Is your church an EPIC church?

In Leonard Sweet's book Postmodern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st Century Church, he describes how churches today must adapt to reach younger generations who live within a postmodern culture. His shorthand for what is needed is EPIC. Those letters stand for Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, and Connecting.

Sweet explains that youth and younger adults are drawn to places and organizations that are Experiential, where they can experience truth directly and not just read about it. They also are drawn to Participatory events, where they can be directly involved and not just spectators. They communicate in Images, especially visually-stimulating images, rather than just listening to words. And these younger generations enjoy being Connected and networked with one another, and with the whole world.

Sweet is asking the church to be an EPIC church. EPIC describes a church which invites and involves young adults rather than asking them to adapt to the ways we have always done church.

There is much truth to Sweet's analysis. As I visit our congregations in Indiana, I notice those churches that are reaching younger generations tend to utilize projected images, lively music, video clips, relevant messages and a variety of forms of involvement that include Disciple Bible Study, mission work trips, drama, adventure camping, service outreach, e-mail and Internet communication. Likewise, I notice that churches that don't adapt to the youth and young adult culture tend not to reach those age groups.

The Gospel truth never changes, but our methodology for sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ must always be adapted to new generations and new contexts for ministry.

How about your church? Is your church an EPIC church?

From Bishop Michael J. Coyner
"Making a Difference .
in Indiana and
around the world."

Last updated on 25 Apr 2008

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