RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

The Millennials.  They are the young fathers and mothers that you want to reach.

They are the young couples you want to mentor.

They are the up and coming leaders you want to invest in.

Millennials get a negative review at times.  We talk about how less committed they are to the church.  How they tolerate things that their parents and grandparents would find deplorable.  How they have a shallow faith that cannot stand for the truth. 

But...they can be reached.  They can be discipled.  They can be the next generation of leaders who will take the Gospel to the world in unparalleled ways.

And in-spite of all you read and hear about them,  I want you to know that you can reach Millennials and their families.

Millennials have unique traits and characteristics that you want to know about so you can be effective in reaching and discipling them.  Let's look at some of those generational specifics that will help us know how to connect with them and invest in them spiritually.

Millennials are digital natives.  They grew up in a digital world and engaging with technology is as natural as breathing for them.  And yet we fall behind in using technology to engage with them and share the Gospel with them.

Millennials have grown up with massive changes happening all around them.  They are used to change and do not walk away from it.  But often we refuse to change so that we can stay current with the culture we find around us.  If we are going to effectively reach and minister to Millennials, we must keep a solid grip on doctrine while changing our methods so we can be relevant and reach Millennials.

If we are going to reach Millennials, then we must be willing to make key changes in worship style, church methods and mode of operation.  Even when it means doing things differently than we were brought up with.

Much of what Gen X and Boomers oppose is simply because it's not the way they "did church" growing up.  But we must realize change is a catalyst for growth.  We must be willing to change what is not working.  Churches have a choice.  They will either change what Millennials are not connecting with or die a slow death.

I was at a church a few months ago that had no children.  No students.  No Millennial parents.  Just Boomers.  The sad news is that church is dying a slow death.  Once the older generations pass, that church will have to close its doors.  They are terminal.

Millennials are the young leaders that we must invest in.  They have so many great qualities.  They are...

• Optimists

• Talented

• Creative

• Collaborators

• Relational

• Want authenticity

• Have the traits of great leadership

Millennials truly can change the word for Christ as they step into key leadership roles.  But we must also realize that Gen X and Boomers are the key groups that must lead the mentoring.  We must add "knowledge to the zeal of Millennials."

Let me ask you.  Are you willing to let go of the past?  Are you willing to change methods, philosophies and traditions?  What worked yesterday must be looked at closely and changed if it is no longer effective.

The reason why many churches aren't reaching Millennials is because they don't understand them and don't have the ability to relate to them.  Churches who want to reach Millennials must change that.  They must be intentional in relating to them and understanding them.

Here are a few of the key things Millennials are starting to bring to the table.

Secularization - religious values disappear and are replaced with government ideas.  People begin to be influenced by religion less and less.

Gender revolution - the categories of  “male” and “female” are deemed insufficient or invalid.  Genders become fluid or even optional.

Pluralization - the idea of truth is not absolute.  There are many options.  To say Jesus is the only way to eternal life, is to be intolerant.

Millennials are leaving our churches.  For the most part, they have very little connection to the traditional church.  The number of Americans ages 18-29 who have no religious affiliation has nearly quadrupled in the last 30 years.”  39% of Millennials are religiously unaffiliated.  This is 3 times the unaffiliated rate among seniors (ages 65 and older).

Many are Biblically illiterate, having grown up in an increasingly anti-Christian worldview.

Many Millennials have become disillusioned with the church.  They have watched as their church attending parents lived one way at church and a different way during the week.  This has caused them to ask if Christianity really works in our day-by-day lives. They see their parents and grandparents being solid at church while at the same time being dysfunctional at home. In many cases, they have lost respect for the church because our walk doesn't match our talk.

Rapid change.  The average Millennial will have 17 jobs across 5 careers in their lifetime.  They are used to rapid change in every area of their lives.  And this includes the church as well.  Millennials will switch places of worship often.

Social Media.  Millennials see social media as a conduit to communicate and connect.  It is the language through which they speak.  They see no difference between online and offline communication.  We must find ways to bring offline community to their online world.

Leadership.  Millennials don't follow positions or titles, they follow people they love and respect.   They follow relationship not rules.  The old saying is very true with Millennials - People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.

We must listen to Millennials.  Give them opportunities to lead and be heard.  Respect their differences of opinion.  Be willing to collaborate with them.  I recently read this noteworthy statement. 

“For Millennials, leadership is about relating, listening, collaborating and empowering, not about commanding or demanding.” 

Check their schedule and be flexible.  They are very, very busy.  They want to know that the things they are investing their time into are relevant and can make a difference. Ask yourself these questions.

• Is this the best time of the week to reach Millennials?

• What programs are no longer fruitful and need to be stopped?

• What programs or events can we consolidate and streamline?

As you do this, it will enable you to put more focus, strategy and quality in what you do.

Church services.  Many Millennials believe you can worship without attending church.  Add online services to the mix and you'll find that for many Millennials, online church has replaced physically attending a church in person.

Purpose of facilities.  You will find that many churches are remodeling and adding areas like bigger foyers, coffee spaces and other gathering points.

Coffee should be your friend.  Coffee is about more than a beverage.  It's communicates to Millennials that your church has a heart for hospitality and care.

Millennials lack understanding of God's Word.  But the good news is this - they want to learn more about God's Word.  They want to explore the Bible at a deeper level rather than just breezing through the pages.

Giving.  While Boomers tithe without question, Millennials are the least likely generation to tithe.  And before they give, they want to know what the money is going to and how it will impact people's life.

If our churches are going to be strong in the future, then we must be willing to change and adjust so we can reach Millennials.  When this happens, we will see them make a huge impact on their generation and future generations.

It's an honor to partner with you to see kids and families follow Jesus.

I am praying and believing that 2020 is going to be your best ministry year ever!

God is going to pour down blessings upon you and your ministry.

Thought I would share a Christmas music video with you.  It is an amazing rendition of the song...entire song is done in acapella.

(if you are reading this in an email, you can see the video at this link)

Merry Christmas!

The number of unmarried parents is on the rise.  A key factor behind this is the number of adults who are living together unmarried.

It is now more common to cohabitate than to get married.

In 2002, 60% of adults said they had been married compared to only 54%  who said they had or were cohabiting.

By 2017, that number had shifted.  Only 50% of adults say they been married compared to 59% who say they had or were cohabiting.

