“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” - Mark 16:15

Over the last year or so in this column, I have been discussing the roles of parents and Next Generation Ministries (NGM) “in equipping the next generation to claim its rightful inheritance as His Church.”

As part of that discussion I have mentioned that, although NGM’s hundreds of workers have done their best to see the miracle of a second-generation church, the part we play is a small one. The credit for those “kids” who have grown and are now ministering must first go to God, and then to their parents, who disciple them and continue to be part of their lives.

I also stressed that if you are a parent, you have a responsibility to minister to your child; to disciple and raise him or her up to claim a rightful inheritance as part of Jesus’ Church.

This parental involvement is critical.

On average, NGM will teach your child for only about ten hours per month in the coming year. That is a total of 120 hours.

The world will teach them for nearly 4,000 hours.

That means four thousand hours of friends, teachers, media and lessons of the world will overshadow the time they spend in formal ministry over the next twelve months.

You, as parents, and we (NGM) need to work as a team.

Based on our 30+ years of ministering to children, NGM has identified some basic tenets of faith that we know the kids need to know. Or, as Chuck Colson recently said in his BreakPoint blog: “What We Can't Not Know.”

These are church truths upon which you and your child can build your Christian lives, families and church.

The following is a preview of what Next Generation Ministries will be teaching your children in our classes, meetings and services over the next few months.

You can find a copy of our lesson plan topics on the bulletin board outside the nursery, or ask Pat Seaman for a copy of your own. If you are reading this from someplace other than Tucson, e-mail me for a copy at: ngmfrankin@aol.com. Just ask for the outline of current NGM services.

As The Tucson Bible Conference approaches, we will be ministering to kids about the value of a soul and evangelistic efforts. Although most of our children know that “The Church” is evangelistic, they may not yet make the connection that they are part of “The Church” and that the responsibility to Go into all the world is given to them as well as to their parents.

The lessons we will teach will help them define the world relative to their own sphere of influence.

Yes, they can give to offerings that will bring the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world, but they also can influence friends and family for Jesus right here.

Our lessons will focus on a specific memory verse, Mark 16:15: “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’” But we will also help the children to understand that verse by bringing in supporting scripture.

One week they will learn about the privilege of world evangelism; that it is an awesome privilege to help God reach the lost. They will know that God includes children in this privilege.

The relating scripture is: “And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8b.

We will point out that the children’s Judea is their neighborhood; Samaria represents their schools or anywhere they travel. The ends of the earth will be represented in a special offering that they will be bringing to be presented on Thursday night of Conference.

Our goal is to bring your children closer to the understanding that they have the privilege to be a witness.

Our next lesson will focus on church planting: “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3).

Children need to understand that they have an important part in those we send away. When the Church Council lays hands on that couple, they are the hands of the Church, children included. When that child who was their friend leaves, he or she is still in their hearts, and still in need of much support.

Our children’s prayers, offerings and mail will lift up that “missing” child and give him strength to minister in his new town. I have seen this myself as my three grandchildren left for Africa. Although there were many tears and sobs from both the senders and sent, the connection remains strong. Rarely does a week go by when I don’t hear from people in the local church – a child just as often as an adult – who tells me they are praying, writing, and supporting my grandchildren as they support their parents in the Libreville church.

Colossians 4:3a: “Meanwhile, praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word.” Over the next few weeks the children will learn that their personal testimony and preaching can win souls.

Sometimes a child’s world is smaller than his parents’, but it is never less important.

When the early church scattered, and went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4), that church included children. It still does today.

I have strong memories of a Bible conference back in the mid ’80s when Paul and Renee Stephens were sent out. Their son, Joey (now Pastor Joe Stephens) was suddenly taken from our midst, and the reaction was very strong among his fellow children’s church kids. There was much weeping (especially among the smitten females). I am certain that those tears turned to prayers as the Stephens family pioneered around the world.

Those tears helped water the ministry he leads now.

Those who go and those who stay all need God’s power. God has not left us alone, but has given us a “helper” and promised us: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you” (Acts 1:8).

Our children need to know that it is not by our might or power, but by God’s, that we reach the world. Don’t be surprised if your child comes out of a children’s service and tells you “I got filled with the Holy Ghost!”

Begin now to prepare that new evangelist to claim his or her rightful inheritance as His Church.