21 Quick Tips to Influence the Next Generation
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Get Ready to Read subscribers speak! Here are 21 one-liners, warnings, zingers, memorable ideas, and examples that subscribers have sent in around the theme of "small is the new big." How do you think these will help you successfully mentor, coach and disciple the next generation?
Touche!
1. Small is not the new big. "'Small is the NEW big' is misleading. Small has ALWAYS been big; we've just been too enamored with 'bigger is better' to remember the ancient truth that Jesus touches lives one person at a time." (Rob)
2. Small is the new big? It depends. "It may be true that small groups have a sharper learning curve than large groups, but it always depends on the willingness of the student to learn.... We must never forget personal responsibility." (Kris)
I Get It
3. Now is the time. "Now you are talking. The old saying 'It takes a village to raise a child' is never more true than right now. (Graham)
4. Start now. "Over the last few weeks God has been nudging me to get more involved in teen's lives through various doors that are being opened to me. Your newsletter was such a confirmation." (Moira)
5. Connect learning and love. "Last spring I had three girls come to my house to learn how to put on a tea. We prepared foods and decorated tables and enjoyed lots of laughs along with the learning that involved how to's and service. The next day, they dressed like modest and lovely young ladies and served three tables of moms and grandmoms very sweetly. I hope it will serve them well as a very small but very significant learning time wrapped in love." (Janie)
6. It's not just in the church. "Life-on-life mentoring is important in the work place/marketplace as well. Business owners, supervisors and fellow employees have a great opportunity to influence in the work place for 40-plus hours a week." (Josiah)
Start With Parents
7. The parents are most influential. "Church teaching is badly needed but more importantly children look to their parents first and foremost for Godly guidance! The church teaching reinforces parental teaching." (Bonnie)
8. Get parents involved. "I think the number one way to get adults involved in the lives of these young people is to get parents involved in the lives of their own children." (Jonathan)
9. Message to Parents--You can't give what you don't possess. "The one-to-one relationship is modeled by God Himself...but if a parent's relationship with the heavenly Father is shallow, that parent has very little of substance to pass on to his/her children." (Keri)
Three Things That Matter to the Next Generation
10. Be authentic. "What these kids are craving is for us 'Christian' adults to be real... broken... passionate... and transparent in their full view." (David)
11. Invest the time. "When I ask the young men in my small group what the most important aspect of the group is, the response is always the same: 'The most important thing is that you will take the time to meet with us.'" (Blair)
12. Repair relationships. Bill tells the homeschool families he works with, "No matter what curriculum you choose, what programs you use or your schedule, the most important thing in educating your kids is your relationship with them. If the relationship is strained, they won't learn nearly as much as you want, and they'll learn a whole lot of things you don't want them to learn."
What the Younger Generation Says
13. Invest in young men. "I am a 19 year old girl who looks around at the young men and knows that there is so much more for them if someone would only show them how! (Taryn)
14. Believe in us. "Being a younger member of the church and getting this response leads me to believe that the overall view of young people is, 'They are young zealots who will hopefully grow up and come to their senses.' Yikes. How do you light the fire under the adult generation to WANT to intervene?" (Sarah)
15. Focus on sibling relationships. The one thought that hit me from the newsletter was the impact of older siblings. Siblings have a relationship with each other that is different from the parent's relationship with them. The older will be able to speak into the youngers' lives in a way that the parents cannot." (Jeff)
16. Get smaller. "I am 18 and I can personally say that I have grown more, learned more, and ultimately did better when I was in smaller classes. Being with adults allows younger people to mature better." (Jaclyn)
17. Just be there. "Adults tend to defuse some of the peer pressure. It's not an issue of crowd control, it's a matter of presence." (Missy)
Four Questions the Church Needs to Ask in Reaching the Next Generation
18. "Does this promote proper intimacy?" "For kids today, it is all about intimacy. They desire an intimate big group gathering and an intimate small group setting, to connect with God in big groups through extended times of worship and prayer and to connect with each other and a mentor in a small group setting through guided conversation on real issues that integrate their faith with their struggles." (Luke)
19. "Am I teaching through life experiences?" "I was a part of a very successful youth group which, I believe, saw a lot of youth continue on with God.... We had a passionate youth pastor who taught from his heart (we have to pass on attitudes and values not just knowledge) and he took us on to the streets for witnessing (particpation in ministry not just having fun)." (Phil)
20. "Am I doing this in a way that involves more adults?" "The youth pastor [in my son's church] has done a great job of involving college aged/young marrieds to lead small group style ministry with the youth. My son actually looks to his small group leader for discipleship and spiritual leadership quite often. This spiritual circle of influence is made complete as my wife and I become friends, co-laborers, and mentors to the small group leaders. In this way we have both direct and indirect influence on our son's spiritual growth." (Freddie)
21. "Is this promoting the family?" The ratio of adults to students is why we are involved in a Family Sunday School class. It allows more adults to be involved in the lives of our children and their spiritual growth. It's a great environment for learning!" (Karla) |
