What is J12?

Jesus at 12

For ages 8-12

Sunday mornings 8:30 AM and 10:30 PM

REACHING A GENERATION BEFORE THEY NEED TO BE RESCUED

We know very little about Jesus between birth and thirty years of age, except for when He was twelve. At age twelve Jesus said "I must be about my Father's business". We believe that these seven words can be the passion and life style of this next generation, not as adults, not at 21 but at 12. Marketers are investing millions to influence kids between 8-12