Transcript
NextGen Matters: Well, welcome to the Next Gen Matters podcast, a show for ministry leaders seeking to move beyond overwhelm and move into leading with clarity, confidence, and consistency. I'm Rich Brown with my friend, Andy Lawrenson. We're in. his office and today we're talking about how to be engaging Christian school students.
NextGen Matters: inner ministry and having that ministry and missional mindset. Last episode, we talked about with Travis Deans, what it means to come alongside our public school students, helping them to see their campus is their mission field. And then how can we help them be missional within our own ministries?
NextGen Matters: Today, Same topic, same template, if you will. but with the Christian school student in mind. And then the next episode, we'll be dealing with those who... attend homeschool. Andy! I say welcome, but I'm in your office. You are, and it's in a school.
NextGen Matters: Yeah. And it can be loud at any minute. Yes. So we never know what kind of alarms could go off, fire alarms. Or a kid through the door. Yes. There is a sign on the door, but we don't know for sure. It could happen. It's kind of like Jesus returning. It could happen at any moment. Anyway, so we have a lot of questions for Randy, but before we do, I do want to pose this to...
NextGen Matters: Have us consider as you listen to this podcast, you know, Christian school students. often appear spiritually strong. And from the outside. You know, we think because they may know a lot of Bible verses or they know the biblical stories and the biblical narrative that, oh, they've got it all together. And and many do.
NextGen Matters: But just because you see something on the outside, doesn't always indicate what's truly happening. be on the surface. So in this episode, we're going to be taking an honest look.
NextGen Matters: at the spiritual condition. of the students who attend Christian schools. and in those environments. So this episode is going to be casting a vision. how we as ministry leaders can mobilize our Christian school students as missionaries within their school.
NextGen Matters: as well as in their local student ministries. So rather than just seeing themselves as spiritually like air quotes set. Let's help these students. really truly become catalyst students in this environment, right here where I'm sitting right now, who will begin to really lead in praying and serving and inviting others into deeper walks with Jesus and to be living out the gospel.
NextGen Matters: with intentionality. So leaders, as you listen to this, I want you to walk away from this episode. with the tools and the resources to help. You serve Christian school students in helping them embrace a missional identity. and then how to engage the world around them. with clarity, with humility, and even with courage. Andy, before we get into the questions for the conversation. yes
NextGen Matters: what about you you and your wife have been married how long tell us about your family 37 years. I have a son that's 22. and he's in school right now for cybersecurity.
NextGen Matters: I have twin. 17 -year -olds, boy, girl, and they are seniors right here at school with me. and they're going to go through their senior year and head off to college at the end. so Yeah. We got a dog and two cats. Dog and two cats. yeah You have been serving over 30 some years, the Lord in student ministry.
NextGen Matters: You actually didn't you get a youth ministry degree? No, I don't. Mine is in ministry leadership. Okay. Yeah. Close enough. yeah It's kind of close enough. Yeah. yeah yeah yeah Because I met Andy a few years ago at a Liberty basketball game.
NextGen Matters: My brother from the West Coast was visiting. And he goes, hey, there's my buddy Andy over there. Andy, if you ever watch a Liberty basketball game, he's always going to find a ticket. I find a ticket. Most times you can see me behind the yeah ESPN lady. Oh, dude. I try to sit right behind her. He prescriptions himself.
NextGen Matters: And within three seconds, it's on Facebook. I love it. So if I look familiar, you've seen me on ESPN. Exactly. yeah Anyway, so my brother sees it and he goes, hey, we were back. seminar somewhere you had connections together. Right. For years and years and years. So I got to meet Andy and he's no longer my brother's friend. He's now my friend. So that's been really cool. 37 years in ministry.
NextGen Matters: So many is to ministry Oklahoma. Oklahoma. Yeah. Small rural. corner of Oklahoma. And then six years there as a youth pastor, three years before that volunteer youth pastor at a very small church in a Northern Oklahoma. And then 21 years at Nags Head Church on the outer banks of North Carolina. I could see the ocean from the church. You can smell the salt water right now. And it ate ate away my car too. I was just going to say. We visited OBX a few years ago.
NextGen Matters: A few, 10 years ago? Yeah. there's My wife's car is almost 20 years old. She's still at Ford Edge. She's keeping her truck in man. yeah It was newer then, right? Yeah. But there is still salt residue in the windows. Oh, yeah. When the glass goes up and down. Sandblasted. Thank you, OBX. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: that's it exactly So when when you think about, you know, you were serving in the local church and just two This is your third school year here? This is my, I'm going into my fifth year. Oh my gosh. Okay, good. Yeah. So you've been four plus in the Lynchburg area. Yeah. Grew up here.
