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Generational Ministry
I saved this topic for last because I believe it is most important and also the most overlooked.
If you want to reach the next generation, you must believe in them and invest in them.
Many in my generation don’t believe in those coming behind us (much like the generation before me didn’t believe in my wild ideas).
Here are some of my thoughts:
- Most of this generation had both parents working. They were given lots of things but not lots of time. Deep down, most crave support.
- In their mostly gray world, they hunger for a someone to point to black and white.
- Many were materially blessed and didn’t have to “scrap” to make it. No one expected a lot from them. They want to be pushed.
I challenge you to invest in this coming generation. They want to learn from you. (And they can also teach you some things.) See yourself as a Paul and find a Timothy. Even if you are only 23 years old, find an 18 year old and speak life into them.
It is one of the greatest joys in my life to invest in the next generation of pastors and leaders.
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Craig, this rings so true to my heart…
I moved into a mates house during the duration of my degree. Her mom was always at home and her dad worked. It seemed so wierd and it took me a while to get used to it… that was about 3years ago. The thing that I really struggle with is the fact that she took/takes an interest in everything I did/do and is incrediably encouraging…
When you encourage someone and it seems as if they don’t really care, know that they do! The problem is that they more than likely don’t know how to handle the encouragement as it’s new ground to them…
I was barely ever encouraged by my parents which left me sad and always striving to obtain attention… When I was suddenly encouraged I didn’t know what to do (and sometimes I still don’t know what to do) but my attitude towards life has changed and I’m a much happier person!!!
Encouragement makes a HUGE difference in ones life…
Great thoughts Craig! One of the biggest joys of my pastoral life was several years ago when a young man who was heading off to seminary asked me if I would spend the summer with him once a week talking about ministry. It was a required course for seminary but one we both relished. I believe in what you are saying. What has to happen is both the “oldies” and the “newbies” have to be open to learning, disagreeing, discussing and growing for it to be effective. I learned from Matt and he learned from me. It was great!
Anne & I started in youth ministry with 14 insecure kids who were left after church split. They had no hope, no purpose, no passion & no leadership. Within 4 years we had 150 youth, and many great leaders. In fact they grew so much that they ended up key players in running most aspects of church life. Other guys asked us what do you do? I wish I could offer you some detailed strategy but truth is we simply believed in them! We told them they could make a difference for God, we encouraged them to step up & lead even though they were young. We told them God believed in them & we believed in them, and after awhile they actually believed it!! When that happened everything changed!
Now I am in new church with new bunch of rabble so its time yet again to release the dream. Its time to help another generation overcome their unbelief - not in God but themselves! The just don’t know what God can do through them ” YET” What a privilege!
Craig,
I believe you have summarized where the “next” generation is in the church. I appreciate the exhortation to invest in them now, while we are able.
Grace,
mark
Jason–I couldn’t agree with you more. Encouragement is huge. I heard a saying once that said people have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be…
I’m 22, and I love pouring into my 14, 15,16,17 and 18 year old students. (If anyone in the metro area of Oklahoma needs some “Timothys” we’ve got ‘em at the Northwest campus, and we could really use your help reaching these students!)
I’ve also seen the truth behind the statement “they want to be pushed” It’s amazing what you will get from someone when you expect more out of them not less…
I am thankful to Jimmy Carroll who was the guy who invested in me. I am where I am because God put this very topic in Jimmy’s heart…
Yup, that’s me to a T. Parents had money because they focused a great deal on work. Because I spent a lot of alone time, I wasn’t influenced to choose black or white from the gray.
I don’t care how old you are, if you show me time, I WILL listen. Honestly, the older you are the more intently I will listen.
This generation we’ve been talking about is “my” generation. I don’t know why, but for me it seems that my peers have always been the hardest people to relate with. However, in my walk, and ministry pursuits my mentors all range in age. From mid 20s to late 60s, there really is no definition or correlation to age, let’s redefine spiritual maturity. I think that’s the drawing factor.
Amen! Conversely, we need to encourage young pastors to not act like mavericks and alienate themselves from older, wiser, more seasoned ministers. Sadly, there is often mutual distrust between the generations.
I hold this topic close to my heart because i had some great Godly guys invest in me at around the age of 16. Now being 19 i can make the chain a couple links longer and invest in a couple of God fearing young men. Thanks for the extra boost and remembrance of why i am doing what i’m doing. Any Book recommendations to take them through???
I have been following your blog for well over a year now and I’m not really sure why I haven’t commented yet. But I wanted to thank you Craig. You have been doing exactly what you are talking about in my life. Through this blog and watching your messages weekly God has used you to pour into my life. I have been transformed and ruined in the best sort of way. So keep doing God’s incredible work! You’re having Kingdom impact in huge ways!
Also, being a 20 year old junior in college, I didn’t feel that I had a lot of wisdom to pass on to anyone up here at the U of A. But through events that occurred yesterday I felt God calling me to find a freshman up here and pour life into him. And now this blog came. God has an incredible way of reinforcing His ideas sometimes!! I will be finding a freshmen to pour into real soon. I can guarantee that!!
Oh.. Sorry! Forgot one thing! I was one of the very fortunate one’s that had a dad that would constantly push me to be better. It used to drive me crazy!! But now I am so thankful for that. I would not be the man I am today were it not for him.
Graig thank you for this post
I love this post. Adam - A good book to work through is Francis Chan’s Crazy Love.
I love God speaking through me to my friends! It’s so enjoyable to partake!
I think there is so much for the people in my generation (I’m 19) to do, that it’s hard for us to focus. I don’t know why I said that, haha, but it seems important to point out.
Really great closing to this week!
This is awesome: “In their mostly gray world, they hunger for a someone to point to black and white.”
A few months ago, I preached about paul and timothy, and a 11 year old kid told me in a letter: “I want to be your Timothy”. It was great!
Craig, I really want to lift this next generation to God’s dreams.
Peace to you, big brother!
Wow Craig! Great ender. My heart is to not let me students be “floundered” as I was after I accepted Christ. I believe in the next generation and I want to be a Paul to them. Currently I am doing that for two and it has been great. Something that I encourage my students to do is always have a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy in their life. Thanks for always being an encourager to me and my young leadership.
The culture I’m in had both immigrant parents working. My peers and I dealt with culture shock coming to the States. We then had to deal with subcultures from our own culture. You’re right, there was no black and white. Fortunately for me, God allowed godly people to pour into my life.
I am grateful for the Pastor who pushed me to despise mediocrity. At the age of 11 that doesn’t make sense, but looking back now it does.
I expect the same from the tribe of young people I lead. Age ranges are from 9 to 14. Last summer an 8 year old girl, submitted to water baptism. Yeah baby! She now sings in the praise and worship team and sends me text messages of what I taught from small group which I forget sometimes. She engages our youth group with a passion. What a trip.
Great insight Craig. Totally Agree.
[...] is obviously working these thoughts out in other people as well–as evidenced by this blog by Craig Groeschel today. He does an even better job of expressing the same thoughts that I am working through. God [...]
Craig, I double dog dare you to preach this. Not a parenting or kids or youth series, but a “becoming generationally minded” series.
Somebody who’s submitting a message for One Prayer, bring “God is generational” and I’ll mail you a dollar.