Connecting A New Generation-testimonies
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If you have a testimony you would like to share please email us at: childmin@nazarene.org

Dear Partner in Ministry,

The Sanfords lived next door to the Smiths whose California home was marred by alcohol and prescription drug abuse. The Sanfords invited young Joan Smith and her older sister to midweek Caravan classes. Before long, Joan was attending a Sunday School class as well. At the age of 12, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. Joan went home with hope. Hope in Jesus Christ carried her through troubled times at home. Later, she found sanctuary with caring Nazarenes and attended a Nazarene College where she met Brian Wilson. Together, they served in the pastorate, as missionaries, and at European Nazarene College. Now Brian is superintendent of the Chicago Central District. Nurturing neighbors and a caring church presented Jesus the Hope to Joan.

On another continent in the country of Hungary, hope literally walked into the homes and hearts of parents as children told the story of Jesus’ birth using a paper angel from WordAction Sunday School curriculum. Maria and Imre Gusztin knew the people of Hungary needed resources in their own language. The Gusztins used their expertise and hundreds of hours to carefully translate Christian education materials into Hungarian. One small Hungarian boy taught his father a simple prayer learned from his believing grandmother. The father, part of a generation not possessing hope in Jesus Christ, felt hope again. Dedicated adults and children as evangelists presented Jesus the Hope.

We can live a few days without water. We can live a few weeks without food. But, we cannot live without hope. The song, "Hope Changes Everything," by Leonard Alstrom, Eddie Carswell, and Michael O’Brien states: "Our lives were spinning in a hopeless situation, living in a fallen world without hope for change. But heaven heard our cries and that’s why Jesus came. Now it’s up to us to give His love away. Let’s take the hope of Christ, lift it up and hold it high. Because hope changes everything."(© 2000 Integrity Incorporated)

This is a critical time in history for reaching out to children and youth. Demographically, more than one-third of the world’s population is children and youth. Statistics show the prime age to win a child to Christ is the "4/14 window" – the ages between 4 and 14. However, the number of young adults who profess to be Christian is decreasing markedly. Pluralism and postmodern thought are influencing many young families today.

Growing out of our mutual concern for children and youth, Children’s Ministries, Nazarene Youth International, and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries are partnering in a Decadal Emphasis on Children and Youth – "Connecting a New Generation." This emphasis is from January 2002 to January 2012.

The Decadal Ministry Guide on this web site will assist you in launching "Connecting a New Generation." It contains mission, vision, and goal statements to evaluate current ministries and direct future planning. Distribute copies to key leaders involved in the emphasis. Please add to this page on our web site your church’s stories of how God is working in the lives of your children and youth.

Lynda T. Boardman
Gary W. Hartke
Robert L. Prescott