NextGen Matters: Grew up here as a small kid, yeah. Yeah. Lived in Hawaii. Lived in Hawaii. Yep. For five years, yeah my high school years. And a year after I was actually a student in this school when I was a little kid.
NextGen Matters: Oh my goodness. Yeah. And then how long do you live in Hawaii? uh living in hawaii about five years four and a half five years and that segues into his favorite place, his happy spot at home. yeah I've got a 400 square foot screened in. porch.
NextGen Matters: that we have dubbed the Lanai. The lanai. Yeah, sit out there. The bulk of the year I can be found on the lanai if I'm at home. and And that's his favorite, his happy spot, his favorite spot, but his favorite.
NextGen Matters: I say activity. Oh, I love to cook. Yep. Love the cooked food. I like to smoke meats and the big green egg. I like to grill. I got the flat top. griddle as well. I love to do fried rice or whatever I can on that.
NextGen Matters: Love to have people over to eat. We've had like over. like around 30 people in Illinois for dinner before. I just love to do that.
NextGen Matters: If you follow Andy on social, Andy is like me. We're both very active and engaged. And I constantly see pictures of what he just made for himself even, let alone the family. What's for breakfast at Andy's place? I'm like. I'm like, I want to come. Come to the restaurant. You just dropped something last week. I'm like, dude, that looks so good. Oh, you had the fry. You had the though the onion rings. Oh yeah, my onion rings. i so Those look like Red Robin's onion rings. I air fried them and I'm thinking.
NextGen Matters: Oh, I always get jelly. It's not healthy. I don't make healthy food. Anyway, so as you think about now, you you're going from... local church ministries into a Christian school context. That does look different, I'm sure. yeah like great Like you said, they're they're out in the hallway just as I was setting this up. There was a... a in between periods so obviously the students are out they were saved by the bell the Bad joke, bad joke. Do you have screech? Nevermind. So we we we just have to say that any moment.
NextGen Matters: Yeah. At any moment, there could be. There's a bell. There's a class change coming up. There could be a bell. There could be a lot of activity. Who knows? You just don't know. It's kind of like Jesus coming. We just don't know, but yet yeah it could happen. So full disclosure. It's your Wednesday night.
NextGen Matters: five days a week. That's what it is. Eight hours a day. That's great. so Now that you're on the inside. of you know being in the christian school now that you're kind of like on the inside of it Your perception of Christian school students.
NextGen Matters: What you had as a student pastor. But now. that you're working with them literally daily. Is some of it the perception, did it change or was it? Did you think it was the same, what you saw on the outside, now on the inside? or Walk me through that a little bit. That's a great question. I worked for years in student ministry. I had kids that went to public school, my own kids went to public school.
NextGen Matters: So they came here. A student's a student. a student no No matter if they're public school or Christian school or homeschooled, and they have the same needs in their life. you know they need relationships. They need love.
NextGen Matters: They want to know their place, find their identity. who they are. all those things that they're basically. It's the same. It's just a different atmosphere.
NextGen Matters: In the hallways and in the classroom. right So there's the difference, but the students are the same. yeah Yeah. What is similar? and what is different.
NextGen Matters: from the same student who let's say attends a christian school They're from a SAVE student who attends a... public school. That's great.
NextGen Matters: All right, so the difference between... a Christian student at a Christian school and a Christian student at a public school. I think... The difference would be at a public school. We know that light stands out in darkness. And so I think. probably you get a kid that's on fire for the Lord at the public school.
NextGen Matters: This is going to be very noticeable. Hmm. Because... is light or her light's going to be shining bright. Right. It would be huge. At a Christian school. because the atmosphere and the culture. is much different.
NextGen Matters: it might be hard to pinpoint. Because you might have in a classroom with. 25 kids, you might have four. this like spectacular walking with the Lord. And it's just hard to notice.
NextGen Matters: the difference there, but I think probably a Christian. kid in the public school. is going to stand out more if they're even for the Lord than in a room. Or not all of them. but a lot of them are living for the so that would be the difference What would we be similar?
NextGen Matters: What would be similar? we have We have kids struggling. with at home, there's divorce happening. We have kids you know so struggling with all the same struggles.
NextGen Matters: that the kids in the public school we have kids that probably they have addictions yep All of that eating disorders. I mean, you go through the list. And it's the same here as in the public school.
NextGen Matters: But the beauty of the Christian school is. If a teacher or staff member knows what's going on in a kid's life. There's total freedom to talk about. how to address that from one can. provide the correct antidote. Right, right. You don't have to be afraid to talk about Jesus and God right and all of that as much as you want. Right, so right.
