The reminiscing of boyhood as stated in a previous post is a component for how I am seeking retreat while in the midst of discovering how God wants me to lead a preteen program in our church this Fall. And, as I am writing this, I admit I am seeking out wisdom and vision for each word I am communicating. I am creating an action plan tonight and I feel the need to just lay out my ideas here in a spontaneous fashion so that in my action plan I can seek to be more concise. Thank you ahead to those of you who are pressing through this stream of consciousness.
My son will be nine years old in August and continually I have a passion to see him grow in his relationship with God. To see a preteen group develop, yet develop healthily is important to me. One of my goals is to consider the colloquialisms in the traditional church. I am becoming more aware of many of these colloquialisms that I grew up with now that I am raising two curious children whom I pray never lose those questions. My commitment to our local church family who seeks to reach those "burned out on 'the church' but not on God" has also stretched me to personally wrestle with theology and/or tradition and personalize it in such a way that I can remain "culturally relevant."
Our church was established about 10 years ago and seeks to connect with people in a way that is meaningful yet tones down much of the traditional, religious language. While I believe there is depth and wealth in some of such language, there are many who will not step into the doors of a church building or sit and visit because of the schetoma (mental block) that they have due to their own personal experiences. And understandably so; many of us have seen what man in the name of religion has done over the course of time to botch up what God intended for beauty.
Our church seeks to directly minister to our "preteen" children in a growth approach and by fostering an opportunity for them to come, grow, hang-out and fellowship, and to connect their "friends who are seeking" with a community of other children who are discovering Jesus, growing in their faith, experiencing the new fruits of living in Christ, and He living in them... because of the Holy Spirit. Thus my purpose.
"Dear Lord give me the know how to take these ideas and be able to communicate in a real way with this age group."
By preteen I am referring to those between the age of 9 and 12 years old. As I have been reading Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions many of my speculations are being affirmed identifying the need for a direct aim at the hearts of our "preteen aged" children. In February, I attended a conference where a poignant presentation was delivered about the state of the children in our culture and how we, in Family Ministries, can partner with parents to reach our children. This is a pivitol time in childhood. And, their identity is awakening in a new and powerful way. They are beginning to identify and find belonging amongst their friends, as was reinforced during a recent workshop by Dr. Kathy Koch. Dr. Koch is the author of Authentic Hope and Wholeness; and How Am I Smart. These years are very much of a transition time between young children and teenagers. Thus my target group of children ranges between 9-12 years old, 4th-6th grade.
The words of Paul to the Philippians ring consistently with the prayer of my own heart for each child who chooses to seek our group out.
Philippians 1:9-11
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
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