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I texted Hannah after finishing last week’s post telling her I’d written a whole draft without even mentioning the podcast interview I did last Monday for Pathways Bible College. I think it’s scheduled to be their next episode, so bookmark More Than Theology podcast by Pathways and listen to the series I’m included in discussing the ageing church in New Zealand.

The original email invitation included the appeal to having me on the panel because everyone else was over thirty and I could give a younger perspective, so I had to admit I was well over thirty but still wanted to participate. Mostly I wanted to hear what the other two panelists had to say to glean vital information about the demographic I work with. Turns out I got a chance to be the bridge between contexts as we talked about data on American youth and the New Zealand church. As an American working with New Zealand youth, I have a niche perspective on the hope we can have to move forward in light of the warning signs current data provide. The nerd in me had a field day with the report on New Zealand churches and the research based principles from Growing Young, a book that provides recommendations for churches to engage and disciple young people, which were our principle discussion material. I came prepared with notes and responses to the moderated questions sent in advance, but the most thought provoking comment came when a panelist threw out a question to me related to budget.

He had some numbers about where finances were currently being spent and could be moved around and reprioritised and threw out the casual number of a billion dollars that could be redirected to youth in New Zealand. “Laura, what would you do with one billion dollars extra in your budget?”

On the spot, I came up with two key things, and after some deliberation, I heartily stand by them. I’d first pay for my Easter Camp marquee, bus, and full sponsorship for as many kids who needed it. But with the remaining $999,991,500, I would increase my youth food budget. No joke.

I’m not just talking about supper at youth group, though that would be a twice a term hot chips upgrade and once a term pizza nights at youth group. I’m talking about the reimbursement budget for youth leaders to make Macca’s a discipleship hub. Each leader getting to take a kid or two or six out for a coffee or a small group meal once a week. Parents and families at church getting reimbursed to host sixteen year 9 boys for a Wednesday night dinner just because. Monthly Saturday brunches at Joe’s Garage (or my preference of Black & White Coffee Cartel) with year 13 girls. After school snacks for the Bible reading meet ups with year 10 boys. Year 11 girls getting Rollickin ice cream outings.

I met up with a young adult at Crafted Coffee last week to chat with him about becoming a youth leader. He told me a major influence in his coming to faith was free pizza from the Navigators campus ministry at UC. This is my lived experience of youth ministry. High school students spent years coming to my house to bake cookies – sure they ate the cookies, but the food was an excuse to come share life with me and have deep conversations.

These young people are hungry. And not just for bread alone, but the bread might help you get to the real need.

If you call yourself a Christian, can I offer you a challenge? Host a meal for some young people this week. Invite three or four young adults over. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Order pizza, or if that’s too far outside your budget, make some spaghetti with thin tomato sauce – they won’t care. Uni students will eat anything. Speaking from experience, they don’t even need chairs if you run out of space at your table – they actually don’t even need a table. I’ve not yet been granted that billion dollars to reimburse you, but I have a feeling the demographic reading this post has the margin in their own budget to offer at least one young person a meal this week. Treat a teenager to Starbucks and hear what’s on their heart. It might sound scary to some, but the drink in your hands can do wonders to remove conversational awkwardness. You might even find you’re the perfect fit for the extra auntie or uncle this young person has been longing for.