Kairos

Ministry to 20somethings interests me deeply, and I’ve posted about this, talked about it, and I’ve geared a book or two in that direction. So, when I was asked to speak to the Kairos crowd in Nashville, I was both honored and excited.

Kairos was way more than I expected. You can read about the start of Kairos in pastor Mike Glenn’s fine book (In Real Time: Authentic Young Adult Ministry as It Happens), and it’s a pity that the publisher hasn’t made more of this book when 20something ministries are crying out for models and guidance. This book deserves a wide hearing. Here are some thoughts:

Kairos, which meets on Tuesday nights, is at Brentwood Baptist, is integral to Brentwood, but it is also a gift for all of Nashville. I met folks from all over Nashville, including several colleges and universities.

Kairos has a wonderfully organic and 20something-shaped vision.

Kairos is in Nashville, which means the music was exceptional — thanks to Michael Boggs. I did a talk on the Jesus Creed, and went from the angle of reducing complexity in life to simplicity: love God and love others.

It was great to meet and spend time with Mike Glenn: his passions run deep for this community of faith. The stories about the vision of these young adults and their lives kept spilling out … I could have stayed for days to hear it all. Cathy Patterson mentors the entire ministry so ably, and Diane Mayfield, Mike’s assistant, is the sister of our friend, Julie Frye (wife of John Frye), and she was helpful and efficient and understanding — and my plane got delayed and somehow disappeared from the screens at Nashville’s airport. We had a luncheon with the leaders at Brentwood — good discussion about pressing concerns.