Dec. 8, 2025

Be the Leader the Next Gen Needs

Be the Leader the Next Gen Needs
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Season 2

Every young person is searching for identity, belonging, and purpose—but they can’t find it alone. In this episode, Pastor Jeff Little sits down with Next Gen pastor Drew Nguyen to unpack what today’s students really need from the leaders who guide them. 

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Present, Not Perfect Parenting
3:28 - Setting The Next Gen Focus
4:41 - Scale With Heart: Youth Numbers
5:37 - A Youth Pastor’s Origin Story
9:15 - Finding Family In The Church
12:27 - From Brokenness To Belonging
14:16 - Programs Don’t Raise Sons And Daughters
17:02 - Multi‑Generational Discipleship In Action
19:06 - Five Core Values For Kids
22:08 - Don’t Wait To Be Great
24:08 - Pressures, Options, And Anxiety
26:17 - A Hunger For God Among Students
28:21 - Templates: Retreats, Camps, Super Series
32:16 - Identity, Purity, And Affirmation
35:02 - Evangelism That Mobilizes Students
38:24 - Parent The Heart, Not Performance
42:04 - Be Emotionally Present

LEAD TO WIN RESOURCES
More Resources: https://leadtowin.com/
Win With People: https://leadtowin.com/pages/win-with-...
Register for Leaders Gathering: https://leadersgathering.leadtowin.com/
Information on Milestone Church: https://milestonechurch.com/

FIND US AT: https://leadtowin.com

GET IN TOUCH: Contact us at info@leadtowin.com

FOLLOW PASTOR JEFF
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefflittle/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pastorjefflittle

FOLLOW LEAD TO WIN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadto.win/

00:00 - Present, Not Perfect Parenting

00:21 - The Pho Detour And Friendship

03:28 - Setting The Next Gen Focus

04:41 - Scale With Heart: Youth Numbers

05:37 - A Youth Pastor’s Origin Story

09:15 - Finding Family In The Church

12:27 - From Brokenness To Belonging

14:16 - Programs Don’t Raise Sons And Daughters

17:02 - Multi‑Generational Discipleship In Action

19:06 - Five Core Values For Kids

22:08 - Don’t Wait To Be Great

24:08 - Pressures, Options, And Anxiety

26:17 - A Hunger For God Among Students

28:21 - Templates: Retreats, Camps, Super Series

32:16 - Identity, Purity, And Affirmation

35:02 - Evangelism That Mobilizes Students

38:24 - Parent The Heart, Not Performance

42:04 - Be Emotionally Present

WEBVTT

00:00:01.280 --> 00:00:06.400
You are the most significant influence in the life of your child.

00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:08.800
Students are not looking for perfect parents.

00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:13.279
They're looking for present, intentional, available ones.

00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:18.640
They would rather you fumble maybe through a prayer with them, but to be with them.

00:00:21.199 --> 00:00:26.399
The first the first most important thing that I want to talk about is pho.

00:00:27.359 --> 00:00:28.640
It's the best.

00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:30.879
I mean, I mean, we've got a first talk.

00:00:31.039 --> 00:00:47.359
Okay, so I have I've eaten pho in multiple places, but I have not eaten pho in Vietnam, but I have a Vietnamese friend who just got back from Vietnam and they brought me some different gifts.

00:00:47.600 --> 00:00:56.719
And so I'm just saying, like for a dude from East Texas, I've got I've got some pretty strong pho game.

00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.000
Pastor Jeff, on behalf of my family and all the Vietnamese people I know.

00:01:02.880 --> 00:01:03.679
Come on over.

00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:04.719
You're on the team.

00:01:05.040 --> 00:01:05.680
Let's go.

00:01:06.079 --> 00:01:10.799
And so my wife went first to a pho place, right?

00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:21.200
And then what happened was I had a Vietnamese friend who told me about a Vietnamese uh restaurant called Pho 95.

00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:24.560
It was pretty good, but then the health department shut it down.

00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.680
So I had a, I had a I had to I had to abort.

00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:32.799
Then across the way there was another place.

00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:42.560
And my wife and I, every week on our date lunch, I'm talking 40 plus weeks out of 52.

00:01:42.799 --> 00:01:46.079
Straight up, we're eating pho there.

00:01:46.319 --> 00:01:49.599
Ha, if she's listening, ha is the owner.

00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:50.560
She's our friend.

00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:53.040
She watches my messages online, she's a Buddhist.

00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:57.280
But I'm telling you, I've tried it.

00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.840
Theirs is the best.

00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.840
So what is your order when you go?

00:02:02.159 --> 00:02:03.120
Oh, straight up.

00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:03.680
Okay.

00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:06.560
First of all, their chicken is the best, okay?

00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:15.360
They actually like they cook the chicken with like these uh spices, and it's not just white like like out of a can.

00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:16.560
It has like a flavor.

00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:20.319
It's like almost reminds me of my dad barbecuing it on the back grill.

00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:31.280
Get that chicken in a spring roll, and she always gets me fresh mint and herbs out of her garden to put in the spring roll.

00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:40.560
And then I get the large pho, no meat, and I get a side of the chicken to put in, but the but but it's all about the broth.

00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:42.400
So you're a chicken pho guy.

00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:43.280
I put it in there.

00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:44.560
I'll eat the meat too.

00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:45.360
I'll get all of it.

00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:48.080
I'll eat I'll eat the the I'll eat all the crazy stuff.

00:02:48.240 --> 00:02:50.400
The the the tripe, the That's my order.

00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:51.280
The the whole deal.

00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:53.360
The bee balls, the whole bit.

00:02:53.840 --> 00:02:54.479
Yeah, bro.

00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:56.000
We gotta go, Pastor Joe.

00:02:56.240 --> 00:02:56.479
Let's go.

00:02:56.960 --> 00:02:58.159
You've been telling about this pho place.

00:02:58.319 --> 00:02:59.280
I've purposely not gone.

00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:02.000
I've eaten every other pho place in DFW.

00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:03.680
This one, I'm gonna go eat with you.

00:03:03.919 --> 00:03:04.560
You need to go with me.

00:03:04.639 --> 00:03:05.520
We gotta do it.

00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:10.800
It'll it it'll it's it's it's it's really it'll it'll be two things for you.

00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:16.639
It'll be a blessing, and then it'll also be depressing because you're gonna be like, I've been robbed.

00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:25.360
I mean, I got some guys on staff here, they're like, yeah, I like pho, and you go, it's like water with some sound like you're in the minor leagues, you gotta move up.

00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:26.879
So I'm ready.

00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:27.919
Okay, okay.

00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:32.080
So so tell me, we're I want to talk, I want to talk next gen.

00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:38.960
So you and I work together, and for those out there, um, we have people in business space.