NextGen Matters: What are some of the spiritual struggles that you see your students facing. You've already mentioned some. yeah But what are some of those deeper struggles that you see them working through? anxiety,
NextGen Matters: You know, anxiety is huge among this generation for some reason. And so we have a lot of students that. just struggle with anxiety. We have some, they'll come and talk to me, have you know addictions.
NextGen Matters: Yeah. By screen addiction or or whatever it might be. And so they struggle with that. Another one is. The biggest one I would see because of their, I don't know if it's because they're in a critical school, but a lot of times, apathy. oh yeah Towards the things of God.
NextGen Matters: Because. Every class period at LCA, there's prayer. Every class period, a teacher is going to talk about. the bible in some way yeah and then they have a bible class every day so it's easy to become apathetic to the things of God. because they're around it so much. right right all day long and another one i would think is there's a lack of love sometimes with it.
NextGen Matters: in two ways. One, we have kids who Their home life is rough. yeah They're here because their parents want them to have. private education right right and their parents may not be walking with the lord at all. And then also you get Christian students who forget that we're to love others.
NextGen Matters: no matter who they are. And so sometimes you can see that play out too as a struggle or something that battle and deal with. Hmm. Well, it's in so many ways, it's just like us in our local church. that If the only, let's say, friends and social... groups that we have and we associate with.
NextGen Matters: Are believers? Right. We can become very, I'd say stale in our walk. Oh yeah. Yeah. I attended Christian school. My dad as a pastor started one.
NextGen Matters: Back. when I was in sixth grade. which I know was many years ago. It was like. just before the bicentennial. yeah so over 50 years ago and uh yeah 80 students between k to 12 there's danny and kelly at my graduation standing next to me all three of us graduated kind of like a big homeschool.
NextGen Matters: but I remember being the apathetic one. I remember. been there, done that, hear it all the time. And for me, because our church was...
NextGen Matters: Pardon of me, our school was in our church. you know the same room was being used for my baba class that was on wednesday night was my youth room right sunday it was my youth room
NextGen Matters: That you could begin to take everything, not just for granted, but... Just got... to use the phrase spiritually fat and lazy yeah You're back in the same room you sat all day at school. Yeah. And then really the only day I wasn't there was Saturday in the building.
NextGen Matters: Unless there was something going on between church or school. Right, right. So it it got to the point where... It was hard to keep... spiritual energy and a spiritual sense of Urgency? yeah When you're always around it.
NextGen Matters: Right. and And that's where I think the uniqueness of your role. comes in and then speed up a little bit. You know, now that was my teenage years, of course. And then later in my twenties or later twenties.
NextGen Matters: living in Dayton, Ohio, for doing ministry there. and I would sub teach a lot at Dayton Christian. school good school you know very very large christian school not as big as yours Tell them how many students are in your... Between middle and high school here. Between middle and high school, around 800. which is a very large, I i said last episode.
NextGen Matters: You're probably the largest. fruit private school in Virginia, if not the East Coast. uh For sure, the largest Christian school in in Virginia. I don't know about ECOS, East Coast, but yeah.
NextGen Matters: Because it's up there. Two years old all the way to... yeah so it's yeah true yeah yeah from their preschool up to 12th grade is 2 000 students yeah And Andy, you said earlier to me to me today that you did the four -year -old. I had a four -year -old chapel this morning at 9 .30.
NextGen Matters: That's great. that's great at Danny Go Moves. Anyway, so... but I remember going through that myself. yeah And. I think I've mentioned this in a previous podcast before, but...
NextGen Matters: Say it again. My spiritual growth really took place in the summer. playing baseball with a bunch of pagan guys. you know dropping yes the bomb you know just vulgar just vulgar guys who needed jesus But my faith is being rubbed, is being stretched. And.
NextGen Matters: I'm not. advocating for, oh, go pick a bunch of people who just speak vulgar and surround yourself with them right you know I'm not suggesting that, but...
NextGen Matters: There is something about... when all you have are like -minded, you can become apathetic. And I've said before. Because I remember being that student as a teenager, looking back and going, man, was I empathetic or what? And God really worked me over in a healthy way when I became a student here at Liberty back.
NextGen Matters: in my late teens, early twenties. I saw how apathetic I was. And I... i I despised it in my life. I thankfully grew up. you know But then I began to teach sometimes in Christian school, visiting my students for lunch. yeah you know Back in the day, we'd do that, right? And I would see it. And then I remember one time.