A recent Pew Research Center survey says most Americans find cohabitation acceptable. 

69% of adults say it is acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together.

16% say it is acceptable only if the couple plans to get married.

Only 14% say it is unacceptable.

46% say couples are just as well off if they decide to stay together long-term and not marry.

53% say couples are better off to get married if they want to stay together long-term.

Millennials are very accepting of cohabitation.  They are more likely to see cohabitation as a path to a successful marriage.  But 78% of 18 to 29-year-olds say it is acceptable for an unmarried couple to live together, even if they don't plan to get married.

All of that to say this - nothing is a good substitute for the institute of marriage that has been established by our Heavenly Father.  Here are some examples of this...

• couples who are following God's plan for marriage have more stable relationships

• married adults are more likely to trust their spouse

• married adults are more likely to say they feel closer to their spouse - only 55% of cohabiters say this

Here are some of the reasons why people say they are cohabitating:

38% say moving in with their partner made sense financially.  But at the same time, many cohabiters say the reason they are not married to their partner is because their partner is not financially stable enough for marriage.

37% say it was convenient.

23% say they want to test their relationship before they commit to marriage.  They see living together as a step toward marriage.

Here are some other reasons why people are cohabiting:

-their partner is not ready financially

-partner is not ready to make that kind of commitment

-they are not far enough along in their job or career

-they are not totally sure their partner is the right person for them

-they are not ready to make that kind of commitment

When it comes to raising children, 59% of adults say couples who are living together unmarried can raise children just as well as married couples.

What about love?  Women who are cohabiting are more likely than men to say love and wanting children someday were major reasons why they moved in with their partner.  80% of women cite love as a major factor compared to 63% of men.

Married adults are also more likely to say their spouse is the adult in their life they feel closest to than those who cohabit are to say the same about their partner  - 78% of those who are married say this, compared with 55% of cohabiting adults.

And 58% of married adults say their relationship is going very well, compared to 41% of those living with an unmarried partner.

What about infidelity?  Married adults generally trust their spouse more than cohabiters trust their partner.  84% of married adults trust their spouse to be faithful compared to only 71% of those cohabiting.

When asked about the adult in their life they feel closest to, about eight-in-ten married adults (78%) name their spouse. A smaller share of cohabiters, though still a majority, say (55%) their partner is the person they feel closest to.

But the truth is this...married couples report higher satisfaction in every part of their relationship than those who are cohabiting.

God's way is still the best way and we must help parents and the next generation understand this.

Hey friends, I am excited to announce that my new book "Lead Well in Children's Ministry" is now available.

Everything rises and falls on leadership...and that includes children's ministry.

In this book of over 300 pages, I draw from over 30 years of ministry experience and share how to lead well in 10 key areas.

Lead Yourself Well

Lead the Ministry Well

Lead Up Well

Lead Staff and Volunteers Well

Lead Through Change Well

Lead Through Challenges Well 

Lead the Next Generation Well

Lead Parents Well

Lead  Multi-Site Well

Lead Well for the Future

Here's a short video with more info.  If you get this in an email and can't see it - you can see the video directly at this link. - https://vimeo.com/366782256

You can purchase the book at this link.  It is available as both an ebook and paperback.

Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in ministry.

I was recently at a church on a Sunday morning and noticed that during the songs, not one single teenager was singing with the congregation.

They simply stared ahead at the song leader with no outward signs that they were participating in worshiping Jesus during the songs.

All of the songs were hymns that the older members of the congregation enjoyed singing.  It was obvious that they had a strong preference for hymns.

This reminded me that every church that wants to still be in existence 20 years from now must set aside some of their personal preferences for how church should be done and be willing to make room for the preferences of the next generation.

There are churches across our nation that are dying a slow death.  They refuse to let go of some of their preferences and it is obvious in the percentage of kids and young families who are attending.  These churches are turning into ministry mausoleums.  

There is a church about 2 miles from where I live that I am familiar with.  "Back in the day" they had 200 people attending.  I drove past it on a Sunday morning recently and there were maybe 6 cars in the parking lot.  This story could be told many times over in our nation right now.

In the last few months, there are two quotes that hit me as I wrote them.  Here they are...

A church without children is terminal.

If there is no crying (in the nursery), your church is dying. 

Millennials and their Gen Z kids want to help shape the future of the churches we are asking them to attend and participate in.  That being said, when was the last time you gathered a group of them together and asked them what they would change in the church if they were given permission?

And what if some of the things they want to change are the opposite of your church preferences?  Are you willing to set your preferences aside to reach the next generation?

I have found that many of the "church battles" and "worship wars" that happen are because the older generation is unwilling to surrender any of their preferences.  This is one reason why Millenials and Gen Zers are leaving our churches. 

If we want them to be leading the church one day when we are gone, then we must give them some say in helping lead the church now.

At one of the churches where I was on staff, the church had come to a crossroads.  Would they only cater to the preferences of the older members?  Would the older members make room for the next generation to lead?

One of the key elders in the church helped the church move forward.  On a Sunday morning, he was sitting in a service.  New music was being sung.  Songs the older members had never heard before.  Songs that were louder than the songs from previous generations.  Songs that were definitely the preference of the next generation.

The elder was sitting beside the pastor on a Sunday morning in a service.  He leaned over to the pastor and said this...

"This music is not what I prefer.  It's louder than I am used to and I am not familiar with the words, but I'm looking over at my grand-kids and they are are worshiping and praising God.  That's what matters most to me.  Sign me up to be a supporter of the changes we are in the process of making that will help us reach them."

That church is thriving and growing.  Why?  A big reason is the older generation was willing to lay aside their preferences for the preferences of their children and grandchildren.


Please, please, please don't let your preferences keep you from reaching the next generation.  The future of your church is at stake.

Do you want to leave a legacy for the effort you are putting into children's ministry?

Do you want to see the kids you are ministering to grow up to love Jesus because of the investment you made in their life?

I believe we all want to move beyond just "serving our time in children's ministry."  I believe you are reading this because you want to know your investment is making an eternal difference.

Plain and simple...you want to leave a legacy.

There is a lady in the Bible who left a legacy that is still being talked about to this day.  Let's take a look at what she did to leave such a long-lasting legacy.

"Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy.  While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over His head.  The disciples were indignant when they saw this. "What a waste!" they said.  "It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor."

