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Work hard so God can approve you. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid godless, foolish discussions that lead to more and more ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15-16

Next generation ministries, ministry to children & teens, need to refocus their efforts on raising up good workers who correctly explain the word of truth and avoid godless foolish discussion. Most ministries are aiming at a thousand targets and failing to hit any of them. Our minsitries resemble entertainment venues communicating to children and youth the long term goal of church is to find a comfortable place where the people on stage make you happy. Somewhere along the way we have lost common ground with Paul’s instruction, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29)

Are our next-gen ministries laboring to present children and teens complete in Christ?

John Maxwell wrote, “your system is perfectly designed to yield the results you are getting.” If we are standing amidst a generation of college students who are leaving the church in droves the responsibility must fall squarely on the sholders of those who pastored them through their formative years. In almost every case 20 something’s will stray, experiment, and test boundaries. Without solid training their experiments turn into lifestyles and the run from the church. Here are a few ideas of how we can raise up good workers who correctly explain the word of truth…

Create a Senior pastor directed curriculum plan.
What do you want students to know when they graduate from High School? How are you unpacking those lessons as early as preschool? Just as Paul taught with wisdom to present men complete in Christ so should the Senior Pastor direct the study of his next-gen ministries. Whether this is expository teaching or virtue based lessons the Senior Pastor needs to first struggle with the question what do i want them to know? The implementation of this system depends on the leadership style of the Pastor and the size of the church. The senior pastor is more than likely not the most culturally relelvant communicator to children and students. It makes sense he would empower others to communicate but it’s his call as to the overall direciton of the curriculum.

Appoint a transition specialist: The Next Gen Pastor
Next to Senior Pastor directed curriculum churches need to invest in a transition specialist. Whether this is an Elder, Core Volunteer, or Associate Pastor someone needs to be thinking through transitions. How will your church hand off from Preschool to Elementary to Middle School to High School? The Next-Gen pastor should create a team of age and stage specialist and then guide the baton pass. the Next Gen pastor should be the Senior Pastor’s designated voice to Children & Youth.

Create a leadership culture
Children and youth should be recruited, trained, and supported as leaders in all aspects of the church. We spend too much time and money on spoon feeding the next generation instead of placing them in real leadership situations. Too often our next-gen ministry leaders are given lame jobs with little real responsibility. In this system we create adults looking for these same lame leadership roles to check off the “i should probably help out somewhere around this place” box. Children should be palced alongside adults in minsitry… their testimonies need to be told in worship, their work needs to be significant, and they should be held to the same high standards as adult leaders. As they age increase their responsibility.

Along this path consider involving children, teens, and college students in the top levels of leadership. Recruit students to create retreat expereinces, teach lessons, lead worship, and serve as junior members to your staff and elders. If we will place the responsibility of ministry on the shoulders of the next generation when they are adults they will already be seasoned church leaders.

Create a servant cultrue
Begin early on asking kids to serve others, to support the church with their tithe, and to address the misfortune of society. As we are training them in Christian leadership we should be reinforcing the servant heart of Christ and the Church fathers. If we instill in them from the earliest age giving they will grow up as charitable adults.

Schedule Check-Ups
Consider placing two rites of passage in your ministry plans. Several church traditions have these types of check-ups, Catechism, Confirmation, etc. We can recreate this idea in the nondenominational church with a snazzy title and a solid curriculum. The timing may vary, depending on your school break down, but place 4-8 week special classes for sixth graders and then again for seniors. Make sure the teens in your minsitry have accepted Christ as savior, are building solid foundations, and are able to correctly explain the word of God. These classes can serve as rites of passage for teens.

Train your parents
Consider opening the above mentioned classes to parents. They can learn in the name of makign sure thier kid gets it. If this doesn’t work still consider how you are educating parents on culture, parenting basics, and scriptural knowledge.

This article isn’t meant to throw anyone into emergency mode but is hopefully a catalyst for leaders to consider the scope the their over all programming to children and teens. If we are concerned with the results we are getting as exhibited in the high drop of college & twenty something’s we have to begin with the earliest steps of training and labor to present children and youth complete in Christ.