J12 - The Concept

American children are continually being forced to grow up more quickly. Kids ages 8-12 are spending more money, are more technologically savvy, and are facing heavier issues than their older siblings did at these ages. They dictate the course of culture as advertisers ruthlessly market them and their discretionary dollars.

In short, they are a target. They’re such a target, in fact, that advertisers have already created a label for them; tween-agers, or tweens. Stuck between childhood and adolescence, tweens are straddling the line of innocence, too old for puppets, but too young for the frank discussions of teen ministry.

In the past, youth ministry has focused on teenagers, especially those who are already in trouble and in need of rescuing. Jesus at 12 is obsessed with reaching them before they need to be rescued, delivering the message of holiness and purpose during the ever-important hinge years of the life, the ages of 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

Did you know God was twelve? In fact, the only story in the Bible that references Jesus’ childhood is found in Luke 2:41-52. After fulfilling their Passover obligations in Jerusalem, Mary, Joseph and their traveling companions begin their long journey home. After a day of travel, they realize Jesus isn’t with them; frantic, they hurry back to the city to find him.

A bit of searching yields results – Jesus is in the temple listening to the teachers and asking them questions. Mary asks Him why He stayed behind, He replies, “...I must be about My Father’s business.”

These seven words have within them the DNA to change a generation of tweens. The seven words of Jesus are the foundation of J12.

J12 - The Encounter

From a tween’s perspective, the J12 Encounter is like nothing they’ve ever seen. Exciting, physical, eye-popping, and endlessly inventive, the J12 Encounter is a 2-hour multimedia ministry event designed to hammer home the seven words Jesus spoke at the age of 12, encouraging kids to live out those words in their own lives. Each Encounter ends with a special ceremony of prayer and impartation, focusing kids on the seven words and their destiny in life.

Through the eyes of a parent, the J12 Encounter is nothing short of a Godsend. The J12 Encounter isn’t for tweens alone; it’s also for parents. Parents and kids- what a concept! As the Encounter unfolds, parents become increasingly thankful that someone has taken the time to articulate what they would all love to see their kids walk in during their early years.

And it’s all aimed at helping both parents and kids walk away with the confidence of knowing a meaningful walk with Christ, is achievable at even a young, pre-teen age. Each child leaves knowing they’re in the hinge years of their life, and that the decisions they make now will dramatically alter the course of their life. They can live holy lives. They can have more fun with their Savior than with sin. They can be about their Father’s business. They must.