But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a thing to me?  You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me."  She has poured this perfume me to prepare my body for burial.  I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be remembered and discussed."
Matthew 26

This lady left a legacy that is still remembered and talked about today.  There are 3 keys things she did to leave a legacy.  Let's look at them.

#1 - Pour Out Your Time.  It took time to earn the perfume.  It was very expensive and the woman must have worked many days or even months to obtain it.

One of the most valuable things you have is your time.  It is precious.  When you invest your time in serving others, you will see the spiritual rewards now and later.

Have you heard of Don Ritchie?  Don lived across the road from a place called "The Gap" (no - not the store) in Australia.  The Gap is a well-known cliff area.  It is infamous for being a place where people go to commit suicide.  Don could see the cliff from his house.  After seeing several people jump to their death, Don decided he would step in and offer hope to the desperate people who came there to commit suicide.

Don kept watch and when he saw someone getting close to the edge of the cliff, he would rush over and talk the person back away from the edge of the cliff.  He would then bring them to his house and sit down for a meal with them.  He would talk with them - offering them hope and encouragement.

At his funeral, hundreds of people showed up and said Don had saved their life.

It took lots of time for Don to watch and save people from suicide.  If you want to leave a legacy, then follow the example of Don and invest your time in helping others.

#2 - Pour Out Your Treasure.  The perfume the lady poured on Jesus was very, very expensive.  It was a huge investment for her.  It probably took months or even years to save enough money to purchase it.

What do you invest your treasure in?  Temporal things?  I believe we must remember that everything we have will one day end up in the junkyard.  That new car you just bought, will one day be rusting in a car salvage yard.  That new 60 inch TV you just got, will soon be replaced with a 80 inch one.  The house you have spent years paying off, will one day be flattened.

But there is something you can pour your treasure into that will last.  When you invest your treasure into reaching and discipling children, the results are eternal.  There is nothing more valuable than the soul of a child.  God says this about it...

"What does it benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul."  Mark 8:36

Take all the riches of the world - houses, money, gold, diamonds, cars, land and bank accounts.  Put all of that on one side of God's scale.  On the other side of God's scale put one child that you minister to...and God says the child is worth more than all of those possessions and riches.

#3 - Pour Out Your Talent.  You have talents that the Lord has given you just as He had given the lady talents.  God gave us talents so we could use them to help reach the next generation.  Invest in what will outlive you.  When you invest in the next generation,  you are sending a message to a day you will never see.  Long after we are gone, the children you invested in will still be sharing the Gospel with others.

Matthew 10:42 says, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will not lose their reward."

As you pour out your talent, you will see God begin to use your life to His glory.  Ministry doors will open for you.

You are dropping pebbles into water.  And as you do this, ripples will begin to spread across the lives of children.

In Matthew 1, we see the story of the farmer planting seeds.  Some seeds don't grow and last, but many do.  And the seeds that make it, blossom into a harvest of 30, 60 and even 100 times as much as you planted.

Remember, a legacy is not what you leave for the next generation, rather it's what you leave in the lives of the next generation.  

Pour out your time, treasure and talents, and you will leave a legacy that will last for generations to come.

"Remember NOW thy Creator in the days of thy youth."  (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

NOW is the time to reach the next generation with the Gospel.  Why now? Because 80-85% of people come to Jesus while they are children. 

NOW is the time to disciple the next generation.  Why now?  Because their hearts are open and moldable.  

NOW is the time to equip parents.  Why now?
Because parents are the primary faith developers and kids grow up way too fast.

NOW is the time to pray for the next generation.  Why now?  Because the enemy is set on stealing, killing and destroying them. 

NOW is the time to let children be the church of today.  Why now?  Because they have gifts and talents and God can use them to change the world.

NOW is the time to help the next generation develop a love and commitment to God's Word.  Why now?  Because they will be told that it's just an ordinary book, that it contains errors and is not true. 

NOW is the time to teach the next generation about giving tithes and offerings.  Why now?  Because it will set them up for a lifetime of obedience and blessings. 

NOW is the time to teach the next generation how to share their faith.  Why now?  Because they can effectively share the Gospel with other kids. 

NOW is the time reach more families for Christ.  Why now?  Because God doesn't want to see anyone perish. 

NOW is the time to teach children to pray big prayers.  Why now?  Because God answers prayer.

NOW is the time to give your very best to serve Jesus.  Why now?  Because we only have one life to make a difference and it's time we get serious about using it.

NOW is the time to teach preschoolers about Jesus.  Why now?  Because the early years are the most critical in a child's life. 

NOW is the time to be passionate about reaching the next generation.  Why now?  Because Jesus loves children and wants to be their Forgiver, Leader and Friend. 

NOW is the time to invite other people to serve with you in children's ministry.  Why now?  Because children are the greatest mission field in the world.  

NOW is the time to give your best for Jesus.  Why now?  We only have one life to live and one life to leave our fingerprints on the world.

NOW is the Time!  You are the Person!  Walk in God's call on your life.

Show me a church that loves the next generation and I'll show you a church where the Senior Pastor cares about the next generation.

I had the privilege of serving with a Pastor who was a great example of this.

Dr. Ronnie Floyd pastored Cross Church for over 32 years. Yes, you read that correctly.  32 years at the same church.  It is highly unusual to see a pastor stay that long at the same church.

For 7 of those years, I served with Dr. Floyd as his children's pastor.  Time and time again he showed that he deeply cared about reaching and discipling the next generation.

The finances he invested in reaching the next generation were above and beyond the norm.  He led the church to invest significant resources for children's ministry including several building projects, a church-wide children's day each year,  staffing, a significant yearly budget and more.

His heart for the next generation shone bright as he led the church to reach and disciple children and their families.  I remember one year, we reached and baptized over 220 children.  Our heart for reaching kids and families came from His leadership.

Recently, Pastor Floyd, stepped down as the senior pastor of the church.  After 32 years of faithful service, God asked him to go on a new journey as president and chief executive officer of the SBC’s Executive Committee.

Pastor's Floyd's last service as Pastor of Cross Church was a few weeks ago.  As part of the service, he called all the children to come to the front so he could speak with them.  It was another statement that displayed his heart for the next generation.

