Sojourners' June issue features a cover story by Amy Green and a column by Jim Wallis about the new paths of Christians in their 20s and 30s, plus a set of mini-interviews with 10 next-gen Christian leaders. Here's a taste: part of Sojourners' interview with Mariama White-Hammond, the 29-year-old executive director of Project HIP-HOP (Highways Into the Past-History, Organizing and Power), a youth-led, secular, nonprofit organization.
Sojourners: What's the biggest challenge you see facing young Christians/the church now? In the years to come?
I think we basically always face the same problems: 1. Can we shut up long enough to hear God? 2. When God speaks, can we be obedient? 3. Can we be loving enough to non-believers that they will ever believe that our God is love?
I believe that the world knows that things are bad and they are searching for a prophetic voice, but even more they are searching for people who believe so much that they are willing to put their own comfort on the line. If we could do that, we could take the world by storm.
We hear often that young Christians'-particularly evangelicals'-perceptions of Christianity are changing, that their concerns are broadening to encompass more social justice issues. Do you see this happening in your own experience?
I do see that young Christians are beginning to shift. I think that, particularly around the issue of the environment or issues of war, it is clear to my generation that the way we are living is unsustainable. We are faced with the reality that we are going to pay for some of the short-sightedness of our parents. I think that many of us have never wanted for anything and we see that consumption is not just killing our planet, but that it often creates emptiness.
We want to be more connected to each other-that's why we all live on Facebook. So I know we don't have all the answers, but I think we are beginning to ask the right questions.
What one thing would you most like to tell Christians?
The same thing that I am always needing to tell myself: The God that we serve is so big that we don't have to be limited by the world that we now see. We serve a God who parted the Red Sea, brought my ancestors out of slavery, and was willing to give the ultimate sacrifice. If we could remember that-we would have the kind of hope that would allow us to live boldly for Christ. Not just trying to get other people to accept Christ, but being willing to live our lives like we really trust him to do what he has said that he will do-to change us and this world.
What gives you hope?
The young people that I work with in my organization and in my church give me hope. When I see them stepping out of faith to achieve things that other people don't believe they can do, then I know that God is good.
My niece, who was born at 24 weeks at 1 pound, 8 ounces. They were going to pronounce her stillborn when one nurse believed that he could save her. She has defied all the predictions and, every time I see her running or hear her speak, I remember what the doctors said, and I am reminded that God is still performing miracles every day. I want her and the teens that I work with to see that I am working hard to make the world better for them so that they too can have hope.
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