Jeremy and Joshua Robinson. Photo credit: Jae’Ona Middleton
Amid the isolation and social distancing during the pandemic, Jeremy and Joshua Robinson, like so many other youth, craved community. The brothers didn’t have to look too far. Their church, All Nations Fellowship in the Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, launched a discussion-based worship program for youth and young adults to connect on various topics from a biblical perspective.
Jeremy, 22, and Joshua, 21, jumped into planning and organizing the monthly church service—something they saw as an opportunity to help other young adults grow their faith and establish their place in the church. Jeremy believes “having a group of people that listen to you and make space to understand your perspectives, highlights the whole purpose of church.”
Young people have travelled from as far as Wisconsin to hear topics such as Christian living, financial planning, sexuality and sibling relationships. “It’s a place for dialogue on topics we don’t normally hear,” says Jeremy. “It’s a practical way for ministry.”
When the “Perspectives” program began in 2020, Jeremy was a busy student at Northern Illinois University while juggling duties as the church’s pianist. Today he remains involved, while he works as a software engineer. He credits “Perspectives” for having helped with his educational pursuits and career, specifically honing his spiritual gifts of evangelism, administration, faith, and teaching.
“Participating in ‘Perspectives’ has given me a foundation, something to hold onto,” he says. “The Bible talks about a firm foundation and the importance of being grounded in Jesus.”
His brother Joshua has also stayed involved in the ministry. Whether it is participating in the Sabbath service, evangelism, managing various social media accounts, or the “Perspectives” programs, he juggles those commitments with his responsibilities as a fulltime student at Northern Illinois University.
He says his spiritual gifts have been nurtured and he is better able to serve and teach others, including tutoring students in physics. “When you teach others, you also learn to apply the concepts to your own life, so the learning and application aspects of the ‘Perspectives’ program have been very influential,” says Joshua.
Another advantage he has enjoyed is a stronger relationship with his brother. They have been able to collaborate on various presentations along with supporting one another in their respective careers.
The brothers believe it’s important for all churches to understand the critical need to involve cross-generations in cultivating better church environments. According to Joshua, “It’s important for us to promote our dependence on God, and the necessity of a supportive Christian community where youth and young adults’ perspectives are valued.”
Jae’Ona Middleton is a member of the Hyde Park Church.