00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:42.479
We had a we've had teachers like say, hey, I'm listening.

00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:50.080
I talked, I talked uh last week to a guy who's uh a local business owner, small business owner, does does well.

00:03:50.240 --> 00:03:52.000
He does uh outdoor kitchens.

00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.360
He's a he's a friend of mine.

00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:55.280
We're hanging out, and he goes, Man, I've been listening to the podcast.

00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:59.599
I'm like, man, James, shout out James, by the way, Outdoor Creations.

00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:02.000
He is like, dude, you're listening to the podcast, right?

00:04:02.080 --> 00:04:04.719
I got another friend of mine that that uh we fish together.

00:04:04.800 --> 00:04:06.560
He's got a construction company, you know.

00:04:06.719 --> 00:04:07.919
Shout out Craig.

00:04:08.159 --> 00:04:09.360
I'm actually surprised.

00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:14.560
Like it's more than ministry leaders, but we do have a fair amount of ministry people and pastors.

00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:21.040
And I want to make sure that we kind of set the tone of what I want to talk to you about, and that is the next generation.

00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.680
So you and I work together, you oversee.

00:04:23.839 --> 00:04:27.040
We have four campuses, we have a lot of young people.

00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:40.800
Like how many, how many, um, how many like under 18% on the weekend of our attendance would it be like next gen if they on the weekend?

00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:43.600
Yeah, so most weekends, we're right around 30 percent.

00:04:43.920 --> 00:04:44.160
Right.

00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:45.839
Very high if people don't know.

00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.040
Like uh, there's it's not uncommon for you to be 20.

00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:49.439
Right.

00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:52.560
A good suburban church 25, 27.

00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:55.680
So we have uh an extraordinary amount of young people.

00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:57.839
One of those things we call super series.

00:04:58.399 --> 00:05:00.879
How many young people were at that for the opening week?

00:05:01.199 --> 00:05:06.000
For the first one, all in, we had 4,000 twelve, all in everybody.

00:05:06.399 --> 00:05:10.800
Everybody, and that's hundreds of volunteers and probably about 33, 3,400 kids.

00:05:11.040 --> 00:05:17.199
Now I know for like a parent, they're like, oh no, they hear that big number and they're like, that's intimidating.

00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:20.160
My kids will never find, you know, be able to find their way.

00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.959
But that that's that's at multiple campuses, multiple locations.

00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:29.120
Here at the Keller campus, we actually divide them into high school and junior high.

00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:37.600
So we're very, we're very conscious of creating these environments where kids can also receive that personal attention.

00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:43.759
But but first of all, I want to just I want to go in, you know, how did you, because I think you have a unique story.

00:05:44.240 --> 00:05:55.199
How did you um you work you you work, you know, with our next gen helping oversee all the campuses and all the leader and just you know, all of that.

00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:58.879
But but take me back like a little bit into your story.

00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.800
That's why my heart is just so pointed towards the next generation.

00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:04.879
And I love young people.

00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:15.439
I remember just like searching and all the things, and long story short, God just touched my heart, changed my entire life at 18 years old.

00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:17.680
But it was a process to get me to that.

00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:24.240
And really, like what it was is my parents, they were immigrants, they they came to Texas, just the classic American dream story.

00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:27.920
So I didn't grow up in church, we had no faith heritage, any of that.

00:06:28.079 --> 00:06:30.160
So we grew up and they built a business.

00:06:30.319 --> 00:06:31.839
I grew up in a small town at the time.

00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:33.920
It's grown, it's very big now.

00:06:34.160 --> 00:06:37.920
But just kind of trying to stumble my way through just suburb American life.

00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:40.879
Would they still classify themselves as Buddhist or something like that?

00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:52.079
Did y'all put the like, did y'all have the little fruit or the, you know, growing up, so all of those practices with the Buddhist um shrine with the fruit and the just the prayers, all of this.

00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:53.920
All of that.

00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:57.279
So that was a culture that I grew up in, and that's all that I really knew.

00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:03.360
Um and then just my perception of Christianity or religion was just what I saw in school.

00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:07.040
Um so I saw people that would say one thing and just live a different way.

00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:07.199
Right.

00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:09.040
So I didn't have a much interest in it.

00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:20.879
But long story short, my parents, they built this business, and in my high school years, freshman, sophomore year, really, they just ran into some trouble and made some poor decisions in that business.

00:07:20.959 --> 00:07:24.879
And that brought a lot of the instability of our family just to a head.

00:07:25.040 --> 00:07:38.000
So my parents, they split up, and that's not that's not just unique to me, but just from there, there were some pretty drastic consequences to those actions and those decisions in my sophomore, junior, and senior year.

00:07:38.079 --> 00:07:50.639
So it's a classic story of a kid who has a broken heart not really knowing where to find answers and fulfillment to just like show them like who you should be, what God says about you.

00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:50.800
Right.

00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:57.040
So I was looking for answers in all the wrong places with those people, in those places, doing those things.

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And every single time I was more empty after than I walked in.

00:08:02.959 --> 00:08:05.600
And I just remember um, especially low points.

00:08:05.920 --> 00:08:08.800
My mom, really after 16, was the one who raised me.

00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:12.240
And so single mom, and we're just trying our best to make ends meet.

00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:14.079
We're just trying to find a place to live.

00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:18.079
Lost our house, we're sleeping in our car for a little bit, and I was out of high school.

00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:30.399
That's not unlike a lot of the suburbs around here, like where our church is in Keller, to where I mean, so you're going to school and you look, you have this face on and this facade, just trying to make it and show one version of yourself.

00:08:30.560 --> 00:08:32.879
So, like on the outside, I may have had it together.

00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:33.120
Right.

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But on the inside was immense pain.

00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:35.600
Right.

00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:44.159
Um, and I just remember just it just felt like life was one step forward, and just life has a way of dealing blows to where it's many steps backwards.

00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:44.720
Yeah.

00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:50.480
So one morning, um, we yes, we're driving by uh on this highway in Plano, Texas.

00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:52.480
Yeah, and it it's a church right off the highway.

00:08:52.559 --> 00:08:56.559
And my mom just leans over and she sees this volunteer that's parking cars.

00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:05.360
So shout out to all the volunteer serve team, yeah, parkers, all that who was parking cars with Mickey Mouse hands on so enthusiastically, it just made an impression on both of us.

00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:07.360
Didn't think much of it, just drove by.

00:09:07.519 --> 00:09:08.879
Saw him again the next weekend.

00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:11.519
Don't know how many weekends, but it just stood out to us.

00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:12.960
So my mom was just like, you know what?

00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:15.840
We've tried everything, we're going to church next weekend.

00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:16.399
Wow.

