Want to Grow Your NextGen Ministry? You Don’t Have to Do It Alone.

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Let’s be real—ministry isn’t getting any easier.

Between recruiting volunteers, leading teams, planning events, managing curriculum, and keeping your own family afloat, it’s no wonder so many NextGen and Family Ministry leaders feel stretched thin.

But here’s the good news:
You don’t have to lead alone.

👋 Welcome to NextGenLeaderLab.com
This isn’t just a resource site. It’s an online coaching community created by ministry leaders for ministry leaders—led by yours truly, Jim Wideman, a pastor and coach who’s been in your shoes for nearly five decades.

At NextGen Leader Lab, you’ll find:

✅ Weekly mentoring articles on real-life leadership issues
✅ Live Q&A sessions where you can ask anything
✅ Downloadable tools you can use today
✅ A private community of leaders who get it
✅ Real-time coaching from someone who’s done it (and is still doing it)

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Why the Lab Works

I’ve spent almost 50 years leading in churches big and small, and coaching hundreds of NextGen leaders. What I’ve learned is this: leaders grow better in community.

The Lab is where:
• New leaders get equipped and encouraged
• Veteran leaders stay sharp and refreshed
• And everyone learns how to lead well and last long

This isn’t about theory—it’s about practical ministry help you can use every week.

Who It’s For:
• Children’s Pastors
• NextGen or Family Ministry Pastors
• Youth Pastors stepping into oversight roles
• New leaders who want to build right
• Veteran leaders who want to finish strong

Let’s Build Something That Lasts—Together

There’s no magic wand in ministry. But there is a better way to grow—and it starts with coaching, community, and a commitment to keep learning.

👉 Click here to join the Lab today »

You’ll get instant access to resources, replays, and a tribe of leaders who’ve got your back.

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The Job, The Call, and the Kids We’re Hiring (AKA Millennials & Gen Z)

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Let me start by saying—I love working with younger generations. They keep me on my toes, teach me new words (like “rizz” and “delulu”), and make me Google acronyms just to stay in the conversation. But if you’ve ever led a team made up of Millennials and Gen Z, you’ve probably noticed something: they don’t think like we did when we were starting out in ministry. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing—it just means we’ve got to lead differently to get the values we want to instill in this new multigenerational workspace.

So let’s talk about three big ministry concepts: The Job, The Call, and The Crew You’re Doing It With.

1. The Job: What You’re Paid to Do

Back in the day, “the job” meant whatever needed to be done—no job descriptions, just expectations. You mowed the church lawn on Saturday and preached in Kidmin on Sunday. You got paid in pizza, donated expired food and “eternal rewards.”

But today’s young leaders? They’ve read the job description. They’ve highlighted it. They’ve probably sent you an email with a couple clarifying questions. If I can be honest I have a love/hate relationship with it, It shows they care about clarity and boundaries. Something my generation struggled with and have regrets over. Millennials and Gen Z aren’t lazy—they’re just not gonna say yes to “Empty Cup Syndrome” with a smile and a “bless your heart.” And honestly? Good for them.

How to lead them well:
Be clear. Be consistent. And make sure their job aligns with their strengths. Don’t hire a worship leader and ask them to design the graphics and social media just because they’re young unless you know they love Canva.

2. The Call: What You’re Born to Do

The call is bigger than the job. The call is why you cried at youth camp and surrendered your life to ministry—even though you didn’t fully understand what that meant. It’s that thing deep down in your soul that says, “I was made for this.”

Here’s the challenge: younger generations are passionate about purpose, but they don’t always see ministry as the only place to fulfill it. They might feel just as called to start a nonprofit, launch a podcast, or make Kingdom impact on TikTok. (Yes, even TikTok.)

How to lead them well:
Help them connect the dots between their calling and the local church. Show them how ministry isn’t just on the stage—it’s in the setup, the team huddle, the text you send on a Tuesday. And remind them that calling often looks like faithfulness over time, not viral moments.