Below is a video clip from that service that shows him sharing with the next generation that day.  Watch it and be encouraged as you see a great example of being passionate about passing the faith to the next generation.
If your church is not passionate about reaching the next generation, I would encourage you to show them this video.  It will challenge them to invest more of their time, talents and treasure into passing the baton to those who are following us.

Have you noticed all the recent television ads that point to a gay lifestyle? Commercial after commercial shows same sex couples.  Sometimes it's a quick picture of a same sex couple that flashes onscreen in the midst of showing heterosexual couples.  Other times, it's featured longer in the commercial.  And that's apart from the many television shows and movies that promote the LGBTQ agenda.

Make no mistake about it - One thing is for sure - the LGBTQ agenda is determined to indoctrinate the next generation.  Their goal is for your children and grandchildren to accept LGBTQ as a normal lifestyle.

This was evident again in a recent episode of Arthur.  Arthur is an animated educational television series for children ages 4 to 8 that is shown on PBS.  The show takes place in the fictional city of Elwood.  It revolves around 8-year-old Arthur and his daily interactions with friends and family.

In a recent episode, the show featured a gay wedding.  See it for yourself in this video.



One thing I do agree with the lady host is when she talks about parents having conversations with their children about the LGBTQ's push to normalize same sex relationships.

The church obviously cannot teach kids in preschool and elementary about same sex relationships.  But here's the good news - parents can.  I believe parents must start having age appropriate conversations with their children from an early age. 

Parents cannot afford to wait until their children are in middle school to have these conversations. If they do, it may be too late as kids are constantly hearing the wrong messages from society as a whole.

Remember..."in a race to a child's heart, the first one there wins."

As the church, our role is to come alongside parents as they are having these conversations and provide them with resources and tools they can use.

Do you want your child's or grandchild's view of same sex marriage to be something they formed while watching a television episode like Arthur?

Recently, I was accused of being a fearmonger when I wrote another article entitled "Dragging Kids Away From God's Plan."

I am trying to help people see that God is a God of love AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.  The God who made marriage and sex to be between a man and a woman.  When we follow His plan, we will find wholeness and affirmation from Him. 

Jesus confirmed this in Mark 10:7-9. 

For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. What God has joined together, let no man set asunder.

Parents must teach their children that sex is between a man and a woman who are married.  Anything else is outside of God's plan for our lives.

As our country continues its moral downward slide, more and more children are being affected and even exploited.  Such is the case of 11-year-old Desmond Napoles.  His stage name is "Desmond is Amazing."  He is a "drag queen kid."

Desmond says his parents introduced him to drag when he was only two-years-old.  At this age, his parents began having him watch "RuPaul's Drag Race."  He claims he "came out of the closet" at age three.  

Now, as an eleven-year-old, Desmond wears ladies' clothing, high heels, lip stick and eye shadow.  His parents have even allowed him to dance on stage at a gay bar called 3 Dollar Bill.  Sources say when Desmond took off his jacket, men in the audience began cheering and handing him $1 bills. 

His parents were investigated for this by the NYPD and other government agencies.  No illegal activity was found.  His mother says the investigation was because they allow Desmond to be himself and do what he loves.  He has been called the hope for the future to come.  He is an outspoken gay youth, runway model, public speaker, performer and fashion designer.  He made his professional drag debut in RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 winner Jinkx Monsoon's video for the "Bacon Shake" when he was just 7 years old.

During an interview last year, Desmond said he's happy to be able to help "the LGBTQ" community fight for their rights.  He went on to say that he enjoys being in the spotlight and likes the fame.  He has several projects in the works, including a clothing line for "drag kids."  It is interesting that Desmond's parents are the key influencers in his lifestyle.  Perhaps they see an opportunity to make money from their child's lifestyle by selling merchandise, TV shows, cosmetic lines, print projects and more.

I personally believe that this is a form of child abuse.  Exploitation of children.  Simply put - down right disgusting.   

As we continue to see more and more people, and yes, even kids and their parents, being deceived by the father of all lies, we must speak the truth, in love.  There is an all out war going on for the next generation by the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

As Christian leaders, we must equip parents to talk with their children about issues such as this.  We must also equip parents and their children to be able to live their lives with God's Word as their foundation.

I am also reminded again that fathers, uncles and other male leaders in children's lives must step up and be the godly, strong, male examples that boys need in their elementary and middle school years.  

We must equip parents to teach their kids that God created man and woman.  Not a man and another man pretending to be a woman.  Not a man who dresses up like a girl and visa versa.  Not a man who is in love with another man.  It's very clear.  God created a man and a woman.  Period.  That was His plan then and that's his plan now.

I am also reminded of the quote by George Barna.

Today's kids are not yesterday's kids.  You and I were once kids, but not in today's culture.

As a children's ministry leader, you are a missionary to kids.  By the way, you are in the world's greatest mission field...the heart of the next generation.

When a missionary goes to a foreign country, he or she first learns all they can about the culture and traditions.  As a missionary to today's kids, the same should be true of us.  It is important that we keep up with what today's kids are into, so we can connect with them more effectively.

So, how well do you know today's kids?  Take this 20 question quiz to find out. The answers are at the bottom of the page. Make sure you answer the way you think today's kids would answer.

It's important to stay in touch with what today's kids are facing and how to help guide them through it. 

Today's Kids Quiz

1. What is Amazon?
   a. A river.
   b. A drink.
   c. An online company.

2. What is a phone?
    a. Device with a long stretchy cord.
    b. Mobile device.
    c. Talking device that is home bound.

3. What is a tablet?
    a. Electronic device.
    b. Pill you take.
    c. Stones with 10 commandments written on them.

4. Camera
   a. Device built into phone.
   b. Take film roll out to develop.
   c. Device to carry that takes pictures.

5. Save
    a. Something you do with money.
    b. Image on a computer that looks like a floppy disk.
    c. Put money back for something.

6. Play.
    a. Something you do outside.
    b. Something you do using a video game system.
    c. Something you do at recess.

