A Call For Next Gen Help From Pastor Andrew
As many of you know I studied history in college and often see a coloration between what I read in history and the experience of Christian life. So, a metaphor should not be a surprise. There have been many times in war where a small force was asked to hold back a large invading army until reinforcements could arrive and together, they win the day. We are in that moment in NextGen. There is no way around it, the NextGen team has a significant transition coming. With Pastor Andrew (me) stepping away and Castine preparing to hire a New Pastor there are some things the team needs to be successful. Specifically, there are some teaching roles that need to be filled.
If you were not aware, we have 3 different programs that serve our NextGen family. All of them serve between 40 and 60 students a week. On Sunday Mornings, we are in need of Sunday School teachers for the Youth (7th-12th graders) and the 4th-6th graders. We also need help during the worship service. We need folks to help serve our Preschool/Kindergarten teams and our 1st-3rd graders.
Every ministry area in the church could think of great kingdom opportunities if they had all the help that they needed. So let me make my pitch as to why I think an hour spent with the children and the youth is a great investment into what God is doing. First off, God is moving in the NextGen ministry. I just pointed to the scope and size of the ministry, and if you drilled down further you would see that there are a number of kids from families that have just started to call Castine home. Meaning that NextGen is at the edge of our church’s growth.
Second, our kids are hungry for God, in the past 6 months, I think I have done almost as many baptisms as I had in the past 6 years, (I am estimating, keeping hard numbers always felt a little too mercenary). God is calling our kids to public professions of faith in the baptismal at a pace I had not seen in my previous time here. Finally, intergenerational relationships are the secret sauce that keeps kids connected to their faith in adulthood. Let me say that differently, kids stay connected to faith in Christ because while they were young, adults in the congregation took a special interest in them, and their spiritual growth. In that way helping with NextGen ministry not only helps strengthen the program now but is a direct investment in the future of the church of Jesus Christ.
I am asking you for 1-2 hours a month of your time, teaching kids and helping the lead teachers be successful. Help us keep NextGen strong so when the new Pastor arrives, they are on a great platform for the next season of great youth and children’s ministry.
If you were not aware, we have 3 different programs that serve our NextGen family. All of them serve between 40 and 60 students a week. On Sunday Mornings, we are in need of Sunday School teachers for the Youth (7th-12th graders) and the 4th-6th graders. We also need help during the worship service. We need folks to help serve our Preschool/Kindergarten teams and our 1st-3rd graders.
Every ministry area in the church could think of great kingdom opportunities if they had all the help that they needed. So let me make my pitch as to why I think an hour spent with the children and the youth is a great investment into what God is doing. First off, God is moving in the NextGen ministry. I just pointed to the scope and size of the ministry, and if you drilled down further you would see that there are a number of kids from families that have just started to call Castine home. Meaning that NextGen is at the edge of our church’s growth.
Second, our kids are hungry for God, in the past 6 months, I think I have done almost as many baptisms as I had in the past 6 years, (I am estimating, keeping hard numbers always felt a little too mercenary). God is calling our kids to public professions of faith in the baptismal at a pace I had not seen in my previous time here. Finally, intergenerational relationships are the secret sauce that keeps kids connected to their faith in adulthood. Let me say that differently, kids stay connected to faith in Christ because while they were young, adults in the congregation took a special interest in them, and their spiritual growth. In that way helping with NextGen ministry not only helps strengthen the program now but is a direct investment in the future of the church of Jesus Christ.
I am asking you for 1-2 hours a month of your time, teaching kids and helping the lead teachers be successful. Help us keep NextGen strong so when the new Pastor arrives, they are on a great platform for the next season of great youth and children’s ministry.
Posted in CastineConnect