00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:22.879
So I walked in, and I'll just never forget, but we park our car, someone helps us in, and we walked into the sanctuary.

00:09:23.039 --> 00:09:30.559
People are singing who who really can't sing all that well, but they're singing and their hands are up and they're worshiping, and I'm like, I'm taking all this in.

00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:32.879
I've never seen anything like it before.

00:09:33.120 --> 00:09:38.399
And the pastor comes out, he's preaching, it's this whole thing, and I'm just kind of just taking it all in.

00:09:38.480 --> 00:09:41.120
My mom falls in love with it from day one.

00:09:41.279 --> 00:09:41.519
Yeah.

00:09:41.679 --> 00:09:43.120
So she makes us come back.

00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.000
We're coming back.

00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:51.360
And what really stood out to me were the people that were there that would just talk to me, not push anything on me, but just like ask my name.

00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:55.200
And they would they would remember details that we would talk about the week prior.

00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:57.120
And I was like, wow, these people are real.

00:09:57.279 --> 00:09:57.440
Yeah.

00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:09.440
But one weekend, Pastor Jeff, the pastor comes out and preaches about Psalm 68 and basically just lays out what it says in scripture that God is the father to the fatherless, the defender of widows, and he sets the lonely in families.

00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:10.879
I'll just never forget that.

00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:12.399
I I never heard about that.

00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:22.159
He told me about Jesus, what he'd done for me, and just in that moment, to the best of my understanding, I just there's a whole lot of searching, but I wanted that in my life.

00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:22.559
Right.

00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:24.399
So that day I gave my life to Christ.

00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:25.440
He had an altar call.

00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:26.960
I came down in front of the church.

00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:28.000
I was at 18.

00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:28.320
Yeah.

00:10:28.480 --> 00:10:33.200
That was the last semester of my senior year, and it's been a journey now for 20 years.

00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:34.480
I've been following Jesus.

00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:34.879
Yeah.

00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:37.120
Um, just you have kids of your own now.

00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:37.519
Yeah.

00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:44.240
And but but it still goes back to that, you know, God saw you, God saw you and your mom.

00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:47.919
God's God's done a lot even in your relationship with your dad since then.

00:10:48.240 --> 00:11:04.480
But but but there was this I think I think a lot of people underestimate the amount of times in the New Testament, brothers, sisters, familial language, how much God's trying to convey, like this idea of his family.

00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:08.480
And and I really keyed in when you said, hey, I was this broken kid.

00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:11.759
I would I would say, you tell me if you think I'm right.

00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:30.320
For for the average person out there who just sees life going by and kids at a ball game or a pep rally or uh a park or whatever, they would probably underestimate if they came to some of our retreats camps with the things these kids are carrying.

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:31.679
Completely.

00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.840
They're walking in with a smile on their face, they've got the t-shirt everybody else has.

00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:36.320
Right.

00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:40.559
But you never know what's walking in the door and what they're walking in with and the weight they carry.

00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:48.240
So I think first thing I would say is that I've said people say, Oh, you have a good youth pastor, right?

00:11:48.320 --> 00:11:52.000
Um, Pastor Tyron Caswell, you know, he planted the church.

00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:58.639
He kind of pioneered, he and I, you, you coming in, part of our team, he's now working with our college.

00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:02.240
But we've we've always had this heart, you know, for young people.

00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:08.000
And I think one of the number one things I would say is it can't be a program.

00:12:08.960 --> 00:12:10.720
It can't just be a program.

00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:16.799
There is a programmatic element, but programs don't produce sons and daughters, right?

00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:24.879
So that familial aspect you're talking about, that it's in the ethos, it's in the volunteers.

00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:29.519
Hey, this isn't, you know, your kid or their kid.

00:12:29.759 --> 00:12:30.720
This is our kids.

00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.600
These are our kids.

00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:31.919
Right.

00:12:32.080 --> 00:12:33.440
And we we have a stewardship.

00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.480
We're not their parents.

00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:35.519
We honor their parents.

00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:42.080
In fact, I think good youth ministries actually empower, equip, and partner with the parent.

00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.519
We're not competing with them.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.000
Yeah.

00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:44.399
Yeah.

00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:47.360
We want to partner with mom and dad because we have the same goal.

00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:52.159
But the parents are the most significant influence in a young person's life.

00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:52.639
Yes.

00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:53.440
We see that.

00:12:53.519 --> 00:12:59.039
And we want to partner with mom and dad to raise people, raise kids or students that love Jesus.

00:12:59.360 --> 00:12:59.600
Yeah.

00:12:59.759 --> 00:13:00.559
Yeah, 100%.

00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:12.320
So I think a thing that I again I'm hitting on what you're talking about, you know, sons and daughters, this familial culture, the volunteers.

00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:25.279
I mean, you know, now we have this environment where that building that we opened in Hazlitt, Dalen, who was saved here, he just told his story to a group of people the other night.

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.519
And I was like crying.

00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.919
Yeah he he's he doesn't know anything about God.

00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:31.919
His parents don't really go to church.

00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:39.440
He comes and he gets born again, but then he starts getting discipled, and we do this thing elevate by elevate.

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:44.320
He's sharing his first message ever, and his father gets saved.

00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.039
It's amazing.

00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:46.960
He's a high school student preaching a message.

00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:48.399
Dad walks in the door.

00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:49.519
Are you joking me?

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:50.480
Whoa.

00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:53.919
He is the is the one leading at this new campus.

00:13:54.000 --> 00:13:58.960
And then his wife was actually like a baby when we started the church in the cafeteria.

00:13:59.519 --> 00:14:11.360
So this ethos of family, and I think that touches the first time kid come into whatever it is, it also influences the overall environment.

00:14:11.679 --> 00:14:28.399
But what would you, I mean, I I think I think these these these questions, I mean, I think where a lot of the frustration is, is that a lot of people are talking about the next generation, but they don't feel equipped or they don't feel like they have fruit.

00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:30.720
Like, what would you say to them?

00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:32.960
Like what are what are kids looking for?

00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.000
What what's going on?

00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:35.919
What about a frustrated parent out there?

00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:38.159
Like, what do you what do you say generally?

00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:42.480
Because you do a lot more past you pastor the team and you work with parents.

00:14:42.799 --> 00:14:42.960
Right.

00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:45.679
And then I'm pastoring my own 13-year-old daughter who's my oldest.

00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:48.000
I'm living this firsthand too.

00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:55.279
But I would say for any parents that are frustrated or a youth pastor, that's like, how do I reach students right where they're at?

00:14:55.519 --> 00:15:00.320
And more than cool, more than speaking their language or being their age, that's not what they're looking for.

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:00.559
Right.

00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:07.360
They're looking for people who love Jesus more than anything and that care about them in a genuine way.

00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:07.840
Right.