3. The Crew: Working With Millennials & Gen Z

Here’s the thing—every generation is weird. (Even ours, Boomer. Especially ours.) We grew up on cassette tapes and Sunday night church. (Some of us on record players and tent crusades) They grew up on YouTube, Spotify, and asking why before they say yes. They’ve never lived without a Drive-Thru Window and a microwave. They are used to instant results. But instead of complaining about the “kids these days,” what if we started learning from them?

Millennials are loyal when they’re led well. Gen Z is creative, quick, and can build a sermon slide deck in less time than it takes us to find the remote. They want mentorship, feedback, and a voice at the table. They just don’t want to do it “because that’s how we’ve always done it.”

How to lead them well:
Be relational. Invest in their growth. Give them room to innovate—and yes, to fail. If you create a culture where questions are welcomed and growth is expected, you’ll build a team that’s more than staff—they’ll become your legacy.

The job may change as well as how it’s done. The generations will keep on coming. But the call to lead and disciple never goes out of style. So let’s keep showing up, keep learning, and keep making room at the table for the next wave of leaders—even if they show up with cold brew and a ring light. Leaders who stay teachable and adaptable don’t just make a difference—they leave a legacy that outlives them!

Because at the end of the day…
The job is what you do.
The call is why you do it.
And the team? They’re who you get to do it with.

Let’s lead them well—and maybe learn a few new dance moves while we’re at it.

If you’d like to learn more from someone old enough to remember flannel boards, yet young enough to send emojis 🎯🚀 join my NextGenLeaderLab.com

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Fun is Not the Goal: Why Our Kids Need God’s Power, Not Just Pizza

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Let’s talk about church for a second—specifically, kids at church. Somewhere along the way, we started believing that if church isn’t a non-stop carnival for kids, they’ll peace out the minute they turn 13. So we build ball pits, pass out donuts like party favors, and give away iPads at big events just to keep them coming back.

Now, don’t get me wrong—I’m not anti-fun. I love a good snack table and some loud worship songs with hand motions that double as cardio. But if all we’re offering our kids is a sugar high and a memory verse with glitter on it, we’re selling them short. Way short.

Because here’s the deal: our kids don’t just need to be entertained—they need to encounter God. For real.

They need to feel His presence. They need to experience His power. They need to know that when they pray, heaven hears. That when they worship, something shifts. That when they invite Jesus in, He shows up. That’s not religious hype. That’s reality—and they’re hungry for it.

You know what actually changes a kid’s life? Not a bounce house. It’s the moment they hear God speak to them for the first time. It’s when they feel Holy Spirit so strongly they can’t stop crying—and they don’t even know why. It’s when they pray for their friend’s broken arm and it gets healed. That’s the kind of stuff they’ll never forget.

Fun wears off. Encounters with God stick.

I’ve seen kids fall on their knees in worship, completely undone by the love of Jesus. I’ve watched kids lay hands on each other and pray with fire that could melt steel. I’ve heard them speak in tongues, get words of knowledge, and see visions. That’s not “junior” Holy Spirit. That’s the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead—working through an 8-year-old who hasn’t even finished their math homework.

So yes, let’s keep things fun. Let’s make church a place kids want to be. But let’s stop thinking fun is the goal.

If all they leave with is a smile and a prize, but not the presence of God, we’ve missed the whole point.

Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t just know about God—but knows Him personally. Kids who don’t just sing songs, but actually worship. Kids who don’t just sit through a Bible story, but feel the Author speaking to them through it. Kids who know what it means to carry His presence into their schools, their sports teams, their homes.

Because the world doesn’t need more well-behaved, churched-up kids. It needs kids who walk in power. Kids who carry the presence of God like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Let’s be the ones who show them that’s possible.

Want to know more? Connect with me & like minded NextGen leaders at NextGenLeaderLab.com

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Why You NEED to Join Jim Wideman’s NextGen Leader Lab

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Ministry Leadership is Tough—But You Don’t Have to Do It Alone!

Let’s be real: leading in kids, youth, or family ministry can feel like juggling flaming dodgeballs while riding a unicycle. (Sound familiar?) You’ve got volunteers to manage, parents to support, kids to engage, and let’s not even talk about planning that next big event!

