Marty and Malakai Troyer

Creation and re-creation
by Marty Troyer, pastor of Houston Mennonite Church

Let’s face it – creation is not a safe topic for discussion these days. Conversations abound, don’t get me wrong. But conversations tend to center on one of two topics: creation versus evolution in public schools or climate change. Interaction consists of verbal jabs thrown from one camp to another; the goal of which is to “win” the argument based on the obvious veracity of your statements. Behavior, it is assumed, will follow.

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Activities to engage creation with youth

Creation fascination
Creation is a central component of forming in our youth a lifetime of love and relationship to God. The formative effects of including creation as both context and content of youth ministry are limitless.

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Creation relation
Our separation from creation is paradigmatic of our separation from God and from one another. Creation – as we have seen – calls us time and again to praise God, and learn an important worldview. Our own re-creation is intricately tied to creation itself.

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Creation care and consumption
It should be obvious that caring for creation is essential for our spiritual well-being. It should also be obvious that a Christian discussion must push us beyond the familiar “three R’s”: reduce, re-use and recycle (though they remain a good place to start).

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About the author

Marty is currently pastor of Houston Mennonite Church. Along with his 2-year-old son, Malakai, and wife, Hannah, Marty loves being outdoors. Right now, his primary “creation relation” practice is spending time with his dog, Chubs; baking loaves of fresh homemade bread; and visiting the Houston zoo to pet the goats.