Newsflash: Next Gen Changes

Natalie Jaranowski   -  

We have some exciting news in the Next Gen world.  We have made the decision to decentralize our next gen ministries, which gives us the ability to have next gen staff members at each site.  This staff member will report to the campus pastor, enabling the sites to have more ownership and decision-making.  
De-WHAT?
Decentralize.  Up to this point, our next gen ministries have operated under a centralized model, with the only paid staffing positions at the network level.  All Kids and Student directors at the campuses have been volunteers.  As we have traveled along over the last 5 years and grown to 3 sites, we have been unable to hire staffing at the campus level.  This has placed a heavy burden on our campus volunteers.  To lighten that burden, we have dissolved our network staff and redeployed them into campus staffing positions.  Jodie Blemker is now the Next Gen Director for Henderson, Andi Miles for East, and Zach Below for West.
What about UNITY?
Our three campus Next Gen Directors will meet every week to collaborate on Network initiatives, such as camp, service projects, dedications, etc.  But their focus will be at their campus on resourcing and developing the leaders there.  In Kids Ministry, we will continue to use the built-in unified curriculum.  Student ministries will continue to operate as they have been, using the small group model.  
Is this FOREVER?
Probably not.  We hold loosely to our staffing structure, because we know that as a growing, multi-site church, we will need to make staffing adjustments along the way.   We believe this is the best way for us to resource our campuses right now
One thing that will not change is our commitment to helping to change the worldview of the next generation.  We believe that our new structure will help us do that more effectively.  Please join me in welcoming our new Next Gen Directors!  

(Left to right)  Andi Miles, Jodi Blemker, Zach Below