The Church and Next Gen

Last night was a unique Wednesday night in the life of Fellowship Church (www.fellowshipchurch.com).  Our junior high staff hosted 7th and 8th grade students and parents for the annual Purity Ring ceremony.  I think our sexual purity emphasis is one of the most important things we do in junior high.  It may be time to teach sexual purity to 5th and 6th graders, but that is another blog.  The church is the only barrier protecting our children from The Great Lie - sex is all about feelings and what ever feels right do it.  Sex with same sex, sex with children, sex with animals, hey it is your choice.  That's what our students hear starting about the 4th grade.  At Fellowship, we are committed to teach sexual purity and Biblical truth.  We had over 100 junior high students publicly vow before God, their parents and our staff that they would remain pure until marriage.  It was a moving experience.

After that, I rushed over to our high school ministry where we were having Senior Recognition night.  I started this program when I became a student pastor.  The Class of 2009 were freshmen when I started, so they are a special class to me.  We invited parents to be a part of the program because without their support, there would not be a student ministry.  I thanked them for the countless hours, dollars and time they spent over six years making sure their kid was at church on Wednesday night.  We had 44 seniors participate in the ceremony.  Many of them were still wearing their purity rings they had received four years ago.  It was an awesome night of praise, fun and friendships!

As I drove home last night, I thanked God for a senior pastor and a church that supports children.  From our preschool to high school, Ed (www.edyoungblog.com) has always made kids a priority at Fellowship.  With the addition of Allaso Ranch(www.allasoranch.com) last year, Fellowship is poised to attack (sorry for the military analogy)  schools all over DFW for Jesus.  We are engaging even deeper into the battle for the spiritual lives of our students.  It's a battle that will determine how the Next Gen will impact the future for the kingdom. 

What is even more exciting is that there are 4-5 seniors who I know will be on staff at Fellowship one day.  God is already moving in their hearts for full-time ministry.  That is awesome to me.  I hope I am still around to work with them!  But, it is going to take younger staff members to reach a younger Next Gen! 

I love students, staff and our ministry.  Every church should have their best people working in the student area.  The stakes are too high as we look to the future.  Never give up, don't grow discouraged or loose the priority for students.