NextGen Matters: Because you pray before class. And this is way before me as a Liberty professor. This is way before that. I had no idea that was in God's bingo card for me. But. I would. Pray before class.
NextGen Matters: And the prayer request. And I remember this. If you're watching YouTube, watch my bilingual. Here's the guy in the back row. He slumps in his chair. Puts his hand up. He goes, yeah. Hey, we got a soccer game. And how would you like me to pray?
NextGen Matters: Well, we got a soccer game. Code for what Andy? I had no idea. Yeah, we got a soccer go like you want god to help you win or do you want do you want to score you know six goals personally you know do you want to play for the glory of god i wasn't saying that but i was thinking yeah i just thought
NextGen Matters: the The apathy just ooze and it is sad. it Honestly, my prophetic in me was like, got fired up. Right, right. What is your deal? Yeah, yeah. But also, it saddened me. right Because you aren't seeing the abundant life you have in Christ. right Anyway, so that's what I saw then as a youth pastor.
NextGen Matters: And yet I also know. I believe. that one of the most difficult places to truly live a spirit -filled, spirit -led, To use the phrase, on fire.
NextGen Matters: Life. Jesus as the center. is in a Christian school. Very easy. It's around you all the time. That and... I remember being the person. and I'm being honest. Yeah. That could. Maybe not directly in your face mock you.
NextGen Matters: but kind of deride you a little bit if you were like too serious about jesus you don't talk about that yeah because you got to kind of keep the cool card in check as a high schooler So. You could kind of like, you don't tell.
NextGen Matters: I'm being honest. I didn't tell the jokes I heard on the baseball field. I kind of sanitized them a little. and i'm being honest and then i would tell them to my christian school friends right you know, the PG ish version, yeah which did nothing to honor.
NextGen Matters: the Lord or honor anybody else. Just trying to try and be a funny guy. And again, college, God really had to rip me open and go. This is what's been going on in your life. How to repent of that. But I see I was that guy that kind of like one foot in, one foot out.
NextGen Matters: And I read my Bible every night. I did love Jesus, but. I wasn't. passionate about Jesus again the person in your school that's passionate about Jesus.
NextGen Matters: This is a difficult place, I'm assuming. yeah to truly keep maintain passion right because everything else becomes so and there's also there's peer pressure wherever you're at. Yeah, yeah. Does that make sense what I said?
NextGen Matters: And there's the fear of getting made fun of if you truly... Live that way. Yeah, you can love Jesus, but don't get too crazy about it yeah that's the way I kind of wondered And I saw as a youth pastor too. So my heart really would go out to, even now, in our student ministry, our volunteer, we have a lot of students at Andy's school, a lot.
NextGen Matters: And I love the fact that so many of them. are legitimate worshipers. passionate we'd love this man they are passionate worshipers of jesus on a wednesday night and i hope that carries over in school i don't see him here but i'm a fan of what you're doing and of this school yeah right probably like i know when we do our chapel for middle and high school there's a large segment of them that are
NextGen Matters: right up in front of the stage, hands up, worshiping God. i Love it. Love it. And I have seen. I've done a lot of Christian schools the last number of years, larger ones like yours, Fredericksburg, you know, so Fredericksburg Christian School, Roanoke Valley Christian, a few others.
NextGen Matters: And I have noticed. Thank the Lord. There seems to be a real spiritual resurgence, just not with college age persons, right but even high school. oh yeah yeah In the Christian school.
NextGen Matters: setting so i'm so glad to see that yeah i mean we'll have kids want to lead a Bible study. before school. Can I do it? And they have to go through a process because there's school stuff. but Yeah. I love that. I love that.
NextGen Matters: Little Bible studies going on. So some of the spiritual struggles, yeah, it's the apathy card. That's the big one. I'm assuming, and you you tapped into this. I'm assuming this potentially and a large number of students coming from lost homes because their parents want a Good. private right it's an academic choice yeah And maybe even...
NextGen Matters: safety issues, etc. but it was it's a they want a private school, not necessarily a Christian school is at. There's a big, you know. Quite a few that are here because of that.
NextGen Matters: you know And one thing that shows that... you know, everybody thinks Sometimes I think. So Christian school, all the kids there are Christians. We had 30 plus kids come to know Christ here last year at school.
NextGen Matters: yeah so it even though it's a christian school it's a mission field and and then a lot of it's because they go home to parents who don't know christ right right we also have about I don't know close to 80 international students.
