The Family Challenge
Red letter quotes:
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29
Truly I tell you, Jesus replied, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Mark 10:29-31
Truly I tell you, Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life. Luke 18:29-30
Read them all, but especially the section related to your age.
Ages 18-30
You are generally interested in contributing to a team with a clear direction. If you sense you are not part of a team and advancing in your career, you have the tendency to wander off towards entrepreneurship. You are willing to take the risk and uncertainty of the adventure of taking initiative. High values are discovery, innovation and drive.
You may appear to others to be a ME generation, often devoid of organizational loyalty. Actually, the ME value is fulfilled when there is a sense of being “WE.” Start the missions adventure, global or local, short-term or as a career by registering at MissionNext.
Ages 30-40
Yours is the first fully digital generation. A decade ago, your generation was seen as insecure, angst-ridden, underachievers and late bloomers. But now you have grown into a group of happy adults active and volunteering in their churches and communities. You are very involved with their kids and have high expectations of them. Got children? They are a great door-opener for special relationships. You are generally are satisfied your life, tending to not want to risk leaving their situation. But the Lord is giving you permission to be different. Discover options at MissionNext that will be compelling for you.
Ages 40-50
You are entering the disequilibrium of Halftime, that is halfway through your adult years. You look at the experience of your parents. But in your opinion, they did not transition well into retirement. They did little that was useful to make a difference. You do not want to be in that spot. You are willing to explore options, but generally not comfortable separating from your peers. You resonate less with the work of an organization, than with the causes they serve. You seek assurances that pursuing God’s dream for your life is better than the American dream. Learn how you can used at this life stage to have a significant impact. If you would serve in another nation, you discover your expertise extends to things you didn’t think you are good at. Start that discovery by registering at MissionNext.
Ages 50-60
In the middle of Halftime or Middlescence. This is the disequilibrium of family now finished, so life has changed. You find yourself at the top of your career and feeling intrinsically disappointed that this is all there is. You are wondering why success is not delivered all it promised and thinking about significance. You are surprised to discover you peers are thinking the same way. You are open to the challenge of moving on and may be one ask away. If married, you have to deal with satisfying the disparate interests of your spouse. But know in missions, there are satisfying options for both almost anywhere home or abroad with a time commitment that suits you. Start that journey at MissionNext to discover how you can be used to make a significant kingdom-difference.
Ages 60+
You are at or beyond the workplace exit door and looking for significance. But you have good health and sense you can make a contribution with your life skills. You have is a keen focus on grandchildren, but normally that is not occupy them fulltime. But you are asking. “How can I make a contribution with my life experience as long as my health holds up?” You will not be disappointed if you start a conversation as to how you can make a substantial contribution by registering at MissionNext.