Government officials met with leading pastors this week to address concerns over declining church attendance among Anguilla’s young people.
According to a government Facebook post, participants at the meeting on 21 May looked at ways to reconnect the younger generation with a “brighter, spiritually grounded future”.
Ideas included enhancing parental involvement, developing mentorship initiatives, modernising church outreach through digital platforms, and fostering strong church-community partnerships.
During the meeting, the Reverend John Gumbs of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, spoke about the generational shifts that affect church attendance.
He urged churches to modernise their approaches to stay relevant and proposed community outreach initiatives aimed specifically at reconnecting young people to the church.
Meanwhile, Pastor Philip Gumbs of Church of God (Holiness) advocated for stronger church-community partnerships to address youth engagement.
He suggested implementing mentorship programmes within the church to provide guidance and support for young people, the post said.
Building trust
The Reverend Canon Reid Simon of the Anglican Church spoke about the necessity of rebuilding trust between the church and community.
He also stressed the value of inclusive activities that cater to diverse interests among the youth.
Pastor Gareth Hodge of Hilltop Baptist Church, highlighted the importance of family and parental responsibility in youth church attendance.
He emphasised the church’s need for creative strategies to attract and retain younger congregants.
The Reverend Quincy Gumbs Junior, assistant pastor at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church, discussed the potential of digital and social media platforms to engage young people effectively.
He recommended collaborative youth-focused events across different churches to boost attendance and engagement.
The Reverend Vincia Celestine, minister of Anguilla Methodist Church, raised concerns about addressing the root causes behind youth disconnect from spiritual communities.
She suggested structured interventions such as parental training and education workshops facilitated by the church.
The meeting resulted in an action plan.
