Chris Yaw Interviews Arthur Jones: The Challenge of Discipleship for Young Adults

Taken with permission from ChurchNext.tv

The Well is a United Methodist church plant that, by most indicators, is a home run.

It's hip, it's relevant, and on its first Sunday, 7 months ago, welcomed more than 800 people. However, pastor Arthur Jones says the challenge of discipleship-making remains: how do we help young people deepen their knowledge of Scripture, increase their commitment to the community, and unlock stewardship realities that are life-giving?

In this interview, Arthur speaks candidly about the joys and challenges of nurturing a new generation in Christ.

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Synopsis

Arthur Jones is an incredibly talented pastor who helped create, launch and lead a vibrant congregation of young adults. Here are my notes from the interview:

Going First Class

When the founding church of The Well, St. Andrew, decided it was time to grow younger, it decided to build a whole new congregation and outfitted a building to house the latest in music and technology, without this commitment to excellence, Arthur says things would not have been nearly as successful.

Why a New Congregation?

Arthur says the generation gap is just too big - that many of the folk who attend The Well are de-churched and divorced from the last generation of church-goers, and thus need music, video, and technology that speaks to what it's been like for them to grow up.

Small Groups? Bible Studies?

Arthur has had some success with a weekly Bible Study, and short 7 week courses. Next is small groups, though finding seasoned leaders is a challenge. He says being unafraid to fail is an important attribute to cultivate.

About Arthur Jones

Rev. Arthur Jones is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, having received his bachelor's degree from the University of Kansas and his Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School.  Arthur is a fifth generation Methodist preacher, and has spent most of his life active in the ministries and structure of the UMC.  He helped launch a United Methodist campus ministry at the University of Kansas, served as a delegate at both the 2004 and 2008 General Conferences of the UMC, and has recently launched a new contemporary worshiping community at St. Andrew United Methodist Church called The Well.  Check it out at www.thewellplano.com.

Books Arthur Recommends:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Out of the Silent Planet / Perelandra / That Hideous Strength (The Space Trilogy)

The Great Divorce