Comments on: Generational Ministry

By: Kendra Golden

Kendra Golden — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:08:25 +0000

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. :)

By: Development of a Generation « less of me

Development of a Generation « less of me — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:46:55 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: Mike Servello

Mike Servello — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 01:14:30 +0000

Great insight Craig. Totally Agree.

By: Enrique

Enrique — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:27:39 +0000

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.

By: Rahul

Rahul — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:15:32 +0000

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.

By: chejoo

chejoo — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:08:44 +0000

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!

By: Jared

Jared — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:30:02 +0000

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.

By: Terry Foester

Terry Foester — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:21:27 +0000

I love this post. Adam - A good book to work through is Francis Chan’s Crazy Love.

By: Walter Angelica

Walter Angelica — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:15:54 +0000

Graig thank you for this post

By: Jake Roberts

Jake Roberts — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:47:38 +0000

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.

By: Jake Roberts

Jake Roberts — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:45:09 +0000

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!!

By: Adam Kuntz

Adam Kuntz — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:31:08 +0000

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???

By: Brian Jensen

Brian Jensen — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:20:01 +0000

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.

By: Brandon Barnes

Brandon Barnes — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:18:26 +0000

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.

By: Cody

Cody — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:08:30 +0000

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.

By: Jarret

Jarret — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 13:28:03 +0000

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…

By: Anna Meadows--22 years

Anna Meadows--22 years — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:55:35 +0000

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…

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:41:28 +0000

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

By: Kevin Thomas

Kevin Thomas — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:40:35 +0000

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!

By: bill (cycleguy)

bill (cycleguy) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:37:02 +0000

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!