A Vision for the Next Generation

It was during a time of prayer and fasting in January 2023 when I experienced a vision that shook me to the core. While journaling, the words NEXT GENERATION appeared before my eyes. All caps. Bold. White. Sans serif. “NEXT” centered directly above “GENERATION.” I blinked and looked away, but it lingered, etched in my heart as if God Himself had written it on the walls.

This wasn’t the first time I had seen a word so vividly. The first was “ REST,” revealed months earlier during a Sunday service when a guest pastor asked us to pause and invite the Holy Spirit to speak before he began preaching. Looking back, I realize that the word "REST" prepared me. Teaching me to slow down, to lean on God’s strength instead of my own. And now, here was a second word, calling me deeper, pointing me toward something beyond myself.

At the time, I had already been serving in Kid’s Church for almost four years. It began back in late 2018, long before I was even a regular at Sunday services. I only stepped in to help my sister, who was the main teacher. I thought I was just lending a hand; assisting with crafts, tech, and just being part of the ministry. But God was preparing me. What I thought was routine service was actually training ground: a way of transmitting His works to the next generation.

Looking back, I can see how God quietly guided my steps. When the pandemic closed down churches, He opened a new path through a church biking community. That community eventually brought me into Sunday services when lockdown was lifted and gatherings resumed. And later, in November 2023, I was baptized as a born-again Christian — another step on the road God was weaving together, preparing me to declare His mighty acts to the NEXT GENERATION (Psalm 145:4).

I’ve realized God often plants seeds long before we see what they’re meant to grow into. He doesn’t hand us the whole picture. Instead, He gives us a word, a vision, a spark — enough light for the next step. For me, that spark was NEXT GENERATION. It’s a mission to stand in the gap, to help bridge one generation to the next, so that His story continues to be told.

Of course, this mission isn’t without its challenges. Some days, the kids seem caught up in their own worlds, more excited about crafts or playtime than the lesson itself. It can feel like my words drift off, unheard. But God reminds me: I am the sower, not the grower. My role is to plant seeds. His role is to water them in His perfect timing. Faith means trusting that unseen growth is happening, even when I can’t measure it.

Playtime is a vital part of engaging with kids, but we must walk a fine line between being a playmate and a teacher. Through play, children are not only entertained but also shaped—learning patience, teamwork, and the art of listening. While we instill fun and joy, we also carry the responsibility to gently guide them, helping transform games into lessons in grace. This brings to mind the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:2, where He calls us to have a childlike faith. Childlike carries a beautiful sense of innocent curiosity, humility, and trust. It's a world away from being childish, which is marked by immaturity, selfishness, and a tendency to stir up division—the very opposite of the grace we are called to embody. Our role as teachers is to encourage the former and lovingly correct the latter, helping them build a faith that is both joyful and deeply rooted.

And then I remember—I, too, am the result of seeds planted long ago. As a child, I attended both Catholic Sunday School in Manila and Baptist Sunday School in my small provincial hometown. I can’t recall much of the lessons, but I do remember looking forward to craft time and drawing contests, to the little sparks of joy tied to those moments. This is why I believe so strongly that our approach must change. We need to shift our mindset from "Kid's Church" to the "Future of the Church." The children are not just an afterthought or a side project for the main campus; they are the future foundation upon which our faith will stand for generations to come. The lessons we teach aren't just for later in life; they are the building blocks of their present. This initial investment is what prepares them for the next stage on the campuses and beyond. It took decades for the seeds planted in my own childhood to grow, and that journey is a testament to the power of investing in them from the very beginning.

Now, as I teach kids, I see how God flips the roles. We adults think we’re the teachers, but children have a way of humbling us. Their honesty, their curiosity, their simple faith — they often reveal truths we’ve overlooked. Sometimes, the smallest voices carry the biggest lessons. And in those moments, I’m reminded: God is the true Teacher.

In my upcoming blog entries, I’ll share some of those lessons from the kids at Kid’s Church: moments that have reshaped how I see faith, how I approach storytelling, and how I recognize God’s presence in the mundane.

✨ Reflection Question: What “seeds” are you planting today that future generations might one day harvest?