journey - Next Generation Ministry

In my last post, I identified some beginning markers for my journey into next generation ministry. Today, I would like to build upon some of these markers to further delineate differences found in next generation ministry and traditional children and youth ministry.

As a new next generation pastor, I have found myself spending the bulk of my time in the preschool. Why? Because the foundational building block must be set up for excellence. If the beginning block is unstable, the ensuing blocks you build upon are likely to tumble. Just ask any preschooler who likes to build towers! As I’ve spent a lot of time getting this beginning block in order (kids check-in, etc.), I have found myself spending more time with teenagers. I say all of this to say that as a next generation pastor, you may find yourself spending more time with a specific age-group (preschool, children, youth, college) in certain seasons than others. Things tend to balance out in the end!

As a next gen pastor, I have also been able to spend a lot of time in the community building relationships. I help coach a youth basketball team and this has allowed me to cultivate relationships with students and parents I would have never met if I stayed locked up in my office.

I have also allowed my teams and leaders to lead. I have a team for children, students, and college-aged students with a leader for each team. I consider everyone on each team a leader, but I consider the team’s leader as the leader. This bottom-up leadership has been so valuable that it has allowed me to do things for my church that otherwise would not be possible. For instance, I am soon to give my church a presentation on the topics of faith and culture (I will try to add video of my presentation in my next post). I will also be preaching soon on the topic of discipleship and value of having D-groups for all ages. Other items to come in the future could include hosting Sunday school teacher training, beginning a new members/new believers class, and the start-up of special needs ministry. None of these items were on my job description, so you may ask how in the world would it be possible for me to do even one of these other listed items. The truth is everything boils down to leadership. I have great leaders under me that allow me to lead at a higher level which makes the church healthier and stronger. Get this: I have been on the job for over two months and have not taught one lesson to any age-group. Now, that is true next generation ministry! I have leaders that excel at leading and teaching their specific age-groups that I am able to wear more hats and do more than has been asked of me.

In team meetings, I attend and serve almost as a mom/dad voice in the room giving approval or disapproval. Like every ministry to the next generation, we have opportunities and challenges to discuss. A challenge we are currently discussing include adding an extra hour to our Sunday night youth programming. A challenge I am sure you have dealt with in your own ministry is when to begin student ministry (6th or 7th grade). I provide these as examples just to say that next gen ministry is not without its challenges.

So, what is it I hope to accomplish in next gen ministry that could not be accomplished by a children’s or youth pastor who was working unto him or herself. Besides, the teams I mentioned above, I also have a next generation team that consists of the leaders of each team mentioned above. I will meet with these leaders and we will talk about implementing milestones for our next gen ministry. As a team, we will decide on which milestones to include and which to not. Then I will be able to create a next gen booklet specific for my church that any member can access at anytime.

Hopefully, this journal of my next generation ministry journey is helping you along in your own!

**Team Novo Nordisk 2017 Stone Mountain Training Camp**

Share Jesus Without Freaking Out series post 7/8

Principle 7: Talk to the actual person in front of you about the Jesus inside you; let them see and hear the change Jesus makes in you.

I literally live and work in the middle of nowhere. In fact, the school I work at is located on Nowhere Rd. That’s why I couldn’t believe my eyes yesterday when I saw a team of cyclists travelling as a pack down Nowhere Rd. As I look back over the course of my life, I have no recollections of ever spotting a team of cyclists. I knew the cyclists were a team not only by their team uniforms and formation but also because their team car was following close behind. On top of the team car, I noticed an empty bike holder and on the side of the team car, I found the team’s name: Team Novo Nordisk Pro Cycling.

I never said a word to Team Novo. They went their way and I went mine. But they spoke to me, not verbally, but in action. See, Team Novo cycles for a cause. I looked up Team Novo and here is what I found: Team Novo Nordisk is an American global all-diabetes sports team of cyclists, triathletes and runners, spearheaded by the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team. The team’s mission is to inspire, educate and empower people affected by diabetes.

Not only was it good that Team Novo did not speak to me, it was great! Oftentimes, actions speak louder than words. Had I tried to stop the cycling team so that I could talk to them, I would have only interrupted their trek and slowed down my own. I also had a destination I needed to arrive at and both the team and I were on a journey. Thankfully, my journey involved four wheels!

As I have plowed through this blog series on Sharing Jesus Without Freaking Out, I have tried to include personal stories. I did not want to copy the content of Dr. Reid’s book, only to reinforce its application. I hope you will buy a copy of the book so you can journey through it for yourself! Evangelism is the need of the hour in the American church as many American churches find themselves on life support. Not only will evangelism pump new blood and life into your veins, it can revitalize a church itself as individual members catch fire and the church-at-large begins to burn. Light the fire in my soul, Fan the flame and make me whole, Lord, you know just where I’ve been, So light the fire in my heart again.

I hope my blog post series has helped to light a fire in you as it pertains to you sharing Jesus with others in the world today. Though I have talked to you about the important role that conversation plays in evangelism, there are times when saying nothing is the best road to travel down. Silence would seem antithetical to the thesis of Dr. Reid’s book, but Dr. Reid expounds on his logic when he states, “The greater the intimacy of a relationship, the more valuable your demonstration of a changed life, and the less intimacy, the more necessary is your verbal witness.”

I can still remember the great evangelist Billy Graham saying something to the effect of “give me five minutes with you in your home, and I’ll tell you whether you’re a Christian or not.” Your family knows who you are. They live with you. You don’t have to say much or say anything at all. They’ve heard and seen you enough to know who you really are. How do you treat your family? That in and of itself is a greater witness than preaching the gospel to them for the nine hundredth time.

Recently, I found myself saying something profound (it doesn’t happen much so listen up). I told my friend that I didn’t trust tv preachers that much because I found them preaching the gospel, but not living it. See the difference? Anyone can preach the gospel. Jesus knew this full-well and warned us of false teachers or wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 5:17).

Let’s take a ride together and let Jesus take the handles. It is necessary to share the gospel in word. Just understand there are times when you need to ride and say nothing.