Latest / One45 Podcast / Ep. 1 The Heart of the Matter - Part 1 - ONE45 Podcast

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Ep. 1 The Heart of the Matter - Part 1 - ONE45 Podcast · One45 Podcast

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, welcome to the 145, the podcast from IPHD Kids Ministry.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Our Christ generally team gets together to have real conversations about what it really looks like to give every child an opportunity to know Jesus and go with his disciples.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Every episode we are going up a chair for the real conversations about kids' faith, worship, and prayer.
• 0:23
  SPEAKER_00: And what it looks like to pass it on to the next generation.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: That next generation, that's us.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: Whether you're a pastor, a kids ministry leader, a volunteer, or just someone who loves children and loves Jesus, we are really glad you are here.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_03: Hey guys, welcome to our podcast.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_03: We're so excited that you're here.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_03: If you love kids and you love the church and you want to see them connected in a deep and meaningful way, you are at the right place.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_03: My name is Tiffany Trainer.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_03: I'm the director of children's ministry for the IPHC in discipleship ministries.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_03: And I get today to have a fun conversation, do one of my favorite things with some of my favorite people.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_03: So I have Christy Kane here on the couch and Jonathan Bryan.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_03: And I am so excited that you guys are here.
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_03: Christy, you are probably one of the most thoughtful people in kids' ministries.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_03: And I as for as long as I've known you, you've been in kids' ministries and curriculum development and that sort of thing.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_03: So you serve as the cross-gen director as well on our team, as well as the director of development and marketing for at Life Springs Resources, right?
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_03: That's right.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_03: Jonathan here, he is a children's pastor.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_03: He's in the trenches every week at Living Hope PH Church in Lenore, North Carolina, and among many other things that you do.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_03: But I uh just um you I love what you do.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_03: I love how you do it and the passion that you do it with.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_03: So I'm excited to have you both here.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_03: Welcome.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_03: Are you guys ready?
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_05: We're excited.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_05: We're excited for this.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_03: All right.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_03: So to kick us off, all right, I'm gonna ask you a question.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_03: I want you to think about your ministry world now, where you are in ministry.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_03: And I want you to give me three exactly three words, no more, no less.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_03: Right?
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_03: Three words to describe where you are in ministry right now.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_03: Jonathan, you wanna go first?
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_05: Three words to describe ministry right now.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_05: That's a great question.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_05: Um I think committed as uncommitted to the vision.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_05: Um I think it's a hard question.
• 2:36
  SPEAKER_03: It is a hard question.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_03: Um So let me go ahead.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_03: Let me say this.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_03: I um I was as I was writing this, I was thinking, you know, do they have to be they can be a sentence, three-word sentence?
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_03: They can be three different words.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_03: I think mine two at least two would be controlled chaos.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_03: Controlled chaos.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_05: Sure.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, I think learning, uh learning is in we're really trying to learn how to better minister to special needs families in this season of our ministry.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_05: So that comes to mind.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_05: And I think um obedience, just trying to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit week to week and and what he's sharing for us to do.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_05: So yeah, those would be kind of the big three for me.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_04: Good.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_04: I like this.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_04: I would say I had a little more time to think if I could make fun.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_04: You're like, I threw him under the bus on that one.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_05: It's all good.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_05: It's all good.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I would say flexibility.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_04: Okay.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_04: Because we're, I mean, we're kind of coming up on like it's my it's this will be my fourth year.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_04: We're kind of finished, I'm concluding my fourth year here.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_04: And we're just kind of reevaluating and saying, okay, where are we gonna go from here?
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_04: And what are we gonna do next?
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_04: And how are we gonna refine what we do?
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_04: So I think I'm just having to be flexible and see where that goes and not have too many preconceived ideas.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_04: That was really long.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_04: Let me just one more.