00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:14.879
My favorite thing about all this stuff in Next Gen, I'm sure that we're gonna talk about more, but it's this multi-generational discipleship that we see.

00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:15.120
Right.

00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.559
You brought up this idea, Pastor Jeff, of raising sons and daughters.

00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:22.159
Well, mothers and fathers raise sons and daughters.

00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:22.399
Right.

00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:31.360
Brothers and sisters help them, but we need mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers of the faith to step in and to help them see who God's made them to be.

00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:31.759
Exactly.

00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:42.000
So when you come on a Wednesday night at Elevate, or if you're coming to Milestone Kids on the weekend, you'll see all different age groups leaning in to disciple kids.

00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:42.399
Yes.

00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:51.759
To lead small groups, to pray with people who just made a salvation decision, who's helping them take next steps, who are leading small groups and homes on the weekend.

00:15:52.000 --> 00:16:06.879
And it's it's everybody from people that are young adults, young professionals, we have a great group of them here, but but parents that have their own kids and teenagers that are volunteering, but like empty nesters as well that are that have raised their own kids.

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:11.360
They're they've moved out of the house, but they're leaning in because they're not slowing down.

00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:15.039
They're leaning in to say, you know what, let's disciple more people and raise up a generation.

00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:23.039
Oh, I mean, we we actually call on them and we're like, I mean, you can play a little golf, you can go on some vacations, but you can't retire from the faith.

00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:24.320
We need you more than ever.

00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:29.759
And plus, we need you to share with us where you made mistakes or things you wish you could do different.

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:39.759
I mean, the amazing thing in the kingdom of God is that as you as you continue to pour out your life to others, you you continue to gain more wisdom as you do it.

00:16:39.919 --> 00:16:51.759
So I I love all of those um empty nessers, different ages, but I love to see the young adults pouring into teenagers and doing the retreats, then the the teenagers, you know, pouring into kids.

00:16:52.000 --> 00:17:00.960
We have a lot of our our environments, the the worship leaders and and people, you know, older brothers and sisters pouring in as well.

00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:08.880
What is in the kids area, just just for a reference sake, what is the main things we're trying to put in those kids?

00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:13.519
Because you have a very specific target we do that we're trying to put in those kids.

00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:17.759
Yeah, so in kids, it's our five milestone kids or values.

00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:18.160
Okay.

00:17:18.319 --> 00:17:20.319
So the first one is to know God's love.

00:17:20.720 --> 00:17:27.279
We teach that God has created all of us, none of us are on accident, and He loves us in an unconditional way.

00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:27.839
Right.

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:31.680
Our prayers, the response as milestone value number two, is to follow Jesus.

00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:41.599
So when they can understand and make their own decision, it's to choose to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, to invite them into their life, and then from there to be water baptized.

00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:46.799
Because we say it all the time, it came from you, but it's from 1 Timothy 4 12 as well.

00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:49.839
Our vision statement in kids is don't wait to be great.

00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:51.119
You can be a great kid.

00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:57.759
And these values are really serve as a perspective for our team in everything that we do in Milestone Kids.

00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:01.440
Let me pause right there for a minute because I think this is a this is a big deal.

00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:06.319
I I was allowed to per be a part of the team when I was young.

00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:08.319
My my pastor started discipling me.

00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:09.839
He let me preach at 16.

00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:12.720
Like we had committees in my church I grew up in.

00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.599
I joke and say hell's run by a committee, but anyway.

00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:24.319
But I was sitting on like committees just posted up in there, you know, with all these people that were on the earth with Moses and just, hey, I gotta give me a vote.

00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:30.079
But I I what I appreciate was is I got I got a chance to participate, and we really believed that.

00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:42.480
And I would say that to parents, like I didn't, I didn't tell my kids, you know, like, you know, just enjoy your life, and then one day when you have your own kids, you can have a recommitment to God and come back and disciple people.

00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:48.640
Like we got these young people, like, hey, you're you're pouring in, you're giving out, you're you're doing the stuff.

00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:57.839
So that that that I think we lose a lot of the next generation because they basically believe this is a season of my life that I just push paws on my face.

00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:58.400
Right.

00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:01.440
And they double down.

00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:03.440
My kids played sports.

00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:08.880
Um, my kids, I I believe in education, my kids have higher education degrees.

00:19:09.200 --> 00:19:15.680
But I always try to remind a parent long term, what are you gonna care about the most?

00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.480
Is can they hear God's word?

00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.640
Can they do what God says?

00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.000
Can they hear from the Holy Spirit?

00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:23.359
Can they receive from their own Bible?

00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:24.480
Are they following Jesus?

00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.359
What you just said.

00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:26.319
So keep going.

00:19:26.400 --> 00:19:28.160
The first one, know God's love.

00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.759
Second one is to follow Jesus.

00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:30.079
Uh-huh.

00:19:30.319 --> 00:19:32.000
The third one is to grow in God's word.

00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:35.200
So everything that we're teaching, it may make you feel better.

00:19:35.279 --> 00:19:38.319
It may this or that, but it's explicitly from the Word of God.

00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:38.720
That's what we're saying.

00:19:38.960 --> 00:19:50.240
So we're teaching them the Word of God and um and and and it they may have fun a little bit, or there may be a but but we're we want them to leave with you're you're leaving with with biblical principles.

00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.759
Well, that's even what we say and what you say in baby dedication weekends.

00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:53.920
Right.

00:19:54.160 --> 00:19:58.240
Because we're setting this up as the standard in our home and how we build our lives.

00:19:58.400 --> 00:19:59.839
So we teach that in all of our kids' classrooms.

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.759
Four is to honor others.

00:20:01.920 --> 00:20:06.079
And number five really speaks to our distinctive as a church of spiritual family.

00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:08.319
But in kids, we say it find good friends.

00:20:08.400 --> 00:20:08.480
Yeah.

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:13.039
And with that, so learning to be a godly friend and how to find godly friends.

00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.359
Right.

00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:19.200
And those are the five values that we have that really everything in milestone kids is taught through that perspective.

00:20:19.359 --> 00:20:23.839
Because our heart is next gen is a holistic thing.

00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:29.680
So we want our preschoolers to be developed and discipled and grown into who God wants them to be as kindergartners.

00:20:29.920 --> 00:20:32.240
And then we're raising them in the elementary years to what?

00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.839
Sent off into junior high.

00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.000
Yeah.

00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.640
And from middle school to high school and then high school.

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:47.680
Our dream is that we would see a bunch of our students that were in elevate, high school, whatever it is, but when they're done with school and stuff and they move back to this area, they're in their 30s.

00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:48.960
Or go to milestone college.

00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.000
Yeah, that's great.

00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.039
Go to milestone college.

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.200
Or yeah, some of them go off to college.

