Developing a Vision for Emerging Generations

We launched our Parenting 6.7 ministry that focuses on parents and leaders working together to build “six” characteristics of a child/student who loves God and others through “seven” ministry strategies we have in place to educate, equip, empower and encourage parents to fulfill their biblical calling.[6] Our ministry then concentrates the rest of our energies on equipping other caring adult leaders in our church to create ministry venues and opportunities that support parents in the disciple-making process.

By defining the priorities we say “yes” to as a team, we are intentionally saying “no” to every other agenda and trend that would seek to distract us from our ultimate goal – to partner with parents in a biblical plan to raise up a generation that loves God and loves others. We recognize that the success of any such ministry can’t be measured merely by the number of children and students who are participating in our ministry today, but rather by the number who gain a lasting “impression” from our ministries that following Christ is a lifelong commitment.

Our dream would be that our children and students “emerge” from our ministries voicing their beliefs as clearly as David: “God You have taught me from my youth and I still proclaim your wonderful works. Even when I am old and gray God, do not abandon me. Then I will proclaim Your power to another generation, Your strength to all who are to come” (Ps. 71:17-18).

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[1] Smith, Christian with Melinda Lundquist Denton. Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005. For a shorter summary see “Compliant but Confused” by Andy Crouch for Christianity Today, April 2005. Available on-line at http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/april/25.98.html

[2] “Most Twentysomethings put Christianity on the Shelf Following Spiritually Active Teen Years.” Article available on-line at http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdate&BarnaUpdateID=245