If You're Over 30, You Need Help!
In my 20’s I could create programs, come up with games and build a lesson mostly from instinct. I didn’t have to do much research on how preteens ticked. I knew what music, movies and TV shows were popular. I could easily use them to drive home the point of a lesson. For the most part, relating to and reaching preteens came naturally to me.
However, something happened when I turned thirty. Getting married and having my own three little kids meant I sort of lost touch with the changing world of preteens. No more watching Nickelodeon and Disney channel for entertainment. Barney and The Wiggles were on my TV all the time (not my favorite). No more spending lots of my off days playing football with preteens or inviting them to church after school to play video games. I spent my time off changing diapers, burping my infant and playing hide and seek with my toddler.
Also, the methods that were once cutting edge to reach preteens, were now outdated. My instinct wasn’t as strong as it was before and the world of preteens was changing. I had to figure out a way to stay in touch with the life of a typical 4th, 5th and 6th grader.
One night after our preteen midweek service last week, my eyes were opened to a new reality. I had a conversation with a High School student who volunteers with our preteen ministry. She wanted to get together and share tons of great ideas on how we can better reach preteens at our church and in the community. I am brand new to the church and we are basically starting the preteen ministry from scratch. I’m turning 34 years old next month and I’m slowly becoming less cool to preteens. Listening to her made me realize how valuable the input of teenagers and young adults are to preteen ministry.
If you are over 30, you need the input of younger leaders. Pick their brain on what they think would be effective in reaching today’s preteens. They have a better sense of the struggles that preteens face and what topics would be most helpful to address. They are able to relate to preteens on a relational level because of their age. Recruit young leaders, pick their brains, ask them what they think is working, what is not and value their input. Help them put together a lesson for Sunday. Let one of them design and manage your preteen website. Get a few together and let them plan your next preteen event or outreach. It doesn’t mean you let them roll the senior pastor’s house at your next event. Yes, they need some guidance and direction. But don’t overlook them. See them as one of your most valuable assets!
One last thought: There should be a balance of High School students and adults of all ages on your team. Adults bring maturity and experience to the team. However, in my experience we overlook what youth can contribute and often begin recruiting parents and other adults.
Start working together with your youth pastor and brainstorming potential High School students that would be a great addition to your team.