• 3:53
  SPEAKER_04: I'll be shorter.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_04: Flexibility, and then I'm described it.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_04: Um, I think communal because working together, like I'm I'm getting a little bit more time to work together.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_04: So that's been fun.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_04: Nice.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and then I had another one and I just lost it.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_04: Um create, no, creative.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_04: Like along with that, we're looking for ways to be creative.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_05: Love that.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_05: Love that.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_03: I think my third one would be intentional.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER_03: Like I'm having to be intentional, even with like, because you know, we say our ministry, it's our families as well.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_03: And so being intentional with my kids, my husband, being intentional in everything that I do, because there are a lot of good things, but just being intentional about doing the right things and the god things.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 4:35
  SPEAKER_03: That was not short either.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_03: So it's like I felt okay.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_03: So let's get to know each other for all those folks.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_03: We obviously know each other, which I'm excited to sit with you guys and chat.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_03: But um, let's let's just kind of for the folks out there, let's just kind of let them get to know you guys.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um, you've been, as I mentioned, in Christy and Children's Ministry and Curriculum Development for a long time.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_03: Um, tell us a little more about Lifesprings Resources and um what that role looks like.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_03: But most importantly, what keeps you fired up about what you're doing in this work?
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, Live Springs Resources, we're a Christian publisher.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_04: We primarily publish curriculum and service um service different denominations, a variety of denominations.
• 5:15
  SPEAKER_04: Uh, we work really closely with the IPHC.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_04: But curriculum development is our number one thing in terms of the resources.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_04: So we do a lot of that.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_04: Um and then what you said, what gets me fired up.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_04: Um I think the ability, I think that whole flexibility, the ever-changing nature of it makes it exciting, but also knowing that what we are doing really matters.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_04: It's kingdom work and it's education within the church.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and I just think that's so important.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_04: I think it's necessary for the continuation.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_04: You know, obviously the Lord is sovereign and takes care of ultimately the church continuing, but I think he gives us, you know, a part to play in that.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_04: And so the education of the church is something that is really um I'm really passionate about.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_04: I feel like I've been, I have been gifted that.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 6:10
  SPEAKER_04: And so just wanting to be faithful in that.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_03: I think that's something as a passion we share too.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 6:16
  SPEAKER_03: That education component.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_03: So I'm excited to build the curriculum with you all over again.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_03: Um, Jonathan, uh, you're in the trenches every week at Living Hope.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_03: Uh paint us a picture of your ministry.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_03: What does it look like on a Sunday morning for you and for the kiddos?
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_05: So, so Living Hope.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_05: Um, we my my responsibilities are birth through fifth grade.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_05: And so we have our nurseries, we have our preschool class.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, we call our Sunday school hope groups, our small groups hope groups.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_05: And so we have that for kids as well.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_05: And then our kids' church, our traditional kids' church.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_05: We do uh kindergarten through fifth grade in kids' church, our Sunday school class is kindergarten through fifth.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_05: And then um we have two separate nurseries with that preschool class.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_05: So um we have about 90 to 100 kids on average Sunday morning.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_05: And so um a lot of energy, a lot of passion, a lot of young families, and uh just so excited about what God's doing in that regard.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_05: But yeah, um yeah, for us, it's um definitely a lot of moving pieces.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_05: We we have about 20 volunteers on an average Sunday, and so um we have two Sunday morning services, and so there's a nine o'clock and a 1045 worship experience, and uh we are Pentecostal, and so sometimes service is an hour, sometimes service is an hour 15, uh depending on you know what happens upstairs, which is great, which is great.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_05: Um, but yeah, on Sunday mornings, we are we are providing uh the best we can, uh, a place where kids can come and encounter the presence of the Lord.
• 7:43
  SPEAKER_05: Uh our ministry is all about partnering with families by inspiring, equipping, and supporting them to be lifelong followers of Jesus.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_05: And so that's the heartbeat of everything we do.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_05: We try and let everything we choose to do in the classrooms reflect that mission and reflect that vision uh within our classes.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_05: And so, yeah, that's a that's a little snapshot of us on Sunday mornings ever living hope.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_03: Great.
• 8:05
  SPEAKER_03: So before we go any further, I want to ask you guys um both this question in a minute.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_03: We're gonna talk about our just cause.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and I love the way I love this phrase.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_03: So, what is your personal just cause?
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_03: What is um if someone stopped you in the parking lot on your way in and they asked, why do you pour yourself into kids' ministry, into the ministry that you're doing, um what would you actually say?
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_03: What's your, you know, what why are you doing it?
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_03: What's it worth fighting for?