NextGen Matters: from around the world. So the world is coming to us. Is that just in high school, middle school or the whole school system? That's high school, middle school. So out of 800. 10 % are international. so it's up pushing any good kids. That's probably more than public school over. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: Wow. Wow. A few years back, I was down in Rowan. I'll get this Christian school down there and did. spiritual emphasis week. And the student pastor is also your role. He double dips. you know so and He told me,
NextGen Matters: And I learned this the last day and I wish I would have known this day one, not day four. yeah 50%. of their student body does not even identify. as being followers of jesus i say generically Right. A lot of Islam.
NextGen Matters: Flat out atheist, etc. Then they would have... I'm using a broad. picture when I say Christian. a lot of different faiths that even would Not agree with the deity of Jesus, which means they're not really Christian right but I'm they they think they're christian y 'all can fill the gaps there are some of those So they had... I mean, who are truly evangelical.
NextGen Matters: theologically Correct. Maybe 25%. of his high school students at the Christian school. That. That shocked me. Right. Then it made a lot more sense. I wish I knew that earlier. Yeah. Cause when I'm walking through Ephesians five verse by verse and what it means to walk worthy of the.
NextGen Matters: calling that's in you in Christ Jesus. And I kept sharing the gospel through it. I'm glad I did, but I didn't realize how many were on that broad road. Right. That's huge. yeah So yeah. And post COVID, post the lockdowns.
NextGen Matters: remember you know this christian schools opened up Public schools. Didn't. yeah And that's when we saw more and more of an exodus into homeschooling. And i had I have friends who are administration in multiple schools. All of them.
NextGen Matters: 2x'd. doubled the size of their of their schools you guys couldn't because you already tapped out yeah we're you're a box is full yeah yeah so you guys didn't 2x but a lot of them actually they doubled in size so it's become a really great place to do ministry oh yeah I can't think of any issue.
NextGen Matters: that you would have with a high schooler in public school, Christian. That they don't have here because it's human nature. Right. Pornography, everything, everything, cutting, you name it. Mm hmm. Wow. I know your school here is.
NextGen Matters: in a very high level athletically. I mean they dominate. you know that they listen they do they dominate in the state of virginia football basketball i mean the the guys just won right this last year Did the guys varsity? No, basketball. Did the varsity win the state?
NextGen Matters: I don't know if they won state or they went to, they went to state because one of the guys in my small group. was in it yes yeah he was on the team he was one of the shooting He's one of the shooting guards. so Yeah, I remember him walking through all that with us.
NextGen Matters: That is an incredible opportunity. oh yeah So let's walk into that because even if you have students in your Christian schools, listener, if they're athletics, they're probably playing on the public schools.
NextGen Matters: yeah How can we help encourage them? Excuse me. Yeah. My voice is changing like a middle schooler. That's good. Exactly. That's life. It's okay. it's i get a little nervous yeah that's okay yeah so we do we do We play all public schools.
NextGen Matters: now We don't. Well, there's one other new Christian school in R. area but that's joined into the Virginia high school league. And that's not because you're looking down. It's just, you're at that level. yes yes to be competitive you have to play you have to play and then and you don't want to drive three and a half hours right when there's a football team 10 minutes away, you can play.
NextGen Matters: Very competitive that way. And we have a lot of different athletic teams. So you know the push is, hey, when we're out there on the field, we're to do it for the glory of God. And and let's let others see Christ in us. so We try to maintain that testimony on the field or on the court.
NextGen Matters: Mm hmm. And so that that is what's given now. athletes can be a little... competitive and they're supposed to be. sure Sometimes that can take over and yeah you know they're not always perfect. But yeah, the goal is to to show.
NextGen Matters: you know The public school athletes. This is how we live out our faith. and what is cool though i've noticed my son's a swimmer and yes diver and a pole vaulter and so a lot of not done in the same event No, that would be crazy. You creative. He did. Not to brag.
NextGen Matters: He went to the state championships for all three last year. Wow. Elite athlete. He gets it from me, Mike Jeans. Not really. He is adopted. For real. But he's a great athlete. but Yeah.
NextGen Matters: I've noticed like among track because I'm around it a lot because of him and swim and dive. They train and practice. with kids from public schools outside of the season.
NextGen Matters: Like they'll go to a training and so they get to know each other. And so there's a there's a friendship that's built. Sure. That was weird for me to see. at when they're pole vaulting.
NextGen Matters: They're cheering each other on. And I'm like. wait that's that guy's the enemy right you know that's cool he's from another school so it's neat to see that's like the pros that they they live in the same area like Tampa, yeah Florida off season. They, they work out together. Right. But one's playing for the Red Sox. One's playing for the Yankees or whatever. yeah So they, yeah, it's neat that they, in some of the sports, they. like they they
NextGen Matters: get to train together, which builds up friendships. So you'll see after a football game, some of the guys hugging each other because they they played, you know, they played together. And is it genuine? It's not just patronizing a fake. No, no. Yeah. It's so. Our students do have a lot of friends in the public school system. that are athletes especially see when you take you consider Nowadays there's so many travel. Yes, that's true. That's a very good point.
