Almost 21 million. That’s how many tweens there are in the United States right now. How can we best reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Tweens are defined as children between the ages of 9-14. You and I know them primarily as our middle schoolers or junior highers: those too old for children’s ministry but still too young for senior youth ministry group. They are the kids who are beTWEEN childhood and high school.
And what a crucial time period they’re in. Statistics indicate that a young person is five times more likely to receive Christ during this span of years than at any other time in life. That is an amazing opportunity.
Then, how can the church effectively communicate the good news of Christ in a language tweens can understand?
It’s important to understand the mindset of this group. Typically, tweens are a busy bunch! Their schedules and task lists look more like those of young professionals’. The downside is they’re dependent on others for transportation, so it’s sometimes difficult to get them to an event—at church or anywhere else.
We also know most tweens says they have great relationships with friends. (In fact, 94 percent of tweens describe themselves as having friends that they can trust.)
The good news for us in ministry is that more than half of the tweens in the United States identify themselves as Christian.
All of this convinces me that research points to this reality—no one can reach a tween like a tween.
Prepared to Give an Answer
The challenge for us as their youth pastors and leaders is that more than 50 percent of those Christian tweens do not know how to share their faith with an unbelieving friend or relative.
I believe the solution is simple: Train our tweens to share the gospel with other tweens.
I know they are a high-maintenance group at times, but the benefits are eternal. Find evangelism training resources that target this age group and start training them! In your existing curriculum and/or Bible study, start asking questions like, “How would this help you share Jesus with someone?”…and do it with every lesson!
As you set out to teach your young people to share Jesus Christ, be mindful of
Notice the order: the Lordship of Christ is first and foremost. If we’re going to reach a generation of “lost” students who don’t know about Jesus, we are going to have to first call our Christian students to live for Jesus!
Don’t settle for your junior-high or middle-school students to be numbered among the over-entertained and under-challenged. Equip them to “always be prepared” to tell about the hope they’ve found that’s evident in their lives: their living relationship with Jesus Christ.
Since its inception in May 2006, nearly 10,000 tweens have been trained in evangelism through D2BD. For more information, click here.
