ELCA Coaching, Rachel Alley and others present Growing Young: Empathy, Wednesday, December 16, 12 pm MST.

The Weekly Online Gathering for ELCA Leaders continues every Wednesday, 12pm MST, 1ppm PST. Links to the meeting at elcacoaching.org as well as archives.

In Fuller Youth Institute’s book, Growing Young, one of the main commitments young people find attractive is people who empathize with today’s young people. Empathy is simply listening and feeling what someone else is feeling. Sometimes we think we should give all the answers and fix things, when instead, young people today just want to be heard, they want to share what is happening in their lives with no judgement or critique, and they want a safe place to ask the tough questions like: who am I? where do I fit? why is this happening? and what difference do I make?

This week, we will hear from Kate and her pastor, Rev. John Gosswein of Family of Christ Lutheran, Kearney, NE, as they share about their congregation who takes their young people and empathy seriously. We will also talk about you, because empathy starts with you. How will you and your ministry be present and listen and eventually offer support to the young persons in your family, your ministry, and your community?