Next Gen - Central Shores

“Start young people off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6

In the United Methodist Church, NextGen Ministry combines children, youth, and intergenerational ministries into a unified collaborative approach. Churches that have taken this approach, have found it to be vital to the health of the church, and sustainable for most churches. In the Central Shores District, it’s purpose is to support the local church in growing ministries for young people so that they may grow in their relationship with God, understand God’s purpose for their lives, and to empower them to live like Christ.

PATHWAY NEXT GENERATION MINISTRY

CONNECT with God and others
GROW in faith
LEAD in the church and community

CORE FOCUS AREAS

• CHILDREN’S MINISTRY: Nurturing faith formation for children birth to grade 5 (Including Vacation Bible Camp, Sunday School, mission opportunities, and leader enrichment)

• YOUTH MINISTRY: Engaging students in 6-12 grades (including Youth Group, Bible studies, Mini-Mission trips, Summer Mission trips, and leader enrichment)

• INTERGENERATIONAL MINISTRY: Blending generations so young people lead, worship and serve alongside adults.

The Central Shores District will intentionally support your efforts to bring generations together to create vital, whole-church, faith communities WITH young people – growing together, sharing life together, and living out faith together.

VBC Kits, Puppets and More!

VBC Kits:

Click here for a list of the VBC programs available from the Central Shores District.

Reach out Jennifer Lane at [email protected] for more information and for instructions on how to access them.

Puppets:

Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry Resources

There are awesome, FREE Youth Group resources one click away! Visit The Young People’s Ministry page on the UMC website. This page offers complete lectionary based Youth Group meeting lessons, games, activities, and more. There are also tabs for Ice Breakers & Games, Lessons & Devotionals, Leadership Coaching, Everyday Disciples, and a link to Safe Gatherings. And remember this is all FREE! So if you’re not sure what to do this month for Youth Group…check out one of these lessons. Even if you’ve got a plan…the ice breaker section has some exceptional ideas for getting a meeting going in the right direction.

2026 Mini Mission Trip

A group of sixth through twelfth graders participated in the Central Bay District’s Youth Mini Mission Trip on June 24-26. As Jennifer was managing the group’s activities, she heard a student say, “We worked harder in three days than we did the whole week at last year’s mission trip!” And they were correct! While we were staying on campus at Central Michigan University, we packed 600 rice meal packets and cut out 150 school bags for the Midwest Mission Distribution Center; we assisted Clothing INC, the Food Pantry, and helped clean and prepare for a big event at the Strickler Center; we organized the student food pantry and did yard work at Wesley@CMU; and we cleaned up two yards for the Isabella County Commission on Aging. We also studied, worshiped, shared meals, met new friends, played games and hung out together! It was an awesome trip! We are so grateful for all the support provided by the Central Bay District. Keep watching newsletters and social media — we have so much more planned in the coming year for our new Central Shores District!

Check out the gallery below of our adventures at CMU!