Reaching the next generation – and there always will be a next generation – with the Gospel is vital to the health of a local church. Deuteronomy 6 gives us the imperative to teach the younger generation the commands of the Lord and exhort them to obey them. The Florida Baptist Convention desires to partner with local churches to facilitate this mandate.
Over 30 churches were represented at the Next Gen 1-Day Summit put on by the Next Generation Ministry division of the Florida Baptist Convention at the Southeast Regional Center in Miami. The goal of the Next Gen 1-Day Summit is to equip local church leaders in kid, student, and college ministry.
Carlos Finale, student pastor at Iglesia Bautista Northside, attended the training. “The 1-day next gen event in Miami was a blessing. The diverse culture that morning reminded me of God’s promise for His church to be one: in one mind, serving and doing ministry together. The event also challenged me to ask myself the difficult questions of ministry: what am I doing? Why am I doing it? For what purpose? Who is helping me? What am I going to change? I look forward to other events in the South Florida region that will continue to guide and help us in this difficult region.”
The conference opened with a Biblical and historical understanding of reaching the next generation and then transitioned to breakouts focusing on kid ministry, student ministry, and college ministry. Kelley Pekarek, children minister from North Jacksonville Baptist Church led the kid ministry breakout. Billy Young, Next Generation Ministry Catalyst of the Florida Baptist Convention, led the student breakout. Ricky Bailey, Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director in Miami, led the college breakout.
The Florida Baptist Convention will host a Next Gen 1-Day Summit on April 4 at First Baptist Church in Plant City with Dr. Richard Ross, Professor of Youth Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, as the keynote speaker, along with breakouts for kids, student, and college ministry.
By Billy Young, Florida Baptist Convention, March 5, 2019