“To be a disciple of Jesus is to love what Jesus loves, and Jesus loves creation.”

Why is a large portion of one of the most spiritually rich generation of emerging adults leaving their faith? Falon Barton suggests that it is because their churches (and religion in general) are not addressing their strong value in justice. As one very connected to the season of emerging adults herself, one of Falon’s big questions has been about environmental justice. In this episode we talk with Falon about creation care, discipleship, and engaging today’s emerging adults in our church communities by valuing what they are concerned and listening to what they have to say.

Falon is the Campus Minister at the University Church of Christ Malibu at Pepperdine University, where she offers pastoral care to college students, and preaches and teaches regularly for the congregation. Falon has a Doctor of Ministry from Lipscomb University, as well as a Master’s degree in Theology and Bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Hispanic Studies from Pepperdine University. One of her primary interests in her academic research and her work with emerging adults is environmental justice, especially Christians’ responsibility to participate in God’s mission to all creation. She and her spouse, Nate, recently welcomed their first child, Soren. You can connect with Falon via email: falon.barton@pepperdine.edu. Be sure to check out her recent presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlHLDILr9_g&ab_channel=PepperdineChurchRelationshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlHLDILr9_g&ab_channel=PepperdineChurchRelations and her Doctor of Ministry project, “New Embodiments of Ancient Wisdom: How Green Spiritual Practices of Simplicity can Meaningfully Integrate Faith and Environmental Justice Among Emerging Adults.”