Our mission is to walk with Jesus in our world: pursuing his Great C ommission

1. Multiplying ministries to kidsproviding loving environments where the Spirit multiplies young disciplemaking followers of Jesus

2. What? Our mission is to walk with Jesus in our world: pursuing his Great Commission to make disciples… winning the lost building the believers equipping the workers multiplying the leaders

3. Why? Our passion for Jesus’ Great Commission is fueled by Jesus’ Great Commandment love for God and for people GC2= Great Commandment Great Commission ministry lifestyle

4. Who? The probability of a faith commitment to Christ is 32% at age 5 to 13 4% at age 14 to 18 6% at age 19+ 75-85% of today’s American Christians made their initial faith commitment before age 15. The opportunity and responsibility to minister to kids is very great!

5. A challenge and experience

6. It’s about Jesus “You may be thinking, I’d like to see emerging generations reached, but how the heck can I ever keep up with all the waves of cultural change? Amid our anxiety, remember that although ministry methodology, church, and culture change, Jesus NEVER does.” -Dan Kimball-Emerging Church

7. Provide environments Our primary goal is not to provide complex structures and glitzy programs, but to provide environments where the Spirit moves freely to help kids consistently experience Jesus’ life-changing love

8. Hearts first We must touch their hearts before we can reach their minds

9. Build community To kids, love looks like free pizza. That’s where we might start—but our goal is to help them experience the love of biblical community. The key for building this type of community is leadership that is love-expressing, intentional & visionary.

10. Includeparents “The goal of children’s ministry needs to be to find ways to help parents talk about spiritual things with their children, helping families prioritize and center their lives on God’s presence.” -Ivy Beckwith, Post- Modern Children’s Ministry

11. Kids reach parents “Every year, tens of thousands of parents are brought to faith in Christ because one of their children was so changed by his or her own relationship with the Lord that the parent could not ignore the power of Christ any longer.” -George Barna

12. “The degree to which we are effective in communicating God’s love is the degree to which we will see kid’s lives changed.” -Dann Spader So how do we get God’s love flowing? Communicate God’s love

13. It’s about relationships Provide places where love is actively experienced and expressed: • With believing kids • With pre-believing kids It’s a lifestyle, not a program but get organized— be intentional

14. Here’s what to do: • Provide opportunities for loving interaction • Provide affirmation & belonging • Provide genuine spiritual fellowship • Get the kids involved in expressing God’s love to others through ministry

15. More ideas • Advertise the ministry to community parents and grandparents • Emphasize a values-based approach • Encourage kids to bring friends • Provide transportation (van/carpooling) • Encourage kids to wear cool t-shirts advertising your ministry at school • Sponsor a community event that is kid-oriented

16. More ideas • Ask unchurched parents to help out in the program alongside churched parents • Plan a parent/child or family/child event • Involve the kids actively in the ‘big-church’ worship service • Provide a nursery for pre-schoolers

17. Generations workshops To schedule day-long workshops that more fully explore disciplemaking ministry to kids, contact Ted Johnston, Generations Ministries director at: Ted.Johnston@wcg.org