NextGen Matters: they'll They're going to play against guys that they're on the same team with in the summer. Mhm. Right. So they're going to be. competitors against each other but then in the summer they're together And so there's all these relationships. So they have an opportunity.
NextGen Matters: Two. Live out their faith. that's key on the field. during the regular school season, but also. when they're training and doing other seasons. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: Yeah, I think the the greatest... That's a strong statement, but I'll say it. The greatest, the greatest way to. Exemplify our faith. is during hard times.
NextGen Matters: And even... Now, hard times losing a loved one is obviously a 10 out of 10. yeah So what I'm going to say is not a 10 out of 10, but hard time is when you're grueling and grinding, you're playing an offensive line football or.
NextGen Matters: I mean, it's it's one of those nasty games basketball -wise. We're just getting like the WNBA right now. We're just tackling people like it's right like it's gym class, you know? Yeah. You're supposed to call your own files. yeah Right. But I mean, it can get very intense.
NextGen Matters: And like you said, I mean, you get emotion. I lost my cool on the court. I won't go into it guys, but I lost my cool on the court. Yeah. I slammed the ball down. i I was waiting to get teed up and kicked out. I literally 11th grade, I lost my cool, slammed the ball down.
NextGen Matters: walked off the court knowing I was going to get teed up and kicked out. I think the refs are so shocked.
NextGen Matters: But here's what happened. and This is. My buddy, Jeff, he's actually a friend of mine. He's a great dude. Lives in Virginia Beach. she's he's a lawyer And he actually teaches now as an adjunct at at Regent. in law school.
NextGen Matters: And. I remember the next day, it was a Friday night game, that next day in school. He said to me, he called me out. He was like ninth grade. I was the hot shot on our team. This is a small Christian school, right? I already told you, 80 kids. Right, right, right. Me and Danny, the next teacher to graduate. so
NextGen Matters: He said to me at lunch on Monday, he goes, hey. It's kind of like. Thanks a lot. It's like, what? He goes. My grandparents came and visited that game and they're not saved Dude, that was one of the first times in my life That ever lost that's that's the first time in my life i ever lost my cool playing sports all the baseball basketball, etc But when he said that.
NextGen Matters: He gutted me open. yeah And. yeah 40 some years later, we, you know, we reconnected. well, 30 some years later, we reconnected. And about eight, nine years ago.
NextGen Matters: And I mentioned that to him. And he totally forgot about it because he said, man, I remember you. I looked up at you because you're the big athlete, all that, you know, whatever. And i I said, well, here's what I remember about you. God used you in my life. to call me out. yeah And that hit me hard.
NextGen Matters: And in my quiet time that next week or two, I was reading through Proverbs and talked about. when we don't control our emotions is like a city wall that's been broken down. And I shared that with the guys in our team. I said, coach, can I say a word?
NextGen Matters: I got honest. I said, I have not been. I complain, I'm moaning about the refs instead of just playing the game. My point is, Andy, is like... We can lose so much credibility in a moment. But if we have... We got to do what we can. That's it. Do damage control right but to be honest and say I was wrong Yeah. But I told this this gentleman.
NextGen Matters: of more recent years i said actually god used you to really hit me in the head. and thank you and i apologize again that I was not salt and light to your grand to your grandparents. So we're being watched. And that's for these guys to know that, you know, the bump in the grind is sports.
NextGen Matters: they're being I love what you just said, though. that they're playing I didn't think about that. Travel sports. you know, all kinds of stuff, rubbing shoulders with those guys. And it's putting them side by side in position with law students. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: love man I love that. Yeah. My son, you know, cause he dives, he dive trains with the guy that. It was in the top three with him in the state. at the state championships. And they're...
NextGen Matters: you know One's diving after the other. and they're competing for the state championship. but just last week on Thursday, they were at the pool together, diving together. You know, it's a weird, it's weird, but yeah, it's a great thing. So let's go from.
NextGen Matters: How can we help? the the Christian school student. in their environment, in their setting to now flip them. How can we as a ministry leader, youth leader, children's leader, how can we help them?
NextGen Matters: in the church context. feel missional. Yeah. because we're helping them be missional on campus yes you have lost people here living it. speaking of it etc your character right but now how can we help them feel like I'm part of the mission in my church. with my student ministry.
