Grounded in faith

Anyone who thinks young people aren't grounded in their spiritual faith needs to meet Joshua Smith.

A full-time sophomore at Southeast Missouri State University, Smith was hired in November to be the youth coordinator for Grace United Methodist Church. He comes with some experience to go with his enthusiasm: He had been a lay speaker at the Williamsville United Methodist Church in his Wayne County hometown and he has worked as a church camp counselor. There's also a bit of tradition mixed in: He's the great-grandson of a Methodist minister.

Smith hasn't yet decided if the ministry is for him. He said he might try a stint with the Peace Corps after he finishes college. He plans to major in English literature with a minor in religious studies.

But for the present, he wants to take a practical approach to leading youngsters, especially with children in junior high, to a relationship with Christ.

"I have a strong sense of duty to these kids," he said. "I really like them. I want them to leave high school with a better sense of who they are and what God is intending them to be."

Joshua Smith is taking the role as youth minister at Grace United Methodist Church. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

Smith knows what he's up against. Grace has seen a few youth pastors come and go after a year or so -- which the Rev. Scott Moon, Grace's pastor, said is normal for youth ministry and not a reflection on any of the former leaders. People move on. Even so, youngsters are looking for stability. At first maybe three or four junior high and high school age children would show up for an activity, but that's been picking up some.

Most recently, Moon said, Smith supervised a 30-hour fast to raise money for world hunger. The teens were locked in over the weekend where they fasted, performed some community service and learned what it's like to be truly hungry. Nearly a dozen youngsters came to that, and an equal number of parents came to help.

"It was great," Moon said. "It was encouraging for Joshua."

Teens tend to go where their friends are, he pointed out. So if teens are joining their friends at Grace for a youth activity, then that's tangible evidence that Smith's leadership is effective.

"There's a certain genuine quality of character in him that we found very attractive," Moon said. "Along with that, I think Joshua has a real grasp of scripture and a deep faith and understanding. I think he is interested in people; he engages people when he speaks with them."

What also impressed Moon is that Smith attended Sunday worship services at Grace before he even knew the position of youth coordinator was available. Many young people seem to prefer more contemporary, informal worship services, which Grace will be implementing. Moon said he finds it refreshing that Smith is at home with both newer forms of worship as well as the traditional ways.

Smith said he believes that looking at life as being either black or white can breed closed-mindedness. He wants to connect the gap between traditional doctrine and the influences society has on how young people are learning to view the world.

"The Gospel is very social," he said. "Its message is how to be a peaceful person, how to be in communion with God. I think the problem today is we have become so closed-minded, we fail to recognize the importance of community and as a whole we shut people out a lot. We've become insiders rather than outsiders. Christ came for the outsiders. It's a very real, physical thing. He said to feed my lambs and tend to my people. The message is very personal and practical; this stuff is very practicable."

Whether he implements mission activities like the 30-hour fast or encourages fellowship among youth at a local bowling alley, Smith said he wants the young people -- at Grace and together with other churches -- to come and get acquainted with each other and with Christ.

"I think what kids are looking for is some sense of sodality," he said. "That's very crucial in the high school years. They need somebody to lean on."

He thinks Christ is the right one to lean on. He's eager to lead the teens to him.

"They're really great kids," he said "I look forward to working with them. I look forward to learning from them."

lredeffer@semissourian.com

Joshua Smith is taking the role as youth minister at Grace United Methodist Church. (Aaron Eisenhauer)

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