IDEAS ON PRETEEN MINISTRY

About a week ago six of us (People who work with preteens) were asked by a children's ministry magazine editor for some help. She asked us if we would help her with her article about preteen ministry, by answering a few questions. I thought it would be a good idea to post my answers to her questions on this blog over the next several weeks.

Thanks
Joe

Here is the first question:

Why do preteens need a separate ministry--apart from children's and youth ministries?

Preteens are different, they are not like the other elementary kids, nor are they like the Jr. High kids. Preteens embrace many of the characteristics of both the lower-elementary world and the Jr. High world. It’s like the exercise that a marriage counselor’s use when describing the oneness of marriage: they take a piece of blue playdoo and a piece of red playdoo and when molded together they become the color purple. The two combined together, become a whole other entity of their own. Its the same way with preteens – you take a piece of lower elementary kids and a piece of Jr. High kids and when you smoosh them together you get preteens!

Preteens are physically, intellectually, and emotionally different that lower-elementary kids and Jr. High kids. What’s more is that preteens seem to be in a more unique spiritual situation than the other age groups. Like the other areas mentioned, preteens are in transition spiritually – As a whole, they are no longer satisfied with the basics of the Christian faith. Just knowing about Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea is not enough for them. They want to know what that means for them. The Harvest is ripe for this group! They understand what is being asked of them and they are ready to take the plunge in being a follower of Jesus. And contrary to their older Jr. High friends, they haven’t been completely afflicted with the “What’s cool” factor yet. So they more readily want to participate in church activities. They are more willing to invite their friends and not feel embarrassed or guilty about it. Furthermore, their age allows them to do more things by themselves than their younger siblings, meaning parents are more willing to let their preteen(s) go on longer church trips, stay over night at retreats, come to youth group on a week nights, and etc... On the flip side though, parents are still involved in their preteen’s life.

What this means is that preteens need to be ministered to at a different level than that of the other age groups. Their needs and their parents needs are different than lower-elementary and Jr. High needs. They need curriculum that meets their intellectual levels, they need large group activities that meet their physical levels, and they need spiritual experiences that take them to a deeper level as they travel down the path with God. This cannot be accomplished effectively by the children’s department, which is busy trying to meet the needs of of parents and families of the vast age gap of babies, preschoolers, and K – 4th graders. And student ministries also are dealing with vast age gaps between 7th graders and 12th graders (Some student ministries also include college age students). Preteens are unique and need a unique ministry to help them go to the next stage of their spiritual walk.