00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:54.000
A lot of them do.

00:20:54.079 --> 00:20:57.119
And we also have them come back in the summers and serve in the camps.

00:20:57.519 --> 00:20:57.839
So many.

00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:24.319
But we hope they become godly parents and and and godly members of whatever church God places them in, and they honor that environment, serve.

00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:28.480
And so that's that's the heartbeat.

00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:34.079
What you know, what do you think is is the what do you think are some of the challenges?

00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:38.160
Like what what what what are some of the challenges that that people are dealing with?

00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:41.920
What why why does it seem like this is a topic?

00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:47.359
And and what if from your experience, because there's no there's nobody, there's just me and you.

00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:51.039
So it's a little less threatening.

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:54.400
What do what do what do we need?

00:21:55.039 --> 00:21:55.920
Is it different?

00:21:56.079 --> 00:21:58.400
Or I mean, what what is it like today?

00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.599
You're you have a family.

00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:08.640
I mean, my kids are go growing up and married and college, but like what do what do you think about the environment you're parenting in today?

00:22:08.799 --> 00:22:12.079
What do you what do you feel like there's things that people are navigating?

00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:13.599
That's a great question.

00:22:13.759 --> 00:22:22.319
I think I think the kids the three kids that I have, I've got 13-year-old, a 10-year-old, and a six-year-old, more on the older end, the 10 and the 6.

00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:33.759
I think parents and and students feel more pressure about things that that sometimes other people are putting on them, but oftentimes they're putting on themselves.

00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:41.200
It's like this this unspoken pressure that if I'm not doing this by this age, I I'm getting passed over.

00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:44.640
Do you think it's bigger than when I was growing up, that there's more pressure?

00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.880
I don't know if there's more pressure, but they're just more aware of it, maybe.

00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.000
I think so, yeah.

00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:54.799
I think the I think the you know, options create anxiety.

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.039
Yeah.

00:22:55.200 --> 00:23:02.880
They don't actually create, you know, so when you have the cheesecake menu, the cheesecake factory menus, it's like a little bit overwhelming, right?

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:04.720
And not ever not most people aren't able.

00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:22.000
So I think I think the available options, the visibility into, you know, in other words, the decisions were not so great, or the fear of messing up was not so big because you kind of just did what you had an option to do.

00:23:22.400 --> 00:23:25.680
And you didn't know what everybody else was doing all of the time.

00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:26.640
All the time, yeah.

00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:27.359
And yeah.

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:36.480
So there's just increased awareness of maybe what everybody else may be doing, and they're more focused on that than maybe like just what God has right in front of them.

00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:36.880
Yeah.

00:23:37.119 --> 00:23:52.319
I'll say this from just being in youth ministry for 16 years, and I'll say from like the last couple of years, what we've seen is we're seeing students that are more hungry for the things of God than I've ever seen in my entire life.

00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:52.640
Right.

00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:58.640
And even from just some friends in ministry, or just look it's not this is the only church where God is working.

00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:08.400
And just amazing things where where students, like at our summer camp this summer, Pastor Jeff, I've never seen a summer camp like we saw this year.

00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:08.880
Yeah.

00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:11.200
Of just students leaning in.

00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:14.400
We say it in kids, there is no junior Holy Spirit.

00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:14.640
Right.

00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:19.039
So God can speak to you right where you're at, and we can learn to hear God's voice.

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:23.599
And just the high school students of what God did at our camp.

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:23.920
Right.

00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:29.599
He started something there that we're seeing, I think, into our super series and just well beyond that.

00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.359
They're just so hungry for the things of God.

00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:41.200
I would say to somebody out there, too, if you're intrigued by it, um, go I always tell people this milestonechurch.com and go to our weekend services.

00:24:41.440 --> 00:24:44.720
Every year at Labor Day, we do what's called Next Gen Weekend.

00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:51.839
We speak to some of these topics, we talk about different things parenting-wise, uh, try to offer parents hope and encouragement.

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:54.960
We try to also we we let young people lead.

00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:58.160
And I will say this, I'm consistently amazed.

00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:58.880
I love it.

00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:00.640
Young people can do amazing things.

00:25:00.799 --> 00:25:05.599
They they can do more many times than we really give them opportunity to do.

00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:20.160
Um, I want to, I want you to kind of, I think people would be intrigued by this as we we talked about younger uh you know kids, but but a little bit of sort of our template and why we've chosen that template of what we do with the older kids.

00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:24.880
And because I think I think God is moving in this generation.

00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:32.480
But I also think we're also we're in a place where over time doing this, you know, just consistently.

00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:39.039
So now, you know, when you start having kids that were touched in the environment, coming back to serve other students and they have a heart.

00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:39.519
So true.

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.640
Same as your story.

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:47.200
I want to offer that opportunity for that broken kid that's with his mom, struggling, and and I want to show him love, right?

00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:59.759
And so, um, but I I would say to parents or to youth pastors um speaking to parents, because I find myself now doing that a lot too.

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.640
You know, my kids struggling, my kids troubled.

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:07.519
My friend, who's a little bit older than me, told me this and it registered.

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:09.440
In fact, I said it that weekend.

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:17.119
He said, every time I was fully emotionally present, even if I felt like I was losing, I was winning.

00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:17.920
That's so good.

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:24.640
But he said every time that I was disengaged and not emotionally present, I I was I was always losing.

00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:33.599
And so I think there's an element of being present, being aware, being involved, understanding where they're at, right?

00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:38.400
I think the other big thing I would say is you mentioned it, performance.

00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:52.720
Like I think we we settle for you're a good baseball player and you made the select team, uh, you made good grades, but we settle for externals and we don't parent the heart.

00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:58.319
If I had one of the biggest things, and this is somewhat art than science.

00:26:58.559 --> 00:26:59.920
I had a friend of mine the other day.

00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.640
I told him this.

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:03.200
I said, you know, really, he's asking about some things.

00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:12.720
I said, really, as a parent, it's discerning what is childishness, because children act like children, you know.

00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:20.079
And quite honestly, I mean, I see kids do certain things where I think I want to give them an ice cream cone for doing it, you know.

00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:22.480
It's like you blew that up, you tore that up, you did something.

00:27:22.559 --> 00:27:23.599
It's called being a kid, right?

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:27.920
And it kind of shows and exhibits that you actually might be a leader one day, you know.

00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:56.240
It's like, but I but when I see parents who don't parent the heart and they foster rebellion, because the Bible says rebellion is as witchcraft, the sad thing is, and I can't tell you how many young families I've said this to, if you don't train, deal with, confront, cross the wheel of that rebellion, the younger they are, the the easier it is, but it does take time.

00:27:56.960 --> 00:28:03.119
You love them, but the people that will ultimately because it's not going away, it's only going to grow.