• 8:30
  SPEAKER_04: I think for me, the thing the last few years has been help, I want children to see this really foundational piece that there is a God and that he loves them very much, and that everything flows out of that because I think there's so much heartache and so much much misunderstanding.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_04: Um and it a lot of times it starts with that piece.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, it's it's why Jesus, it's why covenants, it's why it's really everything.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_04: It starts from the heart of love of God for the children and for the creation that he's made.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_04: And I just want to see children grow up from the as early as possible, knowing that there is a God and He loves me.
• 9:14
  SPEAKER_04: So I I don't know, I that fuels me.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_05: I think for me, I think uh I'm still in my 30s, I'm young, but I do think there's a transition taking place in my life.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_05: Um, as far as like if you would have asked me this question 10 years ago, it would have got a completely different answer.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_05: Not that it would have been a bad answer, but just there is that call, like you said, there's that, there's that discipleship to Jesus means that I want to give everything that I am to help other people follow him as well.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_05: Like what I've tasted and what I've seen, I want that for the next generation.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_05: And so I think as much as I've looked up to the generations who came before me, whether that be my parents or my grandparents and that generation who poured so much into me, there's definitely that transition that begins to happen when you're like, oh, there's generations coming after me.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 10:02
  SPEAKER_05: And uh, man, I want to be as intentional as the generations were before me to try to disciple me.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_05: I I want to give them that same thing.
• 10:10
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 10:11
  SPEAKER_05: And so um, so I think really it's it's a mixture of of personal discipleship mixed with this calling of knowing, like, oh, we're called to this.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_05: Like we, we've we've got to do this and and and being willing to stand in the gap and do that.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 10:27
  SPEAKER_03: I love that.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so before we get really into all the good stuff, I think it's important to make sure that the people listening, all those folks listening understand what IPHC Kids is all about and what we actually do.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_03: I know people hear IPHC Kids Ministries, we're part of discipleship ministries for the um, you know, out there in Oklahoma, they just think it's something that, you know, we, you know, we're hanging out in Oklahoma and doing all that kind of stuff, but we're so much more than that.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_03: And so I think it's important for us to kind of lay that groundwork as to who we are as kids ministries, IPHC kids ministries, um, and just kind of uh share who we are.
• 11:03
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, kids' ministries, um, we believe our just cause is that every child deserves every opportunity to know Jesus and to grow as his disciple.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_03: That's our just cause.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_03: That's what we believe is worth fighting for.
• 11:19
  SPEAKER_03: And everything else just kind of flows out of that.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_03: It's not a tagline, it's like, it's a real conviction.
• 11:24
  SPEAKER_03: You know what I mean?
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_03: So I think that we all share that as well with on the ministry level.
• 11:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um, our mission is to help the church help every child and make sure they give every child every opportunity to know Jesus.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_03: And you know, our vision obviously is is to say, I say obviously, but hopefully it's obvious.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_03: Our vision is to see every child become a lifelong follower of Jesus and to be about his mission, not just someone who, you know, says they're a Christian, but someone who is actually living out and a true follower of Jesus.
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_03: And everything that we do, everything that we do, whether it's writing grants and doing these things, um, whether it's uh building curriculum or we're training people on site or we're doing cohorts or the HUD or whatever it is, everything flows out of that.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so I think that's important to lay kind of that groundwork.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_03: Um I want to ask you to go to that to kind of dissect the just cause, right?
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_03: Um, Christy, I want you to talk about the word deserves, right?
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_03: So we kind of talked about this a little bit.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_03: We have Miz as every child deserves every opportunity.
• 12:29
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and I've got deserves in big print here.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_03: Um, why does that word matter?
• 12:34
  SPEAKER_03: Um, what does it mean for how we treat kids who show up to us on Sunday mornings or Wednesday nights?
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_04: Well, we we're laughing because we over dinner last night, we had this conversation about this word because there is a sense in which we know as believers that we don't deserve any of the good gifts that we get.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_04: So my children like to remind you.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_04: And I think that says a lot that you've reminded them that, like, hey, this is grace.
• 12:59
  SPEAKER_04: Like it's mercy and grace that we get what we get.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_04: Um, and so we don't deserve it.
• 13:04
  SPEAKER_04: But what we mean, or at least what I mean, I can't speak for the two of you because we we actually really haven't unpacked this word as a group.
