Ok, I’ll confess…there is something extant in the Church today that riles my feathers and gives me chills like chalk on a chalkboard…it’s the constant/prevailing reference by adults/leadership to the children and youth of today as, “the next generation or ‘Generation Next.'” Yes, I know there is validity to it but there is also a “dark side.”

To the children and youth of today – born with intercession (and other gifts – think of who you call to fix your smart phone or computer) in their spiritual DNA – “Generation Next” means “WAIT.” Wait until the old guys die off, wait until they make room for you, wait until you grow up…you get the picture.

May we PLEASE change the nomenclature of this (and following generations) to “GENERATION NOW!” Our children and young people – righteous seed  –  want to PARTNER with the whole church NOW. The whole Church, wholly together in prayer! They are not looking to rebel or usurp, only to be recognized as valid, equipped for the battle and released  to be all they can be – alongside the rest of us.

I recently heard a staggering statistic: 50 million Millennials (in America alone) without Jesus! Many of them “churched” and too many of them having no use for “the Church.” Could it (partly) be that “the Church” has had no “use” for them?

God is looking for adults who will humble themselves, reach out to our children and youth and mentor them in ALL THINGS of the Kingdom. Recognizing that children have the same Holy Spirit is a “first step.” Not only adults need the “meat” of the Word. Children are capable, willing and EAGER to learn more than the historical Bible Stories. They must be equipped to flow in both the gifts of the spirit and the fruit of the spirit NOW in order to navigate and excel in the local, national and global environments in which they live.

Recognize, mobilize, partner with  and celebrate –

“GENERATION NOW!”

Mary