NextGen Matters: So I think... yeah i think I think I'm not out. I'm not a student ministry professor, but I think. Student ministry boils down to. building that relationship with a student.
NextGen Matters: So that they trust and know. and believe what you're teaching them. Mm hmm. so they they Trust you. So you build that relationship so that you can invest into them. So they'll then absorb what you're saying, learn from you. So I think number one is just build relationships. And I know that's hard if you're. yeah I got 800, right? If we just take middle and high school, there's no way I'm gonna have a relationship with.
NextGen Matters: All those kids. There's certain kids that. you know click with her that I'm like our worship team. I work with a lot. So if you're in a bigger setting, then you have to have the volunteers who know how to build relationships.
NextGen Matters: with students. So build that relationship. with the Christian school kids. The other thing would be, you know, and go from that to mentor and disciple them.
NextGen Matters: And then. Show them. or give them the opportunities. to be missional. In other words, We're going to go serve at a food pantry or let them get involved and come up with ways for them to get to go do that.
NextGen Matters: from the church. reaching out that way. Doing that, and I think also... You can even use those things as times to build leaders.
NextGen Matters: or equip them to be leaders. and And I think it just comes down to resourcing and equipping them to be on mission and to lead. hey and and And doing that investment, which.
NextGen Matters: is going to be hard. just on Wednesday night, you know, but. I think that's. Just challenging them. my My view here is as a campus pastor of schools, I'm very clear we are not a church.
NextGen Matters: yeah So if you came to me and said, hey, Pastor Andy, I got saved today. but You know, we're going to celebrate and then we're going to. let your parents know and then we're going to say you you go to Church where? I go here. Who's your youth pastor? It's this guy. All right.
NextGen Matters: Wednesday night when you go, you tell him. Hey, this week I got saved, you know, and connect them back to their church. we're Constantly putting them back to their church. yes I... i I want to say thank you for that. yeah And...
NextGen Matters: Yes. And even like baptisms and things. It's like, no, we're an organization. We're not the local church. We're not the church. We don't do communion. We don't baptize. I appreciate that.
NextGen Matters: I really do
NextGen Matters: Some things I was thinking about, i going back to my time in Christian school. I just wanted to be a normal kid. Yeah. Yeah. Plus I was a preacher's kid and my dad started this school. So I had this like you're on huge thing all under me. Right. Exactly. But.
NextGen Matters: I'd hear from folks in our church. to us as adolescents, well, you kids go to the Christian school. You should know better. I'd hear that a lot, or you should act better. And... yeah we can be a little you know squirrely right right you know as far as in sunday school classes whatever But I'm saying, I think as now looking back. ministry leaders Just treat them as normal.
NextGen Matters: adolescence Right. And not. have this expectation of, well, because you're in this context, yes to who much is given, much is expected, much is required. At the same time. Right.
NextGen Matters: Have the same amount of grace and patience with them. As you would from another. student like in the public school is that is that fair yeah i think it's very fair I mean, they're They're just like. you know My 17 -year -olds of twins are just like the 17 -year -olds that go.
NextGen Matters: to the public school across town yeah and you know. pour into their faith, help them grow in their faith. But be an encouragement to them. Right. is the The key. My two love going to youth group. I mean, they don't miss it. So let's have your, let's kind of think through it. So like your expectations, treat them the same.
NextGen Matters: I would also say, again, again, Oh yeah, I'm shouting out a lot of my... you know Would I do different now? I can be very self -deprecating as guys. We kind of like cut ourselves down for for a joke, right? which is better than cutting someone else down, but still, because I knew back when we were in Christian school, we would say, my brother, whom you know, we would say, well, we go to Christian school, like we're stupid, kind of self -deprecating.
NextGen Matters: and I remember... in my first couple years of ministry i would say that Yeah. oh yeah like because i went to a christian school like a joke right right And. Parents who had had their child paying the money to go to a Christian school, they didn't really take kindly to that.
NextGen Matters: No, that's a lot of money. So again, no the lesson learned, Rich, put that in your lesson learned belt. You know, okay. Do not. Look down, criticize. But my own besmirch, you besmirch.
NextGen Matters: Shh. Take lightly the fact that they're in it. And then next week with. homeschool the same thing. right We have to rise above. taking little shots. right of at their their inferior or or they should do better right they're just just i think we need to come to the table of we are equal to foot of the cross We love and value each one equally. I think it's a huge thing. don't be Knocking them down.
NextGen Matters: if they attend a Christian school or expecting more. Right. Again, I think that's very Fair. Thoughts on that? Yeah, I don't i don't think there should be a different level. of expectation on them because they go to a Christian school.