• 13:13
  SPEAKER_04: But um we we feel called to this because we believe that God has called us to go and make disciples of all people, therefore, and and because they are each of us is made in the image of God, loved by God, valued by God, every single child.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_04: And and I will pause and say, like, one of my favorite things about watching you in ministry is how much you like it matters to you that every child, no matter what their capabilities are, learning-wise, no matter their background, no matter whether they're churched or not church, like you really are passionate and looking for ways all the time that every single child is valued, loved by God, and therefore, because of that, deserves to hear the good news.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 14:02
  SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
• 14:03
  SPEAKER_03: I think it's um, I feel like God's put us as their advocates, you know, yeah in the church, the world, but in in our in our ministry and in the church world.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_03: So um, she kind of she kind of got ahead of us, Jonathan, on the question that I was gonna ask you.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but let's unpack that a little bit.
• 14:18
  SPEAKER_03: When we talk about um uh holding, like when you hold your ministry to the standard of every child, um, every opportunity.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_03: I think you hinted hinted on it a little bit in one of the previous questions.
• 14:30
  SPEAKER_03: Um, where do you feel the most tension in that?
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_03: What's like what's the hardest part of making sure that every child um gets every opportunity?
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, I have so much to say about this, but let me hear.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_05: Sure.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_05: I yeah, I mean, every every Sunday or every Wednesday, like when when when the church is gathering and families are gathering together, um, there are some kids who they are coming every week.
• 14:54
  SPEAKER_05: Their parents are committed disciples of Jesus.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, you know, you you would say that this family, I mean, they're having family time at home, they're doing devotions, the kid knows the word of God.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 15:07
  SPEAKER_05: Um, the child's not afraid to lift their hands in worship, like just different things that are showing a formation that's taking place in that kid's life.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_05: You're like, okay, this kid is is kind of a has been given a head start as far as what they are able to maybe see, comprehend, understand at this point in their faith.
• 15:28
  SPEAKER_05: And so naturally, as a pastor, I never want to look past that kid.
• 15:32
  SPEAKER_05: I wanna, I want to throw gasoline on that fire.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_05: I want, I wanna, I want to see God work in their life.
• 15:37
  SPEAKER_05: And yet the tension that we run into is, of course, you have kids who are showing up in your ministry once a month, unchurched.
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, they they don't know the word.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, they don't know the basic Bible story.
• 15:48
  SPEAKER_05: They may, they may know David and Goliath, just because that kind of seems to supersede even uh biblical context sometimes.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_05: But that idea that not every kid can get the same amount of time for me and my leaders every week.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 16:01
  SPEAKER_05: And what does it look like for me to have a family ministry philosophy that says the guardian and parent is primary, but but I'm doing my very best that for the two hours I may get them a week, I'm showing them that they are valuable, that they they grace is this undeserved gift, and yet in Christ, we have been empowered by the Spirit to boldly proclaim this is for you too.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 16:29
  SPEAKER_05: Um I didn't deserve it either, but that is the beauty of grace.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_05: And so I'm gonna declare that same grace to you.
• 16:34
  SPEAKER_05: And so I think that's the tension we can run into as kids' ministry leaders and even parents.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, if you have multiple kids, how you're connecting with each one is gonna feel different.
• 16:43
  SPEAKER_03: It is so.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_05: And so, yeah.
• 16:45
  SPEAKER_05: So, I mean, I think that uh those tensions are very real.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_05: And I think to at least acknowledge them allows us to to grow.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_05: And so I'm glad we're doing that.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_03: I love, I think that's like to your point, that's the first step.
• 16:59
  SPEAKER_03: Acknowledge that it is different to whether I mean it could, it could be a child.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_03: We talk a lot about, you know, kiddos with exceptional needs.
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and so, but even um, I mean, there's just so many different contexts, you know what I mean?
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_03: And so many different kids and so many, just a range of children who need Jesus.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I think I heard someone mentioned, and um uh Frank, I can't I can't remember her first name, um, but she has a child with exceptional needs, and um she spoke at a conference and she was saying, don't miss the opportunity, don't take the opportunity away from them to lead them to Christ.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_03: And I think that was a defining moment for me, especially with um being around a ministry to kids with exceptional needs.
