That was the name given to the special Sabbath of February 14, organized by the young people of the church in Namur. They managed everything: from welcoming people at the church entrance on Sabbath morning to the lunch. Their motivation was matched only by their needs. They are thirsty for worship that brings meaning!
With the support of the youth choir WeTrust from Liège, two dynamic praise sessions punctuated the morning and framed the sermon. Pastor Fabio Luna once again highlighted the importance of adapting the usual forms of 
church and worship services in order to better reach the new generation — a generation present in society and also in the church, mainly through the youth. Using the “perhaps” of Jonathan, who dared to take a bold step against the Philistine army (1 Samuel 14:6), the message emphasized the importance of daring to try new strategies — “perhapses” — in order to reconnect with emerging generations who are losing their sense of meaning within the church. How can we remain relevant to the new generation and truly listen to them? “By connecting with them to understand their desires, their needs, and the challenges they face. If companies fail to understand the largest generation of consumers in the world, they will eventually lose their relevance.”[1] Of course, this observation must be placed in a church context, but it shows how much work still remains to be done within the church.
A time of reflection and sharing in small groups allowed participants to deepen and anchor the message. This was followed by a collective prayer time and testimonies, which became a rich source of encouragement. It was also mentioned how important it is to learn to experience intergenerational worship services, rather than separating young people from the rest of the community because they have different needs or sensitivities. The joy of being together was also reflected in the meal, which became a real celebration where everyone could share a typical specialty from their country of origin.
On that day, even the announcements were made by children — a promising sign of involvement. It shows that there is no age limit for serving. John the Baptist said about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”[2] Isn’t it time to give more space to the new generation so that they can become active participants in a living church? How can we encourage our young people to take their place in the church at the heart of the mission? The face of Jesus is reflected in each of these young people. They need connection — something the young people of Namur expressed by creating a handmade memorial cross that was given to everyone. For a church that is more relevant and more connected: connected with one another, connected with society, and together with God.
Fabio Luna