The Fabulous Reinvention of Preteen Ministry
Listen as Nick Diliberto, creator of PreteenMinistry.net, interviews Sean Sweet, Preteen Pastor in Rocklin, CA. Sean has recently revamped his preteen midweek service. He’s tried a completely new approach that has been extremely successful in helping preteens own their faith in Jesus. Join Nick and Sean as they talk about the FABULOUS REINVENTION OF PRETEEN MINISTRY. Be ready to re-thing your approach to leading preteens!
Download the list of what God has revealed to preteens in Elevate (as mentioned in the broadcast).
FourFiveSix On-the-Air is a preteen ministry radio show brought to you every other Thursday by FourFiveSix at 12pm pacific (3pm eastern). Nick Diliberto, creator of PreteenMinistry.net, is your host who interviews preteen pastors from FourFiveSix, which is a group dedicated to helping your preteen ministry take the next step. Listen live and join the conversation by calling in or commenting on our facebook page: facebook.com/preteenministry
11 Replies to “The Fabulous Reinvention of Preteen Ministry”
Robrenna
This was such an insightful and very inspiring interview. I am one of three moms who started a bible study for preteen girls in our neighborhood. It’s a small group of eight girls most come from Christian homes but a few don’t. We are so excited about the work the Lord is doing in them and us. We want to encourage them to grow to be God-Fearing,Jesus-loving,virtuous young women. I love the ‘reveal’ part of Pastor Sean’s teaching method. What a wonderful way to get the kids to own their faith. This method would be great for our girls.
Praying for all in preteen ministry.
Kevin
I just listened to the Reveal service podcast linked to from the Elevate in Action blog. I was curious about how you prevent misinterpretation. I am interested in adapting it to our Wednesday night ministry. It’s a great idea to get the preteen involved in the class time and let them be the teachers. I think it’s great to give them time to hear from God, too.
But with today’s society and worldview influencing their thoughts, what do you do when a preteen shares something in large group that is completely against a Christian worldview, or even just a little off.
Is there any part of the experience that ensures correct Biblical theology or is it just open-ended? How do you guide their understanding?
ndiliberto
Good question. That’s where the large group and small group leaders help facilitate and direct the conversation. They set things right when something off base is said. Or they encourage preteens to evaluate that comment themselves while leading them in the right direction.
ndiliberto
Thanks for the comment and prayers Robrenna!!
Kevin
Good. I figured as much, but the audio interview did not make it clear.
Sean
Kevin – That’s a great question. If you hadn’t asked it, you wouldn’t have had the benefit of hearing from Nick on a solution. It’s a good thing Nick allows for comments. 🙂
And that’s the way it works with the Reveal services, too. One of the benefits of allowing the preteens to share what they think God is revealing to them is that we CAN guide them away from false thinking because we value and hear them say what they are thinking. And as a result, they become better at discerning God’s voice.
In a more traditional service, a preteen might be thinking things that completely go against a Christian worldview, or might be just a little off, but the leaders would never know it. With the Reveal method, we hear what they are thinking, right or wrong.
We’ve had some interesting misconceptions shared during our Reveal services (“Satan and God are equals”, “God is a shape-shifter”, “We will ALWAYS have sin around us”, etc.), and in those moments we (sometimes it’s even the other students) can use scripture to help bring truth to the situation in a gentle and helpful way.
As you are working on your new Wednesday format, Kevin, I’d love to hear how it evolves and what things you discover along the way.
God Bless!
NIck
I’m a Middle School Director responsible for 5th – 8th grade. I really like the idea the Reveal method, but I was wondering if it has been tried on older students, 7 – 8 grades? I tried it this past Sunday night and it went ok. They weren’t very talkative though. I think maybe I didn’t explain well what we were doing or maybe they are so used to just hearing a message. I like the idea of teaching them to seek God on their own. Sean I may be emailing you with some more questions as we experiment more, if that’s cool.
ndiliberto
I think it takes time. Won’t happen overnight. You sort of train them as you go along. I am going to let Sean know of your comment, so he can give suggestions as well.
Nick
Thanks Nick! Btw i’m taking my team through your coaching series. Good stuff!
ndiliberto
Sweet!
Sean
Hey Nick (not preteenministry nick – Middle School nick),
Our Middle School team did some experimenting with the “reveal” concept. They have 6th-8th grade kids. It was a bit of a change for them to be asked what they thought God was showing them. Then, too, to be that vulnerable in front of their peers was a challenge for them. But it did end up producing some great results, and I think the graduating kids from our ministry would be very open to that style of service.
Currently, we are having a change in the leadership of our Middle School program, so who knows what the new people will think of the Reveal concept or if they’ll want to implement it.
I would love to hear how it goes for you, Nick, and what you do with it. As well as what challenges/questions you face. In fact, I’d love to come and see it in action with your group, if it’s possible. Please feel free to e-mail me at ssweet@destinyrocklin.com or call me at 916-780-2273 ext. 227.
God Bless!
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