MOVE
«Movimiento Unidos 2025: Movilizando a la Generación Z para una nueva era de liderazgo espiritual».
Por Darrick Young
Nos encontramos en un momento estratégico de la historia de los Estados Unidos. La generación Boomer, que ha dominado el liderazgo y la cultura durante mucho tiempo, está envejeciendo y retirándose del centro del escenario. Mientras tanto, los miembros de la Generación Z (veinteañeros) se están convirtiendo en la vanguardia de una nueva designación religiosa en Estados Unidos: los «nones». Los «nones» no tienen preferencias religiosas y prefieren una visión y una filosofía eclécticas, en las que cada uno mezcla su propia creencia religiosa y su filosofía.
Se les puede ganar, discipular y desarrollar hasta convertirlos en una nueva vanguardia de siervos dedicados al Señor, pero debemos hacer de esa visión una prioridad.
El relevo masivo en el liderazgo de la iglesia está en marcha, y el grupo de posibles sucesores seguirá disminuyendo a menos que revertamos esta tendencia de forma proactiva. Dios sigue llamando a las personas para que le sigan, y eso incluye a la Generación Z. Sin embargo, muchos de ellos navegan a la deriva, inseguros de su propósito y utilidad en la vida. Necesitan algo, más bien a «Alguien», que cautive sus corazones con una misión, con energía y con un sentido de propósito. Es posible ganarlos, hacer de ellos discípulos y desarrollarlos para formar una nueva vanguardia de siervos dedicados al Señor. Pero debemos convertir esa visión en una prioridad.
Movement (Movimiento) es un ministerio de las Iglesias de la Biblia Abierta cuyo objetivo es movilizar a la Generación Z y a sus líderes, para empoderar a esta nueva generación y que lideren en la iglesia local, en las Iglesias de la Biblia Abierta, en el mercado y en todos los ámbitos en los que influyan. Nuestra visión es capacitar a una nueva generación de líderes desarrollando una comunidad, creando redes y equipándolos para comprometerse con la causa de Cristo, y alentándolos a utilizar su vocación y sus dones únicos para alcanzar a las personas, influir en la cultura, implementar nuevos ministerios y liderar la iglesia.
Del 18 al 20 de septiembre de 2025, reuniremos a cientos de jóvenes adultos de la Biblia Abierta de toda la nación en Denver, Colorado, para Movement United 2025 (Movimiento Unidos 2025). Esta conferencia, dirigida a jóvenes adultos (de 18 a 32 años aproximadamente), tiene como objetivo desafiar y capacitar a una generación de jóvenes líderes para que luego sirvan y lideren en sus iglesias y comunidades locales.
Encontrará información detallada sobre Movement United (Movimiento Unidos) e inscripciones aqui.
Sobre el autora
Darrick Young Sirve como el pastor principal para Journey Church of the Open Bible en Urbandale, Iowa, la cual fundó en 2012. También forma parte de las juntas directivas de la Región Central y la nacional de Iglesias Bíblicas Abiertas, así como de la junta directiva de Discover Church Planting Network. Darrick y su esposa, Ranada, tienen dos hijos maravillosos y dos yernos maravillosos.
By Darrick Young
We are at a strategic hinge in American history. The Boomer generation that has long dominated leadership and culture is aging and stepping off center stage. Meanwhile, members of Generation Z (twentysomethings) are becoming the leading edge of a new religious designation in America: the “Nones.” Nones have no religious preference, preferring an eclectic, mix-your-own religious outlook and philosophy.
They can be won, discipled, and developed into a new vanguard of dedicated servants for the Lord. But we must make that vision a priority.
A massive turnover of church leadership is underway, and the potential successor pool will continue to dwindle unless we proactively reverse that trend. God continues to call people to follow Him, and that includes Gen Z. However, many members of Gen Z are drifting, unsure of their purpose and usefulness in life. They need something, more like Someone, to seize their hearts with mission, energy, and a sense of purpose. They can be won, discipled, and developed into a new vanguard of dedicated servants for the Lord. But we must make that vision a priority.
Movement is Open Bible Churches’ ministry to mobilize Generation Z and its leaders, to empower this new generation to lead in the local church, Open Bible Churches, the marketplace, and every arena they influence. Our vision is to empower a new generation of leaders through building community, networking and equipping them to engage in the cause of Christ and encouraging them to utilize their calling and unique gifts to reach people, influence culture, implement new ministries and to lead the church.
