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How can you get an entire congregation focused on reaching the next generation? Our journey continues as I submit to you video number four (4) of six (6) which addresses the third phase of a church strategy and gets the entire congregation involved. It has been piloted in several churches and here are samples of what pastors had to say.

Since we started this on the second Sunday in June, we have not experienced a summer slump in our children’s and youth attendance for more than a week.  Le G.

Very visual! Great way to keep the needs and opportunities before the people!  Fred L.

Thank you for helping us to open up our eyes and our hearts with more focus on those under the age of 19 in our church.  Larry E.

Each Sunday was uniquely special, but this past Sunday with me simply giving an analysis of where we are currently and a challenge for where we need to be was incredible.  The altar filled with people coming forward to pray and to commit to an anything-necessary kind of strategy. Tim J.

Watch this four-and-a-half-minute video to learn a simple strategy called Seven Sunday’s of Focus. I challenge you to do this in your church. Be sure your congregation leaders watch this video. You can view all the videos at www.reachingnextgen.com. Thanks for reaching out to the next generation. Here you go…

Where do you begin? What would you say the average age of those who attended your worship service Sunday would have been? You would do well to have all present, members included, fill out a guest registration card with one simple piece of information on Sunday. Ask them to simply write their actual age. No names needed for this exercise. Don’t forget to survey those in the children’s and preschool areas if they are not in the service. How do the age demographics of your church compare to the age demographics of your community?

I have been in churches where the average age was well over fifty. Does your church have a growing number of teens? Children? Young Adults? If not, then you are not engaged in reaching the next generation. Psalm 71:18 provides every generation with this challenge;

Now also when I am old and gray headed,

O God, do not forsake me,

Until I declare Your strength to this generation,

Your power to everyone who is to come.

While this week’s video is just over two minutes long, it serves as the critical starting point, no matter when a church begins to consider engagement. Two immediate challenges are included and while the first point is simple, it is crucial. You can view all of the videos at www.reachingnextgen.com. Here is the second in a six week series to help you maximize your leadership.

Dear fellow leaders and workers;

Since you work so hard accomplishing your tasks day by day, I thought you might appreciate a little humor to launch your week.  Did you know…

The population of the United States now stands at 326 million. One hundred and fourteen million are over 60 years of age, which leaves 212 million to do most of the work. People under 20 years of age total 140 million, which leaves 72 million to do most of the work. Thirty-two million are employed by the government which leaves about 40 million to do most of the work. Almost two million serve in our Armed Forces leaving 38 million to do most of the work.

Deduct about 22 million who work in state and city government offices and that leaves 16 million to do most of the work. Currently there are 2,220,000 people in jails and prisons leaving 13,780,000 people doing most of the work. There are over four million people who are hospitalized or severely ill leaving only 9,780,000 to do most of the work.

Another 9,768,000 are on disability bringing the available workforce down to only about 12,000. Of those remaining there are at least 11,998 currently taking a nap. That tells us that most of the work is up to you and me and please help me because I am getting tired of doing everything myself.

Adapted from chapter one of Developing The Leaders Around You by John Maxwell.