NextGen Matters: especially when you're looking at a youth group. right And you've got a big majority of them who probably are there because their parents go to church there. Hmm. So instead of saying, hey. You go to a Christian school, you should know better. No, you're from a Christian home.
NextGen Matters: You know what I mean? yeah The home is where the difference maker is at. yeah And you're right. i mean yeah I don't know about all Christian schools, but here. The education level is very high. Yes, it is. so Which is why you've maxed out.
NextGen Matters: yeah you don't this is one of the highest educational facility facilities environments. right in the greater area so i i don't know if i could cut it if he took me and transported me back here i'd be like we're struggling props to you you lca and new covenant schools yeah you know both here in lynchburg yeah new covenant schools is classical education I mean, they are learning Latin like in... fitness is great because some of those guys are in our student ministry where i serve New Covenant Christian. And LCA.
NextGen Matters: those students High academic. yeah Right. Yeah, I mean, we have a... A senior dual enrollment class, a theology class. That's theology one and two from Liberty University. One and two. Yeah. So when they graduate this year, they will have done.
NextGen Matters: two theology classes. And I of' told my twins are in it. I said, you guys are probably know more about the Bible than I will. When you get done with this. yeah Move over dad. Yeah. Yeah. yeah last Last question we have.
NextGen Matters: So thinking about now, how can we develop, we talk about leaders, how can we develop as leaders ourselves. these students to become integrated becoming leaders in our ministries at the church, and even missional.
NextGen Matters: within that student ministry. You've already mentioned like food pantries, et cetera, but. How can I? want them to also here's my point how can i help them joining the mission your students at this school.
NextGen Matters: this is literally in my mind right now i won't drop names but in my mind right now who I will see on Wednesday nights. And on Sundays. To help them feel missional for our outreach events when they don't necessarily. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: have the the large numbers around them of 96 % were lost. So I would say. I think it has to happen on like one -on -one conversations. I like that.
NextGen Matters: And then. the The student you see and you're like. man, he or she would be great serving in this capacity within their own. youth group. Yeah. And have that personal conversation and just tell them, I see in you this.
NextGen Matters: I would love to see you grow in that. So I want to give you opportunity. to grow. right So here's what youre I would ask for you to do. at our next outreach, whatever the.
NextGen Matters: Yeah. The thing's going to be they're part of it. Yeah. And resource and equip them to do what you're at. Don't just turn them loose. And then they'd like, I don't know what to do. Sure. Resource and equip them. and then help them grow in that way so that they are.
NextGen Matters: serving and leading within their own student ministry. right Because you are not. the student ministry. Yeah. I love that, Andy. I love that. Thank you for saying that. the They'll grow in that way.
NextGen Matters: And then... when they graduate from high school. They've learned. Hmm. what it means to serve. and I'll go just to my own che kids. Every Sunday morning, my son is.
NextGen Matters: teaching, I think it's fourth graders. Right. Every Sunday morning in the second service, every Sunday morning, my daughter's on the cameras and Thomas Rhodes shooting the. Right. That's going everywhere. Which is a national. Yeah. And she's 17. She's been doing it for two and a half years.
NextGen Matters: So my I have no fear. I have no question in my mind that when they graduate in June. They're going to keep doing that. They're already tied into the local church. They love it. They love to serve. It's because they've been they they know that's what's expected. They know it's what they need to do, and they love doing what they're doing. And so that's just going to grow them. and and so the youth groups full of kids we can do that with.
NextGen Matters: Wow. But you just got to have that conversation. Wow. with them. annie thank you for your time thank you for letting me invade your office oh you're welcome you know lead you know leader as you listen to this I really hope and I pray toward this.
NextGen Matters: this truth earlier today And this... this aspiration to have as you've heard this. that you will even be thinking right now of the students in your your ministry that attend a local Christian school.
NextGen Matters: And... Value them. Let them know. in some way, you know your love language i in some way you let them know You're proud of them.
NextGen Matters: And they're seen. And just some of the things that we have shared, I really hope it's encouraged you to think, yeah, I need to be either more intentional. or just keep doing what I'm doing. Because now you've been and like encouraged to say, yeah, i'm I'm on the right track. Yeah.
NextGen Matters: My whole thing is with this whole series is. One team, one mission. One team, one mission. Andy, again, thank you so much. Thank you. Enjoyed it. Appreciate it. Leader Remember.
NextGen Matters: Your leadership matters. because your ministry matters. Because the gospel. matters. Take care, God bless, and have a great, great day.
