A major challenge facing church planters today is reaching the next generation with the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

The former senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has said that Christianity could be just one “generation away from extinction” if the church does not reach out to young people.

It is vital that you and your church build a bridge to the next generation and cultivate mentoring relationships with the young people in your community.

DCPI’s NexGen ministry exists to inspire the next generation to embrace church planting to reach the world for Christ. Every year thousands of teenagers and young adults experience a one-day NexGen Challenge and take a giant step forward in understanding God’s call on their life. Through this event young people discover how church planting can be a part of God’s call for them.

Recently a NexGen Challenge took place in the Philippines for the youth of Santa Cruz Light Community Church. What made this event so special was that three members of the training team were young people themselves. Josiah, the 13-year old son of Jeffrey, our Director of Global NexGen for DCPI, along with the 12-year old and 13-year old daughters of a DCPI certified trainer joined the training team of adults to challenge the 35 young people in attendance for the NexGen Challenge.

Jeffrey shared, “What a joy to see our kids eagerly doing the ministry God has entrusted to us.”

The desire of DCPI’s NexGen is to inspire the next generation to embrace church planting, and this is happening. Not only is the next generation being equipped through the NexGen Challenge, they are being empowered to lead the training!

In I Timothy 4:12, the apostle Paul encouraged young Timothy with the words, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

The apostle Paul’s message is being lived out in the NexGen ministry. Young people are being challenged, shaped, and empowered as they discover God’s call on their life.

I urge you to bring a NexGen Challenge to your church. Contact DCPI Central at [email protected]  and we will help you take the next step. By doing this you will help young people understand God’s call on their lives and you will create an environment that will develop more young people like Josiah.

Until the whole world knows Him,

Scott Kirk

Executive Director