7. Rite of passage.
    a. 16th birthday party.
    b. Getting driving license.
    c. Getting first cell phone.

8. Place to find information.
    a. Google.
    b. Encyclopedia.
    c. Library.

9. Celebrity.
    a. Someone in movies.
    b. YouTube Star.
    c.  Famous athlete.

10. Mail.
     a. Box near end of driveway.
     b. Post office.
     c. Pops up on cell phone.

11. Mouse.
     a. Computer device.
     b. Small furry animal.
     c. Popular cartoon character.

12. Jokes on you.
      a. Board game.
      b. Funny Joke you tell about someone.
      c. Prank Kit.

13. Map.
      a. Paper Atlas book.
      b. Phone GPS
      c. Print out directions.

14.Toy's R Us.
      a. Went out of business.
      b. Sold toys.
      c. Geoffff the Giraffe.

15. Picture Album.
      a. Hard copy book with pictures inside.
      b. Stored on phone.
      c.  Sits on coffee table.

16. The MM color that is NOT made anymore.
      a. Blue.
      b. Red.
      c. Tan.

17. Babysitter.
      a. iPAD
      b. Friend of the family.
      c. Teenager.

18. Most popular way to communicate.
      a. Phone.
      b. Letter.
      c. Text.

19. Madden.
      a. Football coach.
      b. Video game.
      c. Type of shoe.

20. Basketball.
      a. Lebron James.
      b. Larry Bird.
      c. Spud Webb

The answers are below.  How did you do?  What other questions would you add for this?  Share your score and any thoughts, ideas, etc. that you have in the comment section below.
 
Answers:
1. What is Amazon?   a. A river.
   b. A drink.
   c. An online company.

2. What is a phone?
    a. Device with a long stretchy cord.
    b. Mobile device.
    c. Talking device that is home bound.

3. What is a tablet?
    a. Electronic device.
    b. Pill you take.
    c. Stones with 10 commandments written on them.

4. Camera
   a. Device built into phone.
   b. Take film roll out to develop.
   c. Device to carry that takes pictures.

5. Save
    a. Something you do with money.
    b. Image on a computer that looks like a floppy disk.
    c. Put money back for something.

6. Play.
    a. Something you do outside.
    b. Something you do using a video game system.
    c. Something you do at recess.

7. Rite of passage.
    a. 16th birthday party.
    b. Getting driving license.
    c. Getting first cell phone.

8. Place to find information.
    a. Google.
    b. Encyclopedia.
    c. Library.

9. Celebrity.
    a. Someone in movies.
    b. YouTube Star.
    c.  Famous athlete.

10. Mail.
     a. Box near end of driveway.
     b. Post office.
     c. Pops up on cell phone.

11. Mouse.
     a. Computer device.
     b. Small furry animal.
     c. Popular cartoon character.

12. Jokes on you.
      a. Board game.
      b. Funny Joke you tell about someone.
      c. Prank Kit.

13. Map.
      a. Paper Atlas book.
      b. Phone GPS.
      c. Print out directions.

14.Toy's R Us.
      a. Went out of business.
      b. Sold toys.
      c. Geoff the Giraffe.

15. Picture Album.
      a. Hard copy book with pictures inside.
      b. Stored on phone.
      c.  Sits on coffee table.

16. The MM color that is NOT made anymore.
      a. Blue.
      b. Red.
      c. Tan.

17. Babysitter.
      a. iPAD
      b. Friend of the family.
      c. Teenager.

18. Most popular way to communicate.
      a. Phone.
      b. Letter.
      c. Text.

19. Madden.
      a. Football coach.
      b. Video game.
      c. Type of shoe.

20. Basketball.
      a. Lebron James.
      b. Larry Bird.
      c. Spud Webb

When we think about senior adults who attend church, here a few things to remember.  These are general statements, but you will find it true in many churches and I'm sure you can resonate with it.

Senior adults who attend church are faithful.  You can count on them being consistent.

Senior adults normally love the music style they grew up with in church.

Senior adults are more conservative than younger generations.

Senior adults give consistently.  Their tithes are usually a big part of a church budget.

Senior adults know their Bible.  They have decades of reading and studying the Word of God.

Senior adults bring wisdom and discernment to the table.  This comes from simply doing life and learning along the way.

Senior adults are often the spiritual leader in their family.

Senor adults can bring so much to the table.  It's important to listen to them and love them.

A healthy family is comprised of all generations.  Babies.  Children.  Pre-teens. Middle-schoolers. High-schoolers.  Young adults.  Parents.  Grandparents.

And so a healthy children's ministry is made up of all these generations as well.

That being said, when you get family together, you will have different tastes of music, different ways of doing church, different ideas, philosophies and different values.

Senior adults have two choices.  They can try to preserve the way they have always done church and are comfortable with.  Or they can set aside their preferences so they can more effectively pass on the baton of faith to the generations coming behind them.

I have seen this lived out.  One of the churches I served at was growing and thriving.  I found out one of the big reasons why.  Several years ago, they had come to the point where they realized they needed to transition the church to a more modern, relevant format.  It was a critical time when the senior adults had to decide if they were going to preserve the past or move forward.  Were they going to set aside some of their preferences so the next generation would feel connected?

Soon after, the chairman of the church elder board was sitting on the front row in the worship service.  The music was loud and it wasn't his style of music.  As he was looking around, especially at his grandchildren, he whispered to the pastor,  "This is not my style of music and it is loud to me.  But I'm looking over at my kids and grandkids and they are engaged and are worshiping.  I'm going to lay aside my preferences so I can effectively pass the baton to them.

If you are reading this and you are a senior adult, turn and look behind you.  The next generation needs you to speak into their lives and invest in them spiritually.  They are counting on you to pass them the faith baton.

If you are a younger generation, honor the senior adults in your church.  Cherish their faithfulness and wisdom.  Learn from them.  And reach across the aisle and help them see why change is a key part of a successful faith baton hand-off.

If you are a senior adult, are you willing to set aside some of your preferences so your church can see the faith continue to thrive in the years to come?  Will you leave a legacy for the generations behind you? 

I am writing this article not with a "the sky is falling" attitude, but rather from a honest look at where we are now and where we may be headed in the next 5 years based on current trends.

As the title says, I'm extremely concerned about the spiritual fate of the next generation.  Here's why...

We don't currently have enough strong churches to meet the needs of kids and families.

Each year, over 3,700 churches close their doors.  The good news is each year over 4,000 new churches are planted.  Even with that, this is not enough churches to reach the growing American population.  By 2050, the U.S. population will top 400 million. 

More families are disengaging from the local church.  By 2050, the number of believers who do not attend church, will double, going from 17% to 30%.