Enter: Jim Wideman’s NextGen Leader Lab!

This isn’t just another leadership course where you take notes, get overwhelmed, and do nothing with it. This is hands-on, real-world coaching from one of the best in the biz—a guy who’s been in ministry for decades, made the mistakes, learned the lessons, and is now handing you the playbook for success.

Why You’ll Love NextGen Leader Lab

✅ Jim’s Been There, Done That – You get to learn from someone who’s seen everything in ministry and knows what actually works (and what doesn’t).

✅ Practical, No-Fluff Leadership Coaching – This isn’t theory—it’s real strategies that help you lead better right now.

✅ A Community That Gets You – No more feeling like you’re on an island! You’ll be surrounded by other NextGen leaders who totally understand your wins, struggles, and the endless search for enough goldfish crackers.

✅ Laugh While You Learn – Jim’s teaching is packed with wisdom, experience, and plenty of dad jokes—so come ready to grow and have fun!

✅ Take What You Learn & Actually Use It – You’ll walk away with actionable steps to make an immediate impact in your ministry (instead of another notebook full of good ideas that never happen).

Who Is This For?

🚀 Kids Ministry Leaders
🚀 Youth & NextGen Pastors
🚀 Family Ministry Directors
🚀 Anyone Leading the Next Generation (and trying not to lose their mind)

Are You Ready to Level Up?

If you’re tired of figuring things out the hard way, this is your chance to learn from some of the best and lead with
🎉 SIGN UP NOW and start leading with more impact (and less stress)!

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There’s A Brand New Jim Wideman Book Available Now!

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Over thirty years ago, I began a journey that I’m still on today—a quest to move past “live well and do well” and to actually “lead well.” After fifteen years on the job trying to do my best and working hard, I realized there was more needed than just hard work, or even smart work for that matter. I realized true authentic leadership doesn’t come from a position or even a title; it comes from who you are, as well as, from who you are becoming. It comes from the inside out, and it is not a one-time choice; instead, it is the result of a daily choice to say yes to all of Jesus’ invitations.

One of the good things that came out of the shut down of 2020 for me is that my first book (Children’s Ministry Leadership “The-You-Can-Do-It-Guide”) that I  published more than twenty years ago, the rights, came back to me. Hallelujah! My idea was to read through it and make some updates and self-publish it and make an updated version of this popular book that has served as a textbook on Children’s Ministry Leadership for many colleges and seminaries.

As I started reading the book I realize more than the information inside had changed in twenty years. I had changed! In fact, I realized quick that I am not the same person I was when I wrote it the first time. I don’t think in the same ways, I don’t lead the same way. Although I am still involved in Children’s Ministry, my role had totally changed.  As the Executive Operations Pastor at my church. I mow oversee the finances, the data base, the facilities, HR, legal, security, guest services and car park, as well as Children’s Ministries. I have known from consulting and coaching with churches of all sizes, that the principles of leadership I live and teach work in every area of church ministry not just Children’s Ministry. 

That’s why, this is not the same book. I ended up not updated old material but totally re-writing the book from a whole different viewpoint and perspective as well as as over forty five years of hands-on experience.  What a wonderful opportunity I’ve been given to have a second chance to add, to take away, and to make the changes that I’ve wanted to make for years, as I have coached and taught through this material over the last twenty years.

I hope that wherever you are on your leadership journey that you’ll listen to Holy Spirit and apply what He will be speaking to you through this new book. We all have been called to be learners, and Jesus is not done leading us and showing us what He wants us to know and become, no matter what area of ministry you are currently leading.

I am so excited to announce beginning  October 5th, 2021 my new book “Authentic Leadership That Lasts” will be available for purchase. Right now you can pre-order it here at jimwideman.com  and be one of the first to receive it. I’ll also include a free digital copy as well for ordering from me. So follow the link and order your copy today! If you’d like to purchase multiple copies, reach out for quantity discounts. This new book is filled with gold, so get ready to dig.

 

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