00:28:03.440 --> 00:28:03.759
Right.

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:07.599
The people who then eventually deal with it may not love them.

00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:13.119
And then this is where parents now get frustrated and they go, they went to college, they can't find any friends.

00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:15.680
Um the teacher's fault, it's the boss's fault.

00:28:15.759 --> 00:28:17.359
Why they have failure to launch?

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.480
Why are they?

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:23.440
Well, it's because you've allowed them to live in that reality.

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:26.319
And um, what do you okay?

00:28:26.480 --> 00:28:30.880
So I know a lot of teachers when I in church, I go, it's not the teacher's fault.

00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.640
You know, they're like, And they all stand up, cheer.

00:28:32.960 --> 00:28:34.079
I love Pastor Jeff.

00:28:34.480 --> 00:28:35.119
It's amazing.

00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.400
I'll always be at this church.

00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:36.799
Thank you.

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:37.440
Thank you, God.

00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:43.279
We do teacher appreciation, and I tell them, tell them all to respect their teacher, and they're like, Oh, that's my pastor.

00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:48.079
What would you say that that you would like to say to parents?

00:28:48.240 --> 00:29:02.480
And when we have so many amazing parents, and this is not like Bash Parents Day, but what would you say is something you'd like to say to the parents that you you you you would say, I just want to say this in a kind way, but as a person that works with young people, I just want to say this to you.

00:29:02.559 --> 00:29:03.039
What would it be?

00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:08.880
I would say to parents I've said a little bit before, but I'll even say it further.

00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:14.720
You are the most significant influence in the life of your child.

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.960
Students are not looking for perfect parents.

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.279
Right.

00:29:19.440 --> 00:29:30.480
They're looking for present, intentional, available ones that that that aren't trying to pick pawn them off on someone else to disciple.

00:29:30.559 --> 00:29:30.640
Right.

00:29:30.880 --> 00:29:33.440
Or send them somewhere to learn a skill set.

00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:42.640
I would say that they would rather you stumble and and fumble maybe through a prayer with them, but to be with them.

00:29:42.880 --> 00:29:43.119
Right.

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:51.039
More than getting polished and getting all the right answers or learning everything that you have to learn in scripture before you engage.

00:29:51.119 --> 00:29:51.200
Right.

00:29:51.440 --> 00:29:53.839
I think you engage with them in all of it.

00:29:54.000 --> 00:29:54.400
Yeah.

00:29:54.640 --> 00:30:09.920
Because what we're seeing is students that are coming to church maybe as the like the first person in their family, and they're getting saved, and they're bringing parents and siblings and all of those things, and and they're praying for their family.

00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.440
They're praying for their parents.

00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:16.640
And I would say, mom and dad, to lean into the proximity that you have.

00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.680
They're in your home.

00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.079
Yeah.

00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.039
You're with them.

00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:19.519
Right.

00:30:19.759 --> 00:30:29.039
Make the most of your time and make the most of the pockets of time that you have with your teenagers, with your kids, with with them, the entirety that they're in your house.

00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.000
Yeah.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:35.359
I want to I want to hit real quick on the template that we have, and I want you to comment on it.

00:30:35.440 --> 00:30:52.000
And then, by the way, everything we do with NextGen, you can go to leadtowin.com and you can come to our annual gathering that we have in January, and you guys actually have a breakout session where we just talk student ministry, helping young people.

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:56.559
I mean, I think this could be beneficial to a host of different kinds of leaders.

00:30:56.720 --> 00:31:03.680
I mean, you guys are are are leading a whole lot of next gen, so that's always available to people.

00:31:04.079 --> 00:31:04.400
I agree.

00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:11.759
And we talk from the heart things, the vision things, like, but also just the very practical like what do you do with your hands?

00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:12.000
Yeah.

00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:13.440
How do you vet a volunteer?

00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:15.039
How do you reach people where they're at?

00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.880
How do you how do you build teams?

00:31:16.960 --> 00:31:18.799
How do you build leaders and disciple them?

00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:23.920
So all of that is on leadtowin.com, but really we go in depth at this leaders gathering.

00:31:24.240 --> 00:31:25.039
At the leaders gathering.

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:44.079
But I I think one thing when it comes to youth, okay, so we have a we have an annual retreat in the spring where we take kids, we call it Battle of the Sexes, and we take we actually take kids off campus and we actually dialogue about God's plan for marriage, sex, and dating.

00:31:44.319 --> 00:31:47.440
And um, and and and and and it can be pretty intense.

00:31:47.519 --> 00:32:02.880
I mean, we live in a culture that idolizes that, that that that makes that the apex thing that identifies you, that that that everything, I mean, it all it's so we have kids coming from so many different places, and we we take them to the word.

00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.440
That is so impactful for students.

00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:15.279
Um, and and we have a lot of ironically, we're talking to them about dating and sex and all of that, which is something they really want to talk about a lot, too.

00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:23.359
But we have a lot of them get saved, they make friends, they they they find you know people that love them and care about them.

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:25.920
And I mean, what what would you say about that retreat?

00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:27.440
What was what have you seen from it?

00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:40.079
Well, the biggest value that we see, yes, we're talking about God's plan for love, sex, and dating, but Pastor Jeff really some of those poignant moments are in the specific guys and girls sessions where we're covering God's plan.

00:32:40.400 --> 00:32:41.839
Why is purity important?

00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:42.559
Right.

00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:46.720
Like the context of everything that that He's created for us.

00:32:47.039 --> 00:32:53.519
But every year there's a session where in the guy's session, it's taught by a guy, it's just the guys in the room.

00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:59.359
We've got one weekend just for middle school, one weekend that's just for high school, so we can talk about different things in those.

00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:12.720
But after the guy's session, every male leader stands up at the front of the platform, and then every male attendee student walks through, and there's there's just males that are affirming these young men from let's so good.

00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:14.079
Hey, like you are enough.

00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:15.519
You can follow Jesus.

00:33:15.920 --> 00:33:27.119
And then what you end up seeing is after every single student makes it through, each male leader, they are so just just weeping because I've never heard that from a godly example before.

00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:35.759
So what we're seeing is yes, we're talking about love, sex, and dating and God's plan for all of it, but we're teaching them the identity that God's created them with.

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:41.440
It's submission to God's word, but in that space, it's also the the reinforcement of identity.

00:33:41.599 --> 00:33:42.880
We also have summer camps.

00:33:42.960 --> 00:33:51.920
I mean, of course, we put on vacation Bible schools, and then we have middle school camp and we have a high school camp that we we put a lot of resources and energy into.

00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:54.799
You just said it was one of the most powerful moments.

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.480
I mean, it's it's pretty epic.

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:58.480
And so we we're we're old school camp people.

