Less than an hour ago, 113 5th & 6th graders and leaders loaded up the bus to head to Camp Crosley in North Webster, IN for our preteen camp. That's a lot of little dudes and dudettes. Among those leaders were several High School Students who will be serving as cottage leaders.
This camp tends to fly under the radar a little more than Junior and Senior High. It may have a little to do with timing, but it also has to do with an unfortunate mindset that can happen in ministry. I've just now decided to call it the "ladder effect."
At NMC, Student Ministries is considered to be 5th-12th Grade. We really divide into three sections...
Preteens: 5th and 6th Grade (led primarily by Jason Thompson)
Jr. High: 7th and 8th Grade (led primarily by Chris Lehane)
Sr. High: 9th-12th Grade (led primarily by myself)
It's a fairly natural breakdown for us programatically speaking. Yet, the breakdown can often create a mindset that looks at Preteen Ministry as the starting point (bottom of the ladder) and Sr. High as the arrival point (top of the ladder). This can happen with students, parents, onlookers, and volunteers.
There's only one problem with the ladder effect... it's wrong.
Last I checked, a 5th grade student has the same number of souls as a 12th grade student.
Last I checked, the need for a savior with a 5th grade student is the same as a 12th grade student.
You may think this sounds a little hypocritical coming from the Senior High guy who is staying at home while Jason Thompson heads off to lead Preteen camp. In 1999 when I was hired on staff, I was in the middle of serving as the intern of Jr. High minsitry (actually leading the ministry). I was ready to come on as the Jr. High Pastor. I had to be convinced that I should make the transition into primarily High School Ministry... didn't want to do it.
I'm praying for our Preteens over these next two days. I'm praying for our leaders. These next 72 hours may likely have eternal impact on a ton of students who often fly under the radar.
Follow along at Jason's Blog on the events of Preteen Camp.
This camp tends to fly under the radar a little more than Junior and Senior High. It may have a little to do with timing, but it also has to do with an unfortunate mindset that can happen in ministry. I've just now decided to call it the "ladder effect."
At NMC, Student Ministries is considered to be 5th-12th Grade. We really divide into three sections...
Preteens: 5th and 6th Grade (led primarily by Jason Thompson)
Jr. High: 7th and 8th Grade (led primarily by Chris Lehane)
Sr. High: 9th-12th Grade (led primarily by myself)
It's a fairly natural breakdown for us programatically speaking. Yet, the breakdown can often create a mindset that looks at Preteen Ministry as the starting point (bottom of the ladder) and Sr. High as the arrival point (top of the ladder). This can happen with students, parents, onlookers, and volunteers.
There's only one problem with the ladder effect... it's wrong.
Last I checked, a 5th grade student has the same number of souls as a 12th grade student.
Last I checked, the need for a savior with a 5th grade student is the same as a 12th grade student.
You may think this sounds a little hypocritical coming from the Senior High guy who is staying at home while Jason Thompson heads off to lead Preteen camp. In 1999 when I was hired on staff, I was in the middle of serving as the intern of Jr. High minsitry (actually leading the ministry). I was ready to come on as the Jr. High Pastor. I had to be convinced that I should make the transition into primarily High School Ministry... didn't want to do it.
I'm praying for our Preteens over these next two days. I'm praying for our leaders. These next 72 hours may likely have eternal impact on a ton of students who often fly under the radar.
Follow along at Jason's Blog on the events of Preteen Camp.
1 comment:
If you think about it the preteens kind of more important if you apply the principal traing up a child in the way he should go and he won't depart from it. That's not to say though that a preteen soul is more important than a senior or junior high, but I think you get what I'm trying to say.
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