• 17:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um because I've been around it for a long time, kind of got thrown into it in a very good way.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and never believed or real, you know, never thought that I would, you know, end up with a child in my own home with exceptional needs.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_03: But in that moment, I had been around it for so long, but in that moment, it it clicked with me that we're not just we're not just making them feel loved and feel welcome, we're leading them to Christ.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, you know, and we should take every opportunity to do that and to do just that.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_03: I love that.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_03: Like I said, I could talk all day about this.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so both of you have been around IPHC for a long time now or for a while.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_03: Um, what does it mean to you that our denomination um is putting our resources and energies um into this right now, into kids, into worship, prayer, the next generation?
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_05: I think for me, uh kind of going back to the whole generations thing, if you're looking at generations ahead of you who poured into you, um I do think it's a blessing to think about, man, if we can put uh truly put our money where our mouth is as far as we want to reach the next generation, but to have resources to do that, to say this is a just cause work, this is worthy of our time, our energy, and our resources.
• 19:09
  SPEAKER_05: And I appreciate our leaders um having the vision to to get the grant, to to have the vision to say, hey, this this really matters.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_05: And um, so I I'm thrilled that it's not just something we're talking about, it's something we're actively doing.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_05: We're so glad our audience is part of this conversation because they're part of this, isn't just to be a small subset of like, oh, these resources kind of off to the side.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_05: We we are believing for this to be a game-changing thing for our movement.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 19:39
  SPEAKER_05: And so um, we're just excited about that and excited that it's about the next generation.
• 19:43
  SPEAKER_04: One of the I I think it it makes me excited to be able to kind of give back because my growing up, like I I've I feel so blessed.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_04: Both church, youth camp.
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 19:58
  SPEAKER_04: Um those are some formative moments.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_04: I they really were like bigger gatherings where I was taught so much.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_04: Like I think about all the Sunday school teachers who taught me these Bible lessons.
• 20:09
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, the like Bible verses that I still go back to.
• 20:12
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_04: I think about um a lady named Judy in my my church, the church that I went to, like middle, like in middle school, and how she loved a group of us girls and like she would take us to her house, and but in and but then she would also teach us on Wednesday nights, you know.
• 20:29
  SPEAKER_04: And I think about going to um teen talent.
• 20:32
  SPEAKER_04: Well, then it was called like junior talent and teen talent, like and and going on these trips with people, and then all the potluck dinners and um just so many opportunities that I had to know the whole community of the church and how they were involved in my life relationally, they were involved in my life spiritually, we physically gathered, and I just I grew up in such a loving, but like spiritually feeding, I don't really know if that's the right phrase, environment.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_04: And so to be able to kind of give back what I was given to that place, um, feels really sweet.
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, and and I think as you're saying that, I think about like if there's generations before us who maybe didn't have the resources or access or things like that, that they did it like just blood, sweat, and tears, praying through it, like we're gonna make this work, making ends meet, yeah, you know, and and to realize we stand on their shoulders and like we're called to steward this.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_05: Like we only could have gotten where we got because of those people and the generations before us.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_05: And it's not that we become spoiled and we, oh, we've got all this, and so we just kind of throw it at the wind.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_05: It's like, no, we are gonna steward this because it is a gift from God.
• 21:53
  SPEAKER_03: Absolutely.
• 21:54
  SPEAKER_05: And we stand on the shoulders of the generations behind us, and we are gonna pass on the torch to the generation to come.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_05: And so it's a beautiful thing to think about.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, I love that.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_03: And it's probably, I mean, I could not have said that better myself from both of you.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_03: So I love that.
• 22:07
  SPEAKER_03: So um, okay, so let's talk about the strategy behind all of this.
• 22:11
  SPEAKER_03: These are three words that hopefully everybody's familiar with.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_03: You know, we exist to inspire, equip, and support, right?
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_03: And specifically in kids' ministry and with CrossGen, which we're going to talk about how they connect in just a second.
• 22:24
  SPEAKER_03: Um, we inspire churches to integrate um children into multi-generational worship and prayer experiences, um, practices, those sorts of things.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_03: Um and um we equip leaders with tools and models that actually work to help them do those things, right?
