Post–Christian Children’s Ministry

Ministry to Children in the 21st Century

By Sally Lam-Phoon
 Today’s Children:
Generation Z/Gen Z/Centennials
• Silent Generation (born 1927-1945)
• Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)
• Generation X (born 1965-1980)
• Millennials/Generation Y (born 1981-
1996)
• Centennials/Generation Z or Gen Z
(born after 1996)
What Do Post-Christians Believe?
• Believe in themselves and their ability to
make a difference globally
• Believe in God but may not be affiliated
to a church or religion
• Parents of Gen Z believe in “free-range
parenting”
• Kids Getting Older Younger (KGOY)
 What Do Post-Christians
Believe?
• Belief system influenced by:
– The Occult
– Pornography
– LGBT issues
Dr Jiajia & Gen ZD
Characteristics of Gen Z Kids

• Cyberliterate
• Able to multitask
• Spiritually illterate but open to
pick-and-mix what they believe in
Characteristics of Gen Z Kids

• Value Highly Personal Freedom of

Choice
• Experience Oriented
• Value Immediacy and in Living in
the Moment
• Focus on Self
Characteristics of Gen Z Kids

• Slow in trusting adults

• Trust in themselves, not authority
figures
• Honest, loyal and want to achieve
 How Should We Deal with
Post-Christian Children?
• Understand post-Christian
sensibilities
• Think creatively of faith building; live
your faith
• Rethink effective ways
• Involve church community & families
 Four Pillars of
Children’s Ministry
• Child Centered: “To the weak I became weak,
to win the weak. I have become all things to all
people so that by all possible means I might
save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22
• Highly Relational: As they talked and
discussed these things with each other, Jesus
himself came up and walked along with
them…” Luke 24:15
 Four Pillars of
Children’s Ministry
• Gospel focused: “Jesus said, ‘Let the
little children come to me, and do not
hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these.’”
Matthew 19:14
 Four Pillars of
Children’s Ministry
• Discipleship Driven--“Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the
age." Matthew 28:19-20
 The Power of Relationships
(Lawrence Richards)
• God surrounded children with adults both
in the family and the community of faith to
guide, teach, and model life for them
• No church program, camp, video series, or
Sabbath School curriculum can emulate the
power these relationships have in the
spiritual formation of children.
Ellen White, Reflecting Christ, 373

“Those who love God should feel

deeply interested in children and youth.
To them God can reveal His truth and
salvation. Jesus calls the little ones that
believe on Him, the lambs of His flock.
He has a special love for and interest in
the children. . .
Ellen White, Reflecting Christ,
p. 373

. . .The most precious offering

that the children can give to
Jesus is the freshness of their
childhood.”
Growth of the “Unaffiliated”

• Baby Boomers - 17% unaffiliated

• Gen X - 23% unaffiliated
• Older Millennials (Gen Y) - 34%
unaffiliated
• Younger Millennials (Gen Y) -
36% unaffiliated