DISCIPLING
• We encourage all ages
to be part of what we are
doing. The oldest volunteer
at our midweek middle and
high school meetings is
in her 60s.
• We recognize that our
students are better positioned
and equipped than we are
to reach their peers, so we
emphasize developing their
gifts for ministry.
• We try to keep our mission
constantly in mind, reminding
our leaders and students
weekly that it’s all about
helping people find and
follow Jesus.
David Lewellyn
Practical advice on
effectively reaching
and discipling the
next generation.
R
ather than concentrating on
how different Generation Z
is, I encourage those wanting
to reach young people to focus
more on how God is unchanging
through the generations. He
still desires for that generation
to come into and be part of
expanding His kingdom: We just
need to be willing to flex and
learn as we cooperate with Him
in that pursuit.
Teenagers today aren’t the
same as when I was in youth
group in some significant
ways, to be sure—but not all is
negative. For example, having
pretty much grown up in public
22
F O U R S Q U A R E Leade r
because of social media, they
are more willing to take risks
and be more supportive of one
another—two great pluses
when they’re fired up for God.
Here’s how we at Life Center
approach discipling Generation Z:
• Any success we have seen in
our ministry to young people
is based on a few simple
foundations. The value we
place on them as a vital part of
our church is expressed from
the top down; you’ll often see
our lead pastor, Joe Wittwer,
involved in our youth program
as one of the volunteers.
I’m convinced that teenagers
are just as capable as ever of
making incredibly mature
commitments to Jesus. That
doesn’t mean they aren’t also just
as capable of making immature
decisions and choices. But that’s
still true when we get older!
My main advice to people
looking to minister well to the next
generation is not to overthink it.
If you love God, and if you love
your students, you can’t go too
wrong. Resting in the knowledge
that He loves you, and He loves
them, go out and try things.
David Lewellyn is director of student
ministries at Life Center (Spokane
Foursquare Church) in Spokane, Wash.,
which is widely regarded for its vibrant
youth ministry.
Article written with Andy Butcher, a
freelance writer in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
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