The Youth Great Awakening
WCLC and YCLC leaders teamed up Oct. 26 to present a special virtual program, “The Youth Great Awakening,” which discussed the decline of religion in America and how to reignite faith among the nation’s young people.
True Mother, who founded WCLC in 2019, noted the world’s clergy “are the righteous leaders prepared by God in this age” who can, by example, guide the next generation. Pastor Antonio Bowen and Minister Joshua Holmes, national co-directors of YCLC, shared messages of inspiration with more than a hundred participants online through Zoom and social media.
“We are here for a task, and truly here with a purpose,” said Pastor Bowen, as he called on Christian leaders to apologize and repent as the first step to bringing young people back to God. “We have shown [the youth] too much discourse, and we have shown them unattractive, unGodly things inside the Body of Christ,” he said. “Once we get a fresh start with our youth, then we can move forward and do great things.”
Righting the wrongs that have occurred in the church and its leadership will show “we can do better,” said Pastor Bowen. “We can’t keep doing the same things as before and expect new results. To reach this new generation, we have to truly think outside the box and in a different way.”
Min. Holmes emphasized that a powerful youth awakening is what the world needs at this time. “God is working through unity and humility and inheritance from our [elder] leadership,” he said before quoting Acts 2:17-18, “the Spirit will be poured over all flesh.”
The urgency for spiritual revival and unity among Christians comes at a time when much of America and the world is experiencing great turmoil. Key findings from a Pew Research study reveal that today’s youth in America are less religious than their parents and more likely to say they are religiously unaffiliated. The report shows some 63 percent of teens in the U.S. identify as Christian versus 72 percent of parents surveyed. Still, many U.S. teens reported having religious or spiritual experiences at least once or twice a month — with half feeling a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least monthly.
“I see YCLC on the verge of taking America by storm,” said Min. Holmes, “and therefore, I hope, [taking] the world with WCLC ... We have been in the Last Days, and certainly the time is here.”
He continued, “[The youth] are the ones coming with this incredible vision, excitement, passion and joy; and a willingness to go where even our predecessors may not have been willing to go — to cross barriers. This is a generation of people who are willing to marry people of a different race, denomination, and ethnic background where [previously] that was frowned upon.”
Min. Holmes said young faith leaders have to focus on the world or they will lose sight of God’s vision. “I think we’re beginning to walk that course,” he said, “and one of the ways that we’re doing that is through music, culture, and arts.”
Musical collaboration among Christian artists and other entertainers can reinforce the beauty of different people coming together before God, said Min. Holmes, as the program featured a collaborative song with award-winning gospel singer and pastor Deitrick Haddon of Hill City Church in Los Angeles.
WCLC Chairman Dr. Ki Hoon Kim, Prophetess Juliana Talabi, and Min. Yuka Shimada were also among the program speakers who shared words of hope and encouragement as young faith leaders continue to learn and take the reigns from elder clergy.
“Let’s amaze people,” said Pastor Bowen. “Let’s show them that we can work together and come together as one body and one unit.”
The joint program, available here, is part of WCLC’s ongoing monthly webinar series. You can learn more about the WCLC here, and YCLC here.