North America is the only continent in the world where the church is not growing.  The North American church is in decline.  While there are pockets of growth, most denominations and even contemporary churches are shrinking.

Waves of young people are walking away from the faith.  If current trends continue, an estimated 35 million kids who were raised in a Christian home, will walk away from the faith. 

Another concern is the lack of passion for Christ among parents and even church leaders. The faith that is passed to the next generation must be one that is concentrated on Christ and is on fire for the world to know Him.

I'm also concerned that we are raising "good kids" instead of "Gospel kids."  We are using the limited time we have kids at church to teach them "character traits."  This may result in lots of "good kids," but not kids who are grounded in the faith.  Kids who don't know why they believe what they believe.  Kids who won't be prepared to face the tough questions they will be confronted with in high school and college.  Our teaching must go deeper - deep enough that kids know the doctrines of the faith and how to defend it.

If a child cannot defend their faith, there's a strong probability that they will walk away from their faith.

Lack of evangelism.  While many Millennial adults say they know how to share their faith, they also think it is wrong to share their personal faith journey with someone of another faith.  47% of Millennials say it is wrong to share your personal belief's with someone of a different faith.  This line of thinking is grounded in Post Modernism and lessens people's passion to share their faith.

Increased activities on Sunday.  Today's families have more choices on Sunday.  There are lots of activities that have taken over.  Working on Sunday.  Sports activities including traveling teams on Sunday. Games that used to be played on Saturday now happen on Sunday.  Outdoor activities like boating, camping, etc.  Sunday is no longer a day that is set aside for worship.

Misplaced priorities of parents.  When parents skip church, it conveys that church is just another activity you can choose from a list of activities.  Look at this convicting statement from Carl Trueman.  Carl is one of America's foremost Christian voices and an accomplished church historian.

“The church is losing its young people because the parents never taught their children that it was important.  I think that applies across the board.  It applies to family worship, and it also applies to whether you are in church every Sunday and what priority you demonstrate to your children church has on a Sunday.  If the sun shines out and their friends are going to the beach, do you decide to skip church and go to the beach?  In which case, you send signals to your children that it is not important.” 
(Carl Trueman)

How we must respond...

• Get back to making the Gospel the focus point of our ministry. It's the power of the Gospel that changes our hearts.

• Equip children to be able to share the Gospel. 

• Be willing to change.  The past may have been wonderful, but we are not living in the past.

• Get back to the Bible as the center of our teaching.  The Word of God should be the start and ending part of our lessons. 

• Build relationships with the next generation so you can influence them.  In most cases, kids who stick with their faith,  have a close relationship with a caring adult at church.

• Have a contagious faith.  Students who own their faith, have watched Christian leaders who were passionate about living for Christ.  They have rubbed shoulders with Christians who bring Jesus into every area of their life.  If we want the next generation to have a passionate faith, then we must first demonstrate it in our lives.  Maybe the reason kids are walking away from the faith is because we didn't show any love or passion for Christ.

• We must get our priorities in order.  The next generation must see in us a passionate commitment to Christ.  We must remove the idols we have put above Jesus with and get back to putting Him first.  When we go to church when it's convenient or nothing else is going on, it is saying to the next generation that church doesn't have to be a top priority. 

• And think about this with me.  The average family now attends church once or twice a month.  That is considered "faithful."  This means kids are missing 50-75% of the lessons.  If this continues, kids are going to be walking out of our ministries with little to no understanding of God's Word and His plan for our lives.

But there is much hope.  With people disengaging or having never been engaged, we have a tremendous opportunity to reach kids and families with the Gospel.  If we will step up and minister in the power of the Gospel, we can see the next generation reached for Christ.

Will you join us in this cause?

When you go to the doctor, they often ask about your family history.  Has your father or mother had so and so?  Does this run in your family?

Why do they ask you this?  Because if your parents or grandparents have struggled with a certain illness, there's a good chance you may as well.

Recent research by Child Trends showed that a parent's health was a good indicator of their children's health.  

If parents are in excellent health, the percentages would say their child will have excellent health as well.  If parents are struggling with a certain illness, the percentages would say their child may struggle with the same health issues, if not now, down the road.

I believe the same thing could be said about children's spiritual health.  If parents are healthy spiritually, then their children will be prone to be healthy spiritually as well.

And if the parents are lukewarm believers, then their children will be prone to be lukewarm believers as well.

You see, no one has more influence in a child's life than his or her parents.  Like father like son.  Like mother like daughter.  Parents play the biggest role in shaping their children's faith.

If we can help parents be spiritually healthy, then they in turn, will lead their children into spiritual passion and health.

The truth is (and this is coming from the guy who loves children's ministry) we don't need more children's ministry.  We need more "parent ministry."

The Bible talks about generational sins and curses.  Generational sins means you disobey God's commandments.  You have idols that you place before God.  These tendencies can be passed down to children from their parents.

Yes, we know that each person must answer for himself or herself when it comes to their relationship with God.  God doesn't have any grandchildren, only children.  Even though sin in a family can be passed down through the generations, each person has to make their own decision about following Jesus. 

That being said, parents have a huge influence, the biggest influence, in cultivating children's hearts to follow Jesus.  Parents can create a home environment that influences kids to step across the line of faith and go on the adventure of following Jesus.

So how can you influence parents?  How can you come alongside parents and equip them to be a spiritual influence in their child's life?

Offer parenting classes.  In the children's ministry world, for too long, we've depended on adult ministry to offer parenting classes and in many cases, the children's ministry doesn't get involved.  It's time we, as children's ministry leaders, start playing a key role in facilitating parenting classes that teach parents how to raise their children to be a spiritual leader.

Offer milestones.  Milestones are significant spiritual markers in a family's life.  And if you are intentional about what you do for milestones, you can see God use it to break generational curses.

Here are the key times you can significantly influence not just children, but their parents as well.

• Parent and Child Dedication
• Bible Presentation
• Stepping Across the Line of Faith
• Following Jesus in Baptism
• Transitioning into Middle school

You can get more info. on these by clicking on the ones you are interested in or click here for obtaining all of them at a discount.

Place tools in the hands of parents that will help them lead their children spiritually.  This may include things like parenting classes (as mentioned above), creating small groups for parents based on their child's age and serving with their children.

You have families in your church that are struggling with generational curses.  But the good news is God can use you and your children's ministry to help break those curses.

