RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Question 2 - Will we baptize a person who is actively involved in a same-sex relationship?  What will we do when a gay parent wants to be baptized with their 3rd grader? 

Question 3 - Will we allow a person in a same-sex relationship to serve in our children's ministry?  Will we only allow them to serve in a behind-the-scenes roll and not in a highly visible roll like a large group teacher?  Or will we say no to them serving in any capacity?

Question 4 - Will we perform a child dedication for a same-sex couple?  What will we do when same-sex couple inquires about participating in child dedication?  Will we only take into consideration the child or will the parent's situation be considered as well?

These are big questions that each ministry needs to work through.  The purpose of this article is not to tell you what to do.  Each ministry must decide this for themselves.  And it is best to decide what you will do before you are faced with one of these situations..  The pastor and senior leaders should obviously help take the lead on decisions like this.

We are faced with a new day in our culture.  A culture that not only accepts, but celebrates same-sex relationships.  The church must navigate this with wisdom.  How we answer these questions will be a major factor in the days ahead.

The floor is yours.  Has your children's ministry answered these questions yet?  If so, how did you answer?   If not, are you working through them?  Share your thoughts,  comments and suggestions in the comment section below.

The Millennials...they are the young couples and parents you are trying to reach.  They are currently 18 to 33 years old.

And like each generation, they have their own unique characteristics and ideologies.

If you're going to be effective, here are 10 critical things you need to know about the Millennials.

They are keeping their distance from marriage.
Only 26% are married compared to 36% of Generation X, 48% of Baby Boomers and 65% of the members of the Silent Generation at the same age.

They are digital natives. 
Technology is not something they've had to adapt to.  It's all they've ever known.  81% of Millennials are on Facebook.  

Millennials are the most racially diverse generation in American history.
This is driven by the large number of immigrants who have been coming to the U.S. for the past half century whose U.S. born children are now aging into adulthood.

Millennials have low levels of trust. 
Only 19% of Millennials say most people can be trusted, compared with 31% of Gen Xers, 37% of Silents and 40% of Boomers.

They are facing economic challenges.
Millennials are the first in the modern era to have higher levels of student loan debt, poverty and unemployment, and lower levels of wealth and personal income than their two immediate predecessor generations (Gen Xers and Boomers) had at the same stage of their life cycles.

Millennials are the best-educated group of young adults in American history.

Millennials lead all generations in of out-of-wedlock births.  
In 2012, 47% of births to women in the Millennial generation were non-marital.

They are liberal in their views of social issues such as same-sex marriage and marijuana legalization. 

Millennials are less "religious" than previous generations.
Not only are they less likely than older generations to be affiliated with any religion, they are also less likely to say they believe in God.

They are not tied to institutions or denominations. 
They do not attend a "Methodist" or "Baptist" church just because that is what they grew up in.  Church "labels" is not what attracts them.

So what does this list mean for your ministry?  Here are some thoughts...

• We must continue to hold up God's golden standard for marriage while at the same time meeting people where they are and giving them steps toward God's plan for the home.  

• Instead of asking people to behave and believe before they can belong...give them room to belong before they believe and behave.

• Use technology to communicate and connect with them.

• Champion and reflect racial diversity.

• Have a ministry of integrity.  Earn their trust.

• Offer financial planning and counseling for young families.

• Be a place that welcomes, loves, and meets the needs of single parents. 

• Speak the truth in love.  You can't minister effectively without the balance of both.

• Be more concerned with what's happening inside your church than with what the sign on the outside of your church says.

All of these characteristics add up to one thing - we have an incredible opportunity to reach young families and couples with the Gospel.  They are open and receptive to the real thing.  They are not looking for "religion" but they are looking for a relationship.

We have the answer...it's Jesus!  The Gospel works if we will work the Gospel.  God wants to use your ministry to reach them!  Let's get busy!

As you read this list of Millennial characteristics, what are some other things we must do to reach young families?

Share your thoughts with us the comment section below.