On September 18-20, 2025, we will be gathering hundreds of Open Bible young adults from across the nation in Denver, Colorado, for Movement United 2025. This conference for young adults (18-32ish) is designed to challenge and empower a generation of young leaders and then equip them to serve and lead in their local churches and communities.
Detailed information about Movement United and registration is available here.
About the Author
Darrick Young serves as the lead pastor for Journey Church of the Open Bible in Urbandale, Iowa, which he planted in 2012. He also serves on the Central Region and national boards of Open Bible Churches and the board of Discover Church Planting Network. Darrick and his wife, Ranada, have two amazing children and two awesome kids-in-law.
I will never forget the MOVE trip of February 2024. This building project in Thailand ended up being the biggest challenge MOVE has ever undertaken. Not only did the trip include our typical church build, but it also included an additional renovation project plus a third project of building a back wall. The only way we could take on all three projects was because of our unusually large crew. A giant team of 63 people from 13 distinct locations added some logistical challenges but helped immensely in accomplishing our project goals. Our biggest project was matched by the biggest team we have ever taken overseas.
The outside perception of MOVE is interesting. Most people think we are a short-term mission construction team, and they would be partly right. While we do focus on construction projects, we place a large emphasis on brotherhood. Brotherhood has nothing to do with construction skills or checking all the right boxes in physical ability. Our understanding of brotherhood is illustrated by Jesus in Matthew 12:48-50: “‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’” (NIV).
While we do focus on construction projects, we place a large emphasis on brotherhood.
The essence of our MOVE brotherhood is that it includes anyone doing the will of the Father within the realm of a MOVE trip. This starts with a willingness to be used by God, and we’ve seen God use every willing man in various capacities.
Because of the brotherhood, there is a great spiritual emphasis placed on each trip. Twice daily we have devotions, once in the morning on the job site before the work starts and again in the evening after dinner. As our leadership was planning the Thailand trip, our greatest concern was whether the size of the group would cause us to lose the dynamic of brotherhood that had been so strong on our previous trips. Within this large group of men, we knew we would have some who were spiritually mature, several who were new to faith in Jesus Christ, and even a couple who were new to the idea of church. How would we unite such a large and spiritually diverse group of men?
Two days before the trip started, one of our MOVE brothers, Erik Crim, tragically lost his 7-year-old daughter. We have many MOVE brothers who have been touched by tragedy, and on day one, all our hearts were with the Crim family. We prayed and reflected on the tough questions we ask God in times like this. This deep conversation of our first day set the tone for the remainder of our devotions and conversations.
These trips create a unique brotherhood by men toiling in life together. When we go to an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, being forced to live and work together creates a vulnerability.
Within the first week, we encountered inevitable issues within the project itself as well as personal difficulties arising back home. It became normal to see men stop the work they were doing to pray for each other. That behavior would carry over into our evening devotions where we would have worship, a longer devotion, and altar time. It was a transformational time for many of the men and increased in momentum as the trip continued.
As each project does, the trip concluded with praise at the dedication of the completed building. Men could look around as they worshipped with the local church and see the results of their hard work. This moment is always satisfying, allowing the team to feel accomplishment and gratitude for what the Lord has done through us.
Men’s ministry within the Church is largely failing. Although the fullness of MOVE can be hard to articulate, it can be felt. These trips create a unique brotherhood by men toiling in life together. When we go to an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people, being forced to live and work together creates a vulnerability. When we are vulnerable, emotions usually rise to the surface, and it is a wonderful opportunity for God to work. I see this dynamic take place on every MOVE trip.
We are “Building Men. Building Churches.” We often see the truth of this statement continue long after the project ends. As soon as I got home from Thailand, I knew my project wasn’t yet complete. I had to connect with my brother who was grieving. With Pastor Chad Greaves (visiting from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), I got in my vehicle in Des Moines, Iowa, and drove straight to Casper, Wyoming, to visit Erik. Being in the MOVE brotherhood is a bond for life, and we will always be brothers.
Aaron Keller
Aaron Keller is the National Director of MOVE Ministries and the Lead Pastor at Sunshine Open Bible Church in Des Moines, Iowa.