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_03: To make their job hopefully a little easier.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and then we support leaders as they lead and we support families because uh discipleship shouldn't start and end at the church door, right?
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_03: Um, we have the initiative for faith in family, which we're so excited about that we're partnering with and that we'll be able to kind of connect with in a meaningful way as well.
• 23:03
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but but that's just, you know, inspire, equip, and support.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_03: That's who we are and that's what, that's what we do.
• 23:08
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so I think inspire, I love, I love this question for you.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_03: I think I think it's so important.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I think inspire is often the step that we skip in in in ministry as leaders.
• 23:20
  SPEAKER_03: I know that's something that I really struggle with, making sure that I take a moment um and we go straight to here's the resources, you know, here do this.
• 23:29
  SPEAKER_03: Right.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_03: Um, why does inspiration have to come first, Christy?
• 23:33
  SPEAKER_03: Why does it have to come first?
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_03: What does a leader who um who's been inspired, what do they look like versus someone who's just been handed curriculum?
• 23:42
  SPEAKER_03: That's a great question.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_03: I think we all As I give it to the person who gives people curriculum.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_04: Well, and it's it's a good thing for me to remember because you know, I can feel inspired myself.
• 23:53
  SPEAKER_04: And so therefore I can be doing the work.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_04: And like, you know, a children's pastor or a senior pastor or whatever, they can themselves be inspired.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_04: But then it's easy to just kind of forget that step when you're handing it off and then just be like, okay, go do this, and forgetting that, well, somebody inspired you, or you wouldn't feel, you know, you wouldn't feel like that.
• 24:13
  SPEAKER_04: And so it is really easy for us to forget that and just think, oh, you should feel passionate about this.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_04: Well, we we have to remind, we have to ex, we have to explain, or we have to inspire them, we have to get them excited, um, or else it is going to feel like they're just kind of, you know, going through the motions of teaching or whatever, they're not gonna see that.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_04: And I I when I was thinking about this question, I started thinking a little bit about my graduate school experience and who were my favorite teachers.
• 24:44
  SPEAKER_04: And I had, I wasn't blessed with some incredible teachers who knew so much and had so much to give us.
• 24:51
  SPEAKER_04: But the one who was my favorite was the one that constantly reminded us why we were doing this.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_04: And they, and he didn't just do it with like, you know, you're doing this because it was the stories, it was the the way that the the spirit spoke through him as he like inspired us with scripture.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 25:14
  SPEAKER_04: Um it was just I I don't know.
• 25:17
  SPEAKER_04: I mean, it's what made the difference, it's what lit the fire on the days that you're tired, it's what keeps you going when you'd rather, I don't know, just go sit down in front of the TV and just like zone out, which we all need times of rest, but it's the inspire piece is what it's what gets you going.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_04: Right.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_04: It helps you understand what you're doing and why you're doing it.
• 25:39
  SPEAKER_04: But then I think I think it's something that you have to start with, but then I think it's something that needs to remain sprinkled throughout as well so that you don't burn and it's what keeps us from burnout, honestly.
• 25:51
  SPEAKER_04: Um and I feel like it's a big work of the spirit, yeah.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_04: Um and we just we need to pray, like it's important to pray a lot and ask the Holy Spirit to be using you in that way as you go along and inspire you and help you inspire others.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_03: I think I think that component is is key, is it is it is the Holy Spirit that inspires us.
• 26:13
  SPEAKER_03: And I and that's something that um I again we can get real busy.
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_03: And so we have to take that moment and just say, Lord, speak through me, speak to me, inspire me, Holy Spirit.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_03: Um yes, I love that.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so Jonathan, those three words, right?
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_03: Inspired, equipped, and supported.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_03: I'm gonna put you on the spot here a little bit.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_03: Um, what do you feel like your ministry needs most right now?
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_03: Um, personally, be honest.
• 26:43
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I mean, I think even the way Christy described inspiration there uh makes me like, oh, like I, you know, I have people who are serving week to week, but are they inspired to serve?
• 26:55
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, like do they just know it needs to be done and we gotta have someone for the babies?
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_05: Or is it like, man, we're gonna go ahead and start investing in these babies spiritually?
• 27:05
  SPEAKER_05: We're gonna read scripture over and we're gonna, you know, go take that next step.
