Mission As The Church

Thank you to all y’all who have served—and are still serving—in Next Gen ministry. What you do matters.

Why I Got Into Ministry

For me, the decision to step into ministry wasn’t about a title or position. It was about a man.

My Uncle Conrad had this undeniable passion for the next generation. He always had kids, youth, and young adults around him—pouring into them, challenging them, believing in them.

But if I can be real… me and him had some beef. Mainly because his mama—and I was desrepctful so iykyk 

When he unexpectedly passed on valentines days in 2009, I remember telling God,

“I don’t know what was on his life… but I want it.”

And next thing I knew—I had kids, youth, and young adults all around me.

We are here to sow seeds and be good stewards over the lives God has entrusted us to shepherd.

Psalms 127:3-5 “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one’s youth.

Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them;

They will not be ashamed

When they speak with their enemies in the gate.”

At first glance, I always took this scripture at face value—but there’s so much more depth when you really sit with it.

Children (and people) are gifts, not possessions. You don’t own them—you’re entrusted with them.

Like arrows, they’re meant to be shaped, aimed, and released.

The parent, or leader, is the warrior—intentional, prepared, strategic.

I thought this was only about children but when I look at it 

Transitional Point : We are talking about stewardship of people 

Back in biblical times, warriors didn’t just buy arrows—they crafted them. 

Every arrow was hand-shaped, honed for flight—not for hoarding. They were designed to be released.

For a long time, I had this tendency to think I was the solution to my students’ problems. 

I never said it out loud, but my actions showed it.

In my Programs

My schedule

our events

I thought I was the arrow, and my students were the target.

But Time taught me I had it backwards. They are the arrows God has trusted me to shape, hone and release.

And that mindset shift applies not just to youth ministry—but to how we lead the church.

We often do the same thing in ministry.

We think we’re the arrow, and the church is the target.

We build around us. We protect our thing.

But what if…

The church is the arrow.

And the world is the target.

Let me show you two pictures:

1. Wrong Paradigm: Pastor as arrow, church as target → Inward focused

2. Right Paradigm: Church as arrow, world as target → Outward focused

When the pastor is the only solution

Pastor as Arrow, Church as Target:

• Inward focus

• Managing people

• Trying not to lose members/staff

• Maintenance > Mission

Church as Arrow, World as Target:

• External focus

• deploying people becomes the priority

• Mission > Maintenance

• Church exists to reach beyond its walls

Closing Challenge: The Archer’s Role

So let me leave you with this thought:

What if your role isn’t to be the hero… but the archer?

What if your calling is to equip, to aim, to shape and release the church into the world?

Ask yourself:

• Am I currently acting like the arrow or the archer?

• Is my church aimed at me or at the community?

If we get this right—it won’t just bless our leadership.

It’ll bless our churches.

It’ll bless our cities.

It’ll bless the emerging leaders that aren’t in this room right

I dont know about you but i think thats a dream worth working towards but it require us to eat

Table Topic

“As a leader, do you see yourself as the arrow or the archer? Is your focus the church—or the community you’re called to reach? 

To help us unpack that even more, I want to welcome our Associate Supervisor Grace to continue the conversation.”