No matter how far a family is from God, there is hope.  No matter how far back the sin patterns go, it can be broken.

I know a family that was really messed up.  The great, great grandfather was a moonshiner during the days of prohibition.  He was a violent man and ended up murdering a man in his front yard.  He was sent to prison for life.  His son followed right in his dad's footsteps and became a drunkard.  The violence was also passed down to the next generation.  The son was constantly getting into fights and and as a result he'd had his nose broken 5 times.

Enter Jesus into this scenario.  The next son in the family tree, heard about the life changing power of Jesus and so, he went to church to learn more about it.  This would be the decision that broke the generational curse in the family.  For the first time, the son heard that things could be different with Jesus.  He stepped across the line of faith and entered a relationship with Jesus.  His father soon became a follower of Christ as well and the generational curse turned in to a generational blessing.

How do I know this is true?  Because that family was my family.  Jesus changed our family and He can do the same for the families in your community.

As we reach fathers and mothers, we will see entire families come to Christ.  We will see generations changed from a curse to a blessing.

Remember, when you reach a child, you change a life.  When you reach parents,  you change an entire family.

Father full of hope....son will be full of hope.

Mother loves Jesus...daughter will love Jesus.

Father reads the Bible...son will read the Bible.

Mother spends time with Jesus...daughter will walk with Jesus.

Father attends church faithfully...son will attend faithfully.

Mother serves...daughter serves.

This video gives simple, clear facts from God's Word about generational curses and how they can be broken.  Check it out.

Last week I led a session at CPC that was titled "7 Keys to Reaching Young Families.  The response was tremendous with standing room only.

Reaching young families is obviously something that is very important in most churches.  Without a new generation of adult leaders, churches will die a slow death. 

And even though there are challenges with reaching young, Millennial parents, it can and is being done.

You can get the notes from the session at this link. 

When you serve in children's ministry, you are training the future leaders of the church. 

Sitting in your small group...rocking in your arms in the nursery...singing in your kid's choir or praise team...
coloring in your preschool room...trying to act "cool" in your pre-teen ministry...are tomorrow's church leaders. 

Think about this with me.  When you invest in children, you are preparing leaders who will make an impact in a time you will never see.  I'm not trying to be morbid here, but we know our time here on earth is short.  We only have a short time to make a difference.  But when we invest in children, we extend our influence into the future.  

And in case you're wondering, you are also making a big impact right now.  Kids can be leaders now if we will give them the opportunity. 

When you invest in children, you are molding the church of now and tomorrow.  What a privilege and honor that is.  God has entrusted you with this very important assignment.  Don't take it likely. 

The 1st grade boy that keeps climbing on top of the table in your classroom, will one day climb up a mountain as a missionary to tell a tribe of people about Jesus. 

The pre-teen girl that talks out during class and disrupts the lesson, will one day be a bold witness for Christ in the workplace.

The little preschooler that drops his penny in the offering bucket, will one day be a successful entrepreneur who will give thousands of dollars to advance the Gospel.

The 8-year-old girl that sings with all her heart, will one day write worship songs that encourages millions of people. 

The kindergarten boy that is playing with the legos before service, will one day build churches around the world. 

A few months ago, I went to the Billy Graham memorial in North Carolina.  I learned something about Billy's ministry that I had not heard before.  And it relates to what we're talking about in this article.

In 1934, a group of men gathered under a grove of trees at the edge of the Graham dairy farm.  It was the dairy farm of William Graham.  William was the father of Billy Graham, who at the time was a 15 year-old teenager.  

The men had gathered to pray for revival in their city, state and beyond.  They prayed that God would raise up someone from the Charlotte area who would take the Gospel to the world.  A few months later, Billy attended a revival service of Dr. Mordecai Ham.  It was a tent meeting. And on November 1, 1934, Billy went forward and entered a relationship with Jesus. 

Billy would grow up to reach millions of people with the Gospel.  He has been called the "Evangelist to the World" and the "Pastor to Presidents."

The group of men who gathered to pray that day, impacted millions of people through the investment they made in a young man named Billy. 

I believe in your children's ministry there is a child who God can use to change the world.  And He is using you to train this child, who will grow up to make a world-wide impact. 

What a privilege to be able to train tomorrow's church leaders.

Have you noticed all the movie remakes lately?  Here are a few...

Beauty and the Beast

The Mummy

Smurfs

Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Spiderman

Planet of the Apes

Jumanji

The Lion King

Jungle Book

Cinderella

Pete's Dragon

King Kong

Mary Poppins

Dumbo

That's just a few of the remakes that have been or will be on the big screen soon.  Yes, the originals were awesome.  But the remakes introduce the stories to a new generation.  Which is important.  The remakes have amazing, cutting-edge graphics, animation, casts, etc. The remakes have updated music and the cast is made up of actors that are fresh, younger (depending on the role) and can connect with a new generation.

There are several lessons in this for children's ministry.

Leave the story line alone.  The Bible's story of the redemption of mankind hasn't changed, nor should it.  The Bible is very clear that Jesus is the one and only way to heaven.  That is a truth that we should never drift from.  It is the foundation and basis of our faith.

Update the presentation of the story line.  While the story of Jesus doesn't change, the way we present it to people must be kept up-to-date, fresh and exciting.

The movie remakes normally stay pretty close to the original script.  While at the same time incorporating up-to-date, cutting-edge graphics, music and the latest in equipment. 

While our story never changes, we must be willing to change the way we present the story so we can reach today's kids and families.

Take the stories of the Bible and look for ways you can bring updated elements into your presentations, lessons, talks, etc.

Here's an example:  You are teaching the kids about prayer.  Rather than using an old phone that you have to dial or is corded, use a newer iPhone or Galaxy.  Same lesson - we can talk to Jesus any time we'd like.  Different illustrations with the newer phone.

Be thankful for the past, but don't let the past dictate the future.  The old movies were great back in the day.  They worked for the audiences that came to watch them.  The technology we have today was not available back in the day to produce incredible scenes with CGI and other programs.

The remakes are enhanced because of the new and better ways that are available to make movies today.

The sad fact is many churches refuse to use the new tools and strategies that are available to the church today.  They are simply not willing to move out of their comfort zone.  The complacency of the past is just too comfortable to try something new.  And with that mindset, they eventually end up with a for sale sign on the front lawn.