• 27:07
  SPEAKER_05: We're gonna play music in this classroom, we're gonna do whatever.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_05: And I use that as, excuse me, one example of many that you could think about, but like, are people serving and equipped, but also having that inspiration piece?
• 27:20
  SPEAKER_05: Because kind of going back off of what you were saying, like with youth camps and stuff, I think a lot of times these big events that we experience, what were we experienced as a kid?
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_05: I'm inspired that there's something more.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_05: I'm inspired that I can take this home and actually live this out.
• 27:35
  SPEAKER_05: I'm inspired that there's more people than just my church worshiping the Lord and trying to follow him, you know?
• 27:40
  SPEAKER_05: Like so adults need that too.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_05: But I think that my first instinct, though, is the support piece where you're not just coming in the classroom, but you're valued for who you are off campus.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_05: It's not just about what you can do for me on campus, it's about your whole life off campus too.
• 28:00
  SPEAKER_05: And I think the hardest part about that is support takes time.
• 28:04
  SPEAKER_05: Support is okay, if I've got a hundred volunteers, just like when I've got a hundred kids, I can't give them all equal amounts of time.
• 28:12
  SPEAKER_05: But how can I have a leadership team that I'm maybe pouring into who then they have their group that they're pouring into and then it trickles down.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 28:19
  SPEAKER_05: Um but yeah, I would lean towards support, but man, that inspiration piece is like, we need that too.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, too.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and that's the thing.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_03: We we do need all three.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_03: It is all but there are definitely times where we feel we feel the weight of of one of them over others.
• 28:37
  SPEAKER_04: And can I say, I think that it's important to identify people in your team that are good at each one.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_04: Yes, absolutely.
• 28:43
  SPEAKER_04: And so you can like, I think if and if you have good conversations and you you have open conversations, you can help each other.
• 28:51
  SPEAKER_04: And if you kind of say, hey, look, I know you're really great at support.
• 28:55
  SPEAKER_04: So if I'm who like I maybe not as good at support, like would you make sure you're kind of watching out that we're doing the support we need?
• 29:05
  SPEAKER_04: And then like, would you make sure we're equipping?
• 29:08
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah, like and and just like bring it up, you know, because it's easy to have your blind spot.
• 29:13
  SPEAKER_04: Yeah.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so that's not something that we do well.
• 29:17
  SPEAKER_03: I say we, I don't do well.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_03: I don't either.
• 29:19
  SPEAKER_03: It is is is delegating is to giving.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_03: But I think you're right.
• 29:23
  SPEAKER_03: I mean, finding the strengths that that gives them life, you know, that inspires them, whether they realize it or not, to to to do what they've what they're good at, what God's given them the ability to do.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_03: And I think that that's something as a leader that I I tend to feel like I have to do it all myself.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_03: So yes.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_03: Um, okay, so our vision is lifelong faith, right?
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_03: Um, children becoming lifelong followers of Jesus, being about his mission.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_03: Um, Jonathan, where have you actually seen this happen?
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_03: Um, look back on a kid in your ministry that's grown up.
• 29:55
  SPEAKER_03: Uh have you been doing this long enough to yes, I have some generation kids.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, right.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_03: And so what do you think?
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_03: What do you think's made the difference when you see some of those kids that were in your kids' ministry, they've grown up, they're about his mission, they're lifelong followers.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_03: What's made the difference?
• 30:11
  SPEAKER_05: You know, I think that I had a I had a particular kid come to mind, and and just just because I won't say their name, but um, you know, this particular kid raised in church from a churched family was around fourth grade when I got to the church.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_02: Okay.
• 30:27
  SPEAKER_05: And so they weren't like in our kids' ministry the whole time I was there, but grew up in the kids' ministry at the church and had a season where this particular kid wasn't following the Lord, like knew the right things, said, you know what, I'm gonna go try this, realized it didn't satisfy.
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_05: And ever since he's been back in the faith, has been hardcore.
• 30:48
  SPEAKER_05: Like, I'm following Jesus, this is the real deal, has a call to ministry.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_05: So I think um the difference is there if I look at this particular example.
• 31:01
  SPEAKER_05: I think about relationships that he had on campus and off campus.
