{"id":4241,"date":"2019-07-11T09:57:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-11T09:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/2019\/07\/11\/the-next-generation-rises\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T07:17:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T05:17:45","slug":"the-next-generation-rises","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/the-next-generation-rises\/","title":{"rendered":"The Next Generation Rises"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n<center>\n  <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357.jpeg?resize=1280%2C960&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357.jpeg 1280w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357-768x576.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\">\n<\/center>\n<p><\/p>\n<p> Welcome to Fresno, the midwest, Bible-belt part of California. Here the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.centralvalleychurch.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Central Valley Church of Christ<\/a> serves 115 members and their friends, families and communities from as far as an hour away from the church building. Established in 1994, Central Valley has had various seasons and ministries that have been extraordinary. However, we have never experienced a teen ministry quite like this. <\/p>\n<p> 18 teens and five counselors went to camp with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laicc.net\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LAICC<\/a> this summer, a six hour drive away. In a church of only 115 members, the teen ministry makes up about 20% of the church. We&#8217;ve seen seven of our teens get baptized. Most of the remaining teens have parents who are members of the church or visit regularly. <\/p>\n<p> Stephan Harris, who turned 17 this summer, was baptized earlier this year. When asked who were the major influences of his decision to study the Bible and get baptized, he stated other teens. When asked what was the turning point for him, he says it wasn&#8217;t so much a turning point, but a lifelong expectation that he would become a disciple. <\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<center>\n  <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4797.jpeg?resize=960%2C1280&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4797.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4797-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4797-768x1024.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\">\n<\/center>\n<p><\/p>\n<p> As the women&#8217;s ministry leader in Fresno for the past 19 years and the mother of two teens who have yet to be baptized, I love these responses from Stephan. I know my kids feel at home in the teen ministry. When I occasionally (and, of course, calmly and without being pushy or anxious) ask them if they plan to be baptized someday, they look at me as if I&#8217;m crazy and say, &#8220;of course, mom.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<center>\n  <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"909\" height=\"909\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DSC_3642-2.jpg?resize=909%2C909&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DSC_3642-2.jpg 909w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DSC_3642-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DSC_3642-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/DSC_3642-2-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 909px) 100vw, 909px\">\n<\/center>\n<p><\/p>\n<p> We are so grateful for the family ministry, where parents have decided to make the preteen ministry a major focus close to nine years ago. This created relationships and identity for those who are now our teens. Teens from all different schools, races and ethnic backgrounds feel that their teen ministry is a place where they belong. We are also grateful to our campus ministry, for helping to mentor with our teens and give them a vision of what they have to look forward to as disciples after leaving home. We also have amazing teen leaders and workers. They literally lay down their lives for the teens and have been consistently serving and building for years without wearying. Mostly we praise God, who is always faithful. As John said, <i> &#8220;I remind you, fathers and mothers: you have a relationship with the One who has existed from the beginning. And I remind you, young people: you have defeated the Evil One.&#8221; <\/i> &#8211; I John 2:13 (TPT) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Fresno, the midwest, Bible-belt part of California, where the Central Valley Church of Christ serves 115 members and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":4242,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[54],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-4241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-families","tag-north-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/IMG_4357.jpeg?fit=1280%2C960&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-16p","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4834,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/chippewa-valley-church-our-god-story-from-0-to-100\/","url_meta":{"origin":4241,"position":0},"title":"Chippewa Valley Church: Our \u201cGod-Story\u201d From 0 to 100","author":"dtadmin","date":"December 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Chippewa Valley Church was planted in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, by Joel and Christy Peed, along with Kenny and Laura Tubwell and Preston Peterson, in 2006. Now, in 2018, we are a family of over 100 members with inspiring \u201cGod-stories\u201d to share, stories of how God has powerfully moved amongst\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CVCDec2018FamilyandSelfiecopy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CVCDec2018FamilyandSelfiecopy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CVCDec2018FamilyandSelfiecopy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CVCDec2018FamilyandSelfiecopy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/CVCDec2018FamilyandSelfiecopy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4944,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/unity-across-campus-ministries-in-midwest-and-heartland-regions\/","url_meta":{"origin":4241,"position":1},"title":"Unity Across Campus Ministries in Midwest and Heartland Regions","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Fall retreat, \"Stand Up\" brought together 300 campus student from the Midwest and Heartland campus ministries.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/campus-ministry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/stand_firm-343x117-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21832,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/pioneer-valley-singles-new-years-eve-party-invite\/","url_meta":{"origin":4241,"position":2},"title":"Pioneer Valley Singles New Year&#8217;s Eve Party Invite","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"October 12, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Join Pioneer Valley Church's New Year's Eve Party on December 31. Singles ministries from across New England and neighboring states are invited. Register at just $20 per person for a night of fun and connection!","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Singles&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Singles","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/singles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Singles New Year's Eve Party","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pioneer-Valley-Invite.jpg?fit=1200%2C1006&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pioneer-Valley-Invite.jpg?fit=1200%2C1006&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pioneer-Valley-Invite.jpg?fit=1200%2C1006&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pioneer-Valley-Invite.jpg?fit=1200%2C1006&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Pioneer-Valley-Invite.jpg?fit=1200%2C1006&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":24680,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/santa-clarita-teen-led-ministry-bible-talk-thrive\/","url_meta":{"origin":4241,"position":3},"title":"Santa Clarita Teen-Led Ministry &amp; Bible Talk Thrive","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"October 10, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"In late 2021, the teen ministry of the Santa Clarita Valley Church of Christ emerged from the pandemic with a handful of high schoolers and no full-time ministers. Today, three years later, the ministry has several faithful disciples and a high school Bible talk with an average of 40+ attendees.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Families&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Families","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/families\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG-20241010-WA0011.jpg?fit=1165%2C791&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG-20241010-WA0011.jpg?fit=1165%2C791&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG-20241010-WA0011.jpg?fit=1165%2C791&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG-20241010-WA0011.jpg?fit=1165%2C791&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, 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Search","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/ministry-search\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SantaClarita.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SantaClarita.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SantaClarita.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SantaClarita.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SantaClarita.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11770,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/antelope-valley-church-seeks-four-summer-interns\/","url_meta":{"origin":4241,"position":5},"title":"Antelope Valley Church Seeks Four Summer Interns","author":"Sunday Awolowo","date":"March 10, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Antelope Valley Church is seeking two men and two women to serve as summer interns in the campus and teen ministries.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Ministry Search&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Ministry Search","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/ministry-search\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AV_Reach-1.png?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/AV_Reach-1.png?fit=1200%2C674&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, 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