00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:00.240
We doubled down on it, Pastor Joe.

00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.359
We're just all in.

00:34:01.440 --> 00:34:02.640
We take their cell phones away.

00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:02.880
Yeah.

00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.480
We go to summer camp.

00:34:04.720 --> 00:34:07.119
It's as distraction-free as we can make it.

00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:11.840
We put them on teams, like just the whole thing, but at night, we're going to camp and we're going to have to.

00:34:13.760 --> 00:34:16.639
I know everybody has to do what's best in their context.

00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:19.519
We just love the whole idea of Jesus went away and prayed.

00:34:19.599 --> 00:34:22.480
We love the con we love the atmosphere.

00:34:22.559 --> 00:34:24.960
You know, I I joke and say we're going to take them out in the woods.

00:34:25.119 --> 00:34:28.400
We're going to preach hell so hot they think they're going to fall into it.

00:34:28.639 --> 00:34:34.480
And then um and then, you know, so then the super series model, tell me tell me about what super series.

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:41.119
So we we have a we have a uh a connect, uh, bring your friends, uh whatever you want to call it, deal in the fall as well.

00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:41.599
Yeah.

00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:43.519
So those are two times that are targeted each year.

00:34:43.599 --> 00:34:44.480
There's one in the spring.

00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:45.840
Well, yes, there's one in the fall.

00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:49.039
And what it is, it's much more than just a hey, like invite your friends.

00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:57.519
What we're doing is our heart is we want to get all of the young people that are coming to our youth ministry to step in and to take a step in their face.

00:34:57.760 --> 00:34:58.880
So we say, share your faith.

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.119
Right.

00:34:59.360 --> 00:34:59.840
Be bold.

00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:05.840
They all get on different evangelistic teams because they're school and invite, yeah.

00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:11.840
And then they're meeting in the sanctuary for weeks before, like we're praying and we're praying for specific friends.

00:35:11.920 --> 00:35:20.639
We're writing those names on seats, and they're getting the flyers and all the postable materials, and it's an entire youth ministry at all of our campuses for weeks and weeks ahead of time, praying for their friends.

00:35:20.719 --> 00:35:24.960
And we partner with them because we give them a free t-shirt, we have some food, we have some things like that.

00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.440
Right.

00:35:25.679 --> 00:35:29.280
But what they're undeniably going to hear is the gospel.

00:35:29.599 --> 00:35:32.079
What they're undeniably gonna hear is who Jesus is.

00:35:32.159 --> 00:35:32.400
Yeah.

00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:38.159
And it's a space where you'll see friends that have been praying for their friends and they bring them.

00:35:38.239 --> 00:35:38.400
Right.

00:35:38.559 --> 00:35:41.840
And then when the altar call happens, it's floods of young people.

00:35:42.000 --> 00:35:50.880
But the greatest part that I see is I love seeing, yes, it's the lost kids that are coming, and we thank God for every single one, but it's their friend that walks down with them.

00:35:51.119 --> 00:35:51.599
That's so exciting.

00:35:51.840 --> 00:35:53.440
That's been praying for every single one of them.

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:58.559
And that's so that's twice a year, three weeks at a time, and it's the evangelist expression of the city.

00:35:58.800 --> 00:36:04.079
But I love this too, like the all these people in our church rally around that and come work at the altars.

00:36:04.320 --> 00:36:07.599
We we we take those kids from the altar to like a counseling room.

00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:15.760
We always see images of them praying with kids, and it's also so rejuvenating to the faith of these adults because they're praying with kids who are coming to Christ.

00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:19.199
We had like 300 and something a couple of weeks ago that gave it off to Christ.

00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:19.760
That's right.

00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:22.800
So the first night was 307, the second night was 298.

00:36:23.119 --> 00:36:26.480
So we've had 600 students in two weeks give their life to Christ.

00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:30.880
And it's it's more than the program, it's more that's why I keep trying, it's different.

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:33.840
It's not just the branding, it's not the t-shirt, the food.

00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:57.360
It's this, it's the power of what the local church when when when we all bring what we have, and and I I just think, you know, if I were talking to somebody out there, not just a parent, but someone that that that is concerned, has a burden for the next generation, they can see through fake.

00:36:57.679 --> 00:37:09.199
And I'm gonna tell you, if you genuinely love them and you will put action behind that love, you can build the relationship to say whatever you want to them.

00:37:09.360 --> 00:37:12.719
Like it, they they will it may seem like they're turned off, right?

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:27.519
It may take a little while, but if you genuinely care, I believe you can build a relationship with a young person because they actually inside, even if it feels like they're closed off, they're actually have developed that as a protection mechanism.

00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:28.239
Right.

00:37:28.559 --> 00:37:38.000
That's the one thing that crosses every barrier, school, background, history, never been to church or grew up in church.

00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:41.679
If you genuinely care, if you genuinely care, and you'll show up.

00:37:41.840 --> 00:37:49.280
Yeah, it doesn't matter who they are, they can see past the fake stuff, but they'll respond to that because that reflects God's heart.

00:37:49.519 --> 00:37:49.920
It does.

00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:53.840
When you feel God's heart, when they feel God's heart, it's undeniable.

00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:56.400
And it's one of those things that maybe they can't explain it.

00:37:56.559 --> 00:37:58.719
It's like, wow, that person saw me.

00:37:58.960 --> 00:37:59.360
Yeah.

00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:09.679
And they may, they may look like they don't see it, but I would say to a teacher, to a coach, even to a parent, you know, when your kids become teenagers, they want to push push back.

00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:20.400
They're working on their when they're working through their own insecurities, but always tell parents, press in, yeah, stay engaged, show love, join them on their turf.

00:38:20.639 --> 00:38:22.159
Like my kids were different than me.

00:38:22.239 --> 00:38:27.360
I began to try to find ways to join them in their worlds and where they were at.

00:38:27.599 --> 00:38:31.519
So, but but the goodness of God leads people to repentance.

00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:33.440
I was a 21-year-old senior pastor.

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:40.159
So when I tell the young people, you don't have to wait to be great, like you never know what God has planned for you.

00:38:40.320 --> 00:38:43.679
And and I just remember I felt pretty intimidated to preach.

00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:46.239
I felt like, what am I going to say to these people?

00:38:46.559 --> 00:38:50.800
But God would always tell me, just make sure they know how much I love them.

00:38:51.039 --> 00:39:00.320
And and that love, it it doesn't matter how big your space is, doesn't matter how big the budget is, how much pizza you have, how cool your guitars.

00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:03.920
Kids today are so hungry.

00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:14.079
By the way, having technology and stuff doesn't set us apart, but but having people who care will set you apart.

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:18.320
Every time, because they can be entertained or see whatever anywhere.