• 31:06
  SPEAKER_05: Like we shared meals together.
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_05: I know other staff members shared meals together with this particular student.
• 31:13
  SPEAKER_05: Um you know, he had the home life, he had grandparents, he had people, he had a heritage, but more than like a church heritage, like an actual spiritual, I'm gonna follow Jesus heritage.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_05: And so I think it was the prayers of those generations uh before him.
• 31:28
  SPEAKER_05: I think it was the relationships that were there that even when he wasn't necessarily, you know, if I'm sitting down eating dinner with this particular student, it wasn't like he was always just saying, Man, I'm going through all this and I know I'm not doing this right.
• 31:42
  SPEAKER_05: It's like that relationship just stayed steady.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 31:45
  SPEAKER_05: And just showing genuine care for where he's at right now.
• 31:48
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 31:48
  SPEAKER_05: So that when he was coming back, it wasn't like, Am I allowed to do this?
• 31:53
  SPEAKER_05: Like, uh, you know, I'm gonna kind of shy away from relationships.
• 31:57
  SPEAKER_05: It was like, no, like I know you love me.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_05: And I'm ready to, I'm ready to get serious about my faith.
• 32:02
  SPEAKER_05: And so um, that's been a beautiful thing to watch.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_05: He's one of multiple examples, sure.
• 32:06
  SPEAKER_05: But um, yeah.
• 32:07
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_03: I think, I think I love that story.
• 32:10
  SPEAKER_03: You haven't shared that with us before.
• 32:11
  SPEAKER_03: I love that story because I think when you said, um, you know, there there are kids out there who don't have that heritage, who don't have that long line of grandparents, great-grandparents, parents, who know the Lord and who are are there welcoming them back in those cases.
• 32:29
  SPEAKER_03: And so this is why I think cross-generational um worship and prayer, this whole philosophy of cross-generational philosophy is so important, is because for those who don't have that heritage, the church is there for them.
• 32:41
  SPEAKER_03: Yes, the church is there.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_03: They're kids, they're there.
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_03: They know that, you know, Miss Sally, Sue, you know, is going to love me.
• 32:50
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and Mr.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_03: So-and-so is going to welcome me back.
• 32:54
  SPEAKER_03: And I know that they, that, that our God is faithful because he's been faithful to them through the years.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_03: Yes.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_03: And so what I see, so I have been blessed and, you know, to have that heritage.
• 33:03
  SPEAKER_03: Um, but I love, again, we go back to every child deserves every opportunity.
• 33:07
  SPEAKER_03: That's why cross gen matters.
• 33:08
  SPEAKER_05: Yes, it is.
• 33:09
  SPEAKER_03: Um, I think it matters for the kid, for kid like me.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_03: You mentioned it earlier.
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_03: The body of Christ, not just your family, shaped that for you as well.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 33:16
  SPEAKER_03: Um, so I that's why I think this is so important because it is giving every child every opportunity.
• 33:22
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and I think I think that's exactly what makes the difference.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 33:25
  SPEAKER_03: Um, whether they are a lifelong follower or whether they step away for a little bit and know that they can come back.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_03: I love that.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_03: Okay, so we have so much to talk about.
• 33:35
  SPEAKER_03: This is such good and rich conversation.
• 33:38
  SPEAKER_03: Um, and so thank you guys both for being here.
• 33:41
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, I can't wait to dive into part two of this topic.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_03: Uh, thank you guys for listening.
• 33:46
  SPEAKER_03: We be sure to join us for part two.
• 33:49
  SPEAKER_03: Um, we're gonna come back and we're gonna talk about how Kid Men and Cross Gen work together and how they fit together.
• 33:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks for listening to the 145.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_00: One generation tells us the next about God's mighty word.
• 34:00
  SPEAKER_00: That's what this podcast is all about.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_00: If today's conversation meant something to you, share it with someone who needs to hear it.
• 34:08
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're a kids ministry leader, a pastor, or a volunteer, thank you.
• 34:12
  SPEAKER_00: What you do every week matters more than you know.
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_00: Subscribe so you never miss an episode and come back next time because the conversation's just getting started.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because every child deserves every opportunity to know Jesus.
• 34:26
  SPEAKER_00: See you next time.