A complete discipleship system for leading intentional preteen and youth ministry
Few people set out to start a preteen ministry. Most either get asked (or told) to start one, or God puts a burden on their heart. There are a few resources for beginning a preteen ministry, but the real trick is keeping it going over the long haul. One of the best ways to build a lasting preteen ministry is to CAST A WIDE VISION.
Starting a preteen ministry can be lonely because many people don’t see the value or need. Keeping your ministry thriving requires more people than just you who are bought in. You must have a shared vision so that more people will own the burden for preteens in the church. We know the importance of casting vision on volunteers, but the rest of the church also needs to see the preteen students’ value. Your senior leaders, other ministry departments, and congregational families need to see that a healthy preteen ministry benefits the whole church.
Your preteen ministry will last and thrive when your operations team prioritizes having a meeting space, your finance team ensures money is in the preteen budget, your senior pastor welcomes preteen announcements from the pulpit, and your youth pastor wants to help with a healthy transition. Here’s how to cast a compelling wide vision to the other people in your church.
A compelling vision of preteen ministry communicates value and potential. Unfortunately, many don’t value preteen students because they don’t understand them. Regularly, you’ll need to share stories about how cool the preteens in your ministry are. Use names and stories so they know these are not faceless kids who come to your ministry. Tell stories about how students are making decisions for Christ. The more we communicate how God values preteen students, the more others will value them as well.
To communicate potential, you must share stories of God working in your students’ lives. Most adults don’t take preteens seriously and don’t believe that they can take faith seriously. Share stories of preteen students digging into God’s Word, asking real questions, and showing Christ’s love to others. You must communicate your belief in them so that others will also take them seriously.
The bottom line is that one day, you will move on from your place of leadership in your preteen ministry, and someone will have to carry the torch. The more people who are bought in will ensure that a thriving preteen ministry is part of your church for a long, long time.
Deep Discipleship Preteens is a complete curriculum and system with everything you need for ministry to 4th–6th grade students.
