For our community, summer programming is about to kick-off. We’re a few weeks behind everyone else. I know for many of you, summer already has begun. With another school year gone, I’m taking the opportunity to do sort of a preteen ministry review of the past year (August 2010-June 2011). I’m going to share my thoughts on what I have seen in the world of preteen ministry from around the U.S. and what I’ve learned this past year leading X-Zone, the preteen ministry I lead.
As I write these words, I’m thinking this will be more than one blog post. I’ll probably post a few throughout the week.
First, connecting with other preteen leaders is critical. Those that have a niche for leading preteens are unique. We don’t quite fit in with the typical kidmin leader nor with the average junior high/student leader. We, like preteens, are stuck in the middle. This past year, I’ve increased my connections with other preteen ministry leaders, mainly through FourFiveSix.org (sign-up for the “list” to join the community) and those I’ve met at the Preteen Leaders Conference. It’s been great getting to better know my friends, Patrick Snow, Sean Sweet, Jim Kast-Keat and more! I have a tendency to isolate myself and have greatly enjoyed my friendship with them. Nothing like connecting with people who share the same passion!
Second, preteen ministry is on the rise. PreteenMinistry.net is one of the few hubs for preteen ministry. I get the opportunity to get a pulse on preteen ministry as a whole, mostly throughout the U.S. but also internationally. I get the sense that more and more churches are launching preteen ministries. Churches are seeing the need to have a ministry focus on 4th-6th graders. That means more preteens are being reached and less are falling through the cracks. The more churches that are successful at reaching preteens, the more other churches will see the fruit and launch preteen ministries of their own.
Third, collaboration triples your efforts. Collaboration goes beyond connecting. It means you have more than friends that are leading preteen ministries, but share each others ideas. You’re inspired to try new things. You talk about programming, obstacles and successes together. You expand each others world by the conversations that take place. You implement new strategies and concepts. Sometimes, you might be having a conversation with someone else and come up with a new idea or lesson that would never have existed on your own (or simply with your team). In effect, you triple (or double, quadruple, etc) your efforts.
Forth, what worked last year might not work again this year. Preteen culture is constantly evolving. As it changes, our methods of communication much change with it. Not only do the methods change, but what we choose to communicate might change as well. A series that was a hit a couple of years ago might fall on deaf ears this year. Now, don’t get me wrong, the gospel never changes nor do the truths in the Bible. But the issues that preteens face and the cultural context they live in, shifts and changes all the time. So, keep pace with preteen culture, keep a pulse on the issues your preteens are facing and stay current on what’s going on in your preteen’s community. Shift and make adjustments as needed. Once a year is a good time to evaluate everything.
That’s all I have to write for now. I hope to make another post in the next day or so.