00:39:18.559 --> 00:39:18.880
Anywhere.

00:39:19.119 --> 00:39:24.639
But if you show up and there's a room full or a church full of people that love the students that are there.

00:39:24.960 --> 00:39:27.199
They oh it don't matter if the church's a hundred people.

00:39:27.360 --> 00:39:27.679
That's right.

00:39:27.840 --> 00:39:28.559
They'll start coming.

00:39:28.639 --> 00:39:30.480
It doesn't matter if you're like, well, we're older.

00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:35.199
We're they they're looking for grandparents and it's like Gigi at camp.

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.840
Oh, yeah.

00:39:36.079 --> 00:39:37.599
Gigi, she's in her 70s.

00:39:37.760 --> 00:39:37.920
Yeah.

00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:39.599
One of the first people at our church.

00:39:39.760 --> 00:39:45.199
She volunteers at our high school summer camp for the past four or five summers.

00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:48.079
After the message, it's ministry time.

00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:49.440
People need prayer.

00:39:49.760 --> 00:39:51.840
I'm telling you, like, there's kids praying with everybody.

00:39:51.920 --> 00:39:57.199
There is a mile long line of high school girls that want to pray specifically with Gigi.

00:39:57.599 --> 00:39:58.719
They want her to pray for them.

00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.360
100%.

00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:00.639
100%.

00:40:01.199 --> 00:40:06.800
And I think the enemy's the one that tells us, hey, you don't have anything to offer, or they're not receiving this.

00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:10.000
And uh and so, man, thank you for what you do.

00:40:10.239 --> 00:40:13.119
Uh once again, you know, lead to win.com.

00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:19.760
People can come to the leaders gathering hear directly from you and your team because we we want to see the next generation.

00:40:19.920 --> 00:40:23.920
I think a lot of people are frustrated because there's lots of talk today.

00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:27.760
People, you know, you get extra credit to talk, right?

00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:31.920
And I'm I think I think a lot of people are going, but what do we do?

00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:38.159
Like what, you know, and so I just am thankful that you guys are actually, we're not perfect.

00:40:38.239 --> 00:40:50.239
We're obviously imperfect and growing, but putting kids on mission, we're doing mission trips, putting them on street teams, evangelizing their friends, teaching them how to lead worship, how to disciple others, how to do the stuff, man.

00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:56.960
Like, like, don't be a Christian who just sits and listens and talks, but be one who can actually play the game.

00:40:57.199 --> 00:41:00.960
And uh man, I couldn't um I have such a passion for it.

00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:06.159
Like I lead our church a lot, like a dad, and um, and so I couldn't do it without you.

00:41:06.239 --> 00:41:07.840
So thank you for all you put into it.

00:41:08.159 --> 00:41:09.039
Thank you, Pastor Jeff.

00:41:09.119 --> 00:41:11.599
I just I just know that I represent a team and so many people.

00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:12.880
I just want to honor you.

00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:22.960
Yeah, you know, it's amazing to be a next-gen pastor, a youth pastor that works at a church, that has a pastor that may love young people more than I do.

00:41:23.519 --> 00:41:27.920
You love young people so much, and you're a dad to the young people of our church.

00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:36.880
And I know represent our team when I say it's amazing to see what God's doing, but I thank you and I honor you that this has been in it since day one.

00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:41.280
Pastor Tyron, Betsy, so many of the teams since day one.

00:41:41.519 --> 00:41:45.199
And what we're seeing today, it's God and it's our team.

00:41:45.360 --> 00:41:54.639
Yes, they're a great team, but it's 23 years of people that have leaned in, that have sowed the seed, that have prayed and believed.

00:41:54.800 --> 00:41:59.440
And we're getting to see some amazing harvest right now, and I just think it's just the beginning of what we're gonna see.

00:41:59.519 --> 00:42:00.960
So I just want to thank you so much, Pastor B.

00:42:01.360 --> 00:42:01.840
Thank you so much.

00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:08.880
And and speaking of that, the amazing team and the volunteers of our church, because you know, I can have that heart and I do.

00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:09.679
I just love them.

00:42:09.760 --> 00:42:12.719
I come there and preach, and I just I love young people.

00:42:12.880 --> 00:42:14.800
And because I love potential too.

00:42:14.880 --> 00:42:17.039
I love just to see people reach their potential.

00:42:17.199 --> 00:42:18.480
I want to see them win.

00:42:18.719 --> 00:42:29.679
But you know, what I know you would agree, like our team and then all the the volunteers and the serve team people that serve people in our church, the way they they also give, they're so generous.

00:42:29.840 --> 00:42:35.360
Like we we put a we put thousands of dollars above even regular budget into a lot of this.

00:42:35.440 --> 00:42:37.280
So our church is so generous.

00:42:37.519 --> 00:42:56.719
But I want to inspire somebody out there, it doesn't matter where you're at, it doesn't matter how big your church is, it doesn't matter how how big your reach is, but it doesn't matter how big your influence is, wherever God's assigned you, you could have an impact on a kid today by seeing them and caring about them and investing in them.

00:42:56.800 --> 00:43:02.079
And you may be surprised, you think, I don't have anything to offer, or maybe you don't know what's my next step.

00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:05.039
You know how many empty nesters I've reinvigorated.

00:43:05.280 --> 00:43:11.119
Man, just just they'll come over to your house, you serve them tuna fish and just hold host a Sunday night deal.

00:43:11.199 --> 00:43:15.440
And you don't have to really know that much, but if you care, they're gonna love you.

00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:27.360
And I just I believe that we care so deeply, but I just want to put fuel to the fire of every person listening, to the dad or the mom who has a kid that's a strain a little bit.

00:43:27.599 --> 00:43:29.280
God sees them, he's with you.

00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:32.159
Just keep on pressing in and loving.

00:43:32.239 --> 00:43:35.519
It's amazing what you look up one day and God's able to do.

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:40.559
And so um we we we the only way we lose is if we quit.

00:43:40.719 --> 00:43:41.119
That's right.

00:43:41.280 --> 00:43:42.400
And so keep showing up.

00:43:42.719 --> 00:43:49.199
Thank you that uh we have a generational God that loves the next generation, and and thank you for all you do as well.

00:43:49.519 --> 00:43:50.480
Thanks, Pastor Jeff.

00:43:50.719 --> 00:43:56.639
I want to say thank you for checking out this episode of the Lead to Win podcast.

00:43:56.800 --> 00:44:07.599
I want you to know that I love and my team loves getting this kind of content into your life so it can help you lead and win at what matters most.

00:44:07.760 --> 00:44:21.280
So I'd love for you to do me a favor like, comment, especially subscribe if you would, so that we can make sure that we're able to get to you some of the things that are gonna help you lead to win.