Cook - Village Baptist Church
Rev. Emily Collins - WestWood Baptist Church
Rev. Julia Bradley - First Baptist Washington, DC.
Ms. Britney Joseph - Luther Rice Baptist Church
Ms. JaVel Fayad - Luther Rice Baptist Church
Here are 5 take aways from the discussion.
Reimagining Success and Embracing Failure:
Young leaders emphasize that churches need to move away from rigid, outdated 19th-century metrics of success and be willing to experiment, fail, and learn from those attempts rather than abandoning new ideas immediately [21:10].
Revival vs. Resurrection:
The panel pointed out a tendency for churches to chase "revival" (bringing back temporary life into old, dead models) instead of "resurrection" (paving the way for brand-new, life-giving movements that address modern needs) [16:44].
Shifting Demographics and Behavior:
Church attendance behaviors have fundamentally changed. People no longer simply attend the closest neighborhood church; they travel further for communities that fit their needs, and regular attendance has shifted from multiple times a week to less frequently [19:04].
The Need for Authentic Relationships over Entertainment:
Because media and technology dominate the attention economy, the church cannot compete with streaming platforms or corporations on entertainment value. Instead, it must offer deep, relational care, visibility, and a safe space for people to be seen [31:02].
Letting Younger Generations Lead with a "Listening Heart":
Young leaders expressed a strong desire to have their education, skills, and perspectives trusted by older generations. They stress that true wisdom comes from empathy and a "listening heart" rather than merely accumulating years of experience [37:02].
For more insight from our Panel, watch the recording below.