Here are some questions to consider and talk about with your team.

• Is there anything we need to remake?

• Is our music up-to-date?  Does it sound like what today's kids hear on the radio?  (I am referring to the style of the music - not the words) 

• When was the last time we tried something outside of our comfort zone?

• What are some obstacles that are holding us back from remaking our ministry?  How can we overcome them?

It's exciting when a remake comes out, isn't it?  We rush to the theater to see it on opening day.  We talk with our friends about it.  We post about it on social media.

My prayer is we will get so excited about what God wants to do through a remake that we will go for it.  That we will step out of our comfort zone and into a new level of updated ministry.    

Thank God for the past.  But He is not done yet.  The best is yet to come for you and your ministry.

As the calendar turns the page to another year, it is vital that we know how the next generation thinks, what they value and what they resonate with.

There are over 74 million Gen Z kids in the U.S. and  world-wide there are 2 billion.

They are bringing change to the world and will significantly influence society as a whole.

It is crucial that we stay focused on Gen Z.  Reach them and the world will be changed.  Influence them and you influence the future.

Recently Pew Research released a new in-depth look at Gen Z.  Let's see what implications it has for us as children's ministry leaders.

Gen Z is the most racially and ethnically diverse generation in the history of the U.S.  Churches that want to reach Gen Z will recognize this and be intentional about creating a place where all races are welcomed with open arms.  Among 6 to 21-year-olds, only a bare majority are white (52%).  25% are Hispanic.  14% are black.  6% are Asian.  4% are others.  Today’s 6-to-21-year-olds are projected to become majority non-white in 2026 (when they will be ages 14 to 29), according to Census Bureau projections.

The churches that are effective will look like heaven.  People from every race and tribe worshiping God the Father in unity.

But not only must churches welcome all races to the table, they must also invest in them and encourage them to move into key leadership roles.  

Gen Z is committed to education.  The older members of Gen Z are enrolling in college at a higher rate than their Millennial parents did at a comparable age.  They are smarter.  They are more educated.

A recent report from George Barna revealed that 13% of Gen Z kids are atheists.  That is twice as many as their parents.

I can't emphasize enough how important it is to teach Gen Z why we believe what we believe.  They can quickly see through shallow teaching, inadequate answers to tough questions and how the Bible and science can be compatible.  It is crucial that we help them develop a solid, Biblical worldview that will last.

Studies show that over 50% of the people who have left the faith, say the reason they left was because they simply didn't believe anymore.  Smart, educated Gen Z kids need to see the evidence that verifies the Bible is the Word of God....that Jesus was a real person who was crucified and rose from the dead and that they were created by a loving God.

This is one big reason why I created curriculum series that focuses on equipping children and families to defend and share their faith.  You can see 12 months of the series at this link.  There are also stand alone lessons that equip kids and families to defend their faith.  You can see those at this link.

We must create environments where kids can face the hard questions and be encouraged to dialogue about them.  If we want them to get the right answers, then we must be intentional about addressing the hard questions now.  Look at these revealing stats.

24% of Gen Z say science refutes the Bible.

49% of Gen Z say church rejects science.

19% of Gen Z say the Bible is full of fairy tales.

Cute lessons about being good or cooperating with others, will not prepare Gen Z to follow Jesus in a post-church world.

Gen Z has various living arrangements.

65% live with two married parents.  Of those children and teens who are living with two married parents, most live in dual-earner households.

30% live with cohabiting parents.

31% live with a single parent

To Gen Z, family no longer means just two married parents, where one goes to work and the other parent stays home to clean the house, prepare dinner, etc.  When you ask them the definition of family, they consider not just two married parents, but also single parents, same-sex couples, grandparents, step parents, etc. 

We must teach Gen Z that God's golden plan for marriage is a married man and woman, who stay together for a lifetime.  While holding this up, we must also leave room for grace and belonging as we walk with people on their journey to Jesus no matter where they are on the journey.

If you want to reach Gen Z, then you must go to where they are...urban areas and the Western states.  

Only 13% of Gen Z live in rural areas, compared with 18% of Millennials, 23% of Gen Xers and 36% of early Boomers. 

I am thankful for every church in small town U.S.A.  That's what I grew up in.  But if we are going to reach Gen Zer's, we must start and build churches in urban areas.  Remember when Jesus looked out and said the fields were ripe for harvest?  When we look at the urban areas of America, that statement should resonate with us and propel us to focus on the urban, large, metropolitan areas of our country.  

Gen Z kids are growing up in more affluent circumstances than previous generations.  The median household income they are growing up in is $63,700.  This is compared to only $52,000 for Gen Xer's and $42,000 for Boomers.  Affluence sometimes can get in the way of people following Jesus.  This is the case now and it was the case in Jesus' days here on earth.  The rich young ruler wasn't willing to give up his affluence to follow Christ.  The affluent said no in the parable that represented coming to Jesus.  

It's not about money.  It's about need vs. want.  When a generation is doing very well financially, it can pull their heart away from Christ, if they are not careful.  We see this illustrated in several of Jesus' teachings.  Wealth can cause a generation to slip away from trusting God and begin to trust themselves and their possessions.  

Bottom line is this.  It is not wrong for Gen Z to have money.  But it is wrong when the money has them to the point where they put it before Christ.  

Here's a quick recap...

If we are going to reach Gen Z, we must embrace and champion racial diversity.  We must not only embrace it, but lead the way in promoting unity and love for all...no matter who they are or what zip code they live in.  

Gen Z is well educated and very smart.  We must teach them apologetics and help them work through the hard questions that need to be addressed.  They want to see proof before committing to Jesus.

"Family" is no longer just what you call a married father and mother with two kids.  Today's families come in all shapes and sizes.  We must be prepared to meet them where they are, show them love and grace and give them room to belong before they believe. 

If we want to reach Gen Z, we must focus the majority of our outreach and evangelistic efforts in the large, urban, metropolitan parts of the country.

We must help Gen Z see that material possessions are not wrong, but it is wrong when you put it before Christ.  Have money.  Make as much as you can.  Use your money to bring honor and glory to God and to help build His kingdom.  

I am deeply burdened for Gen Z.   They are facing things that previous generations never had to deal with or be entangled by.  More than ever, they need us to help guide and lead them.  It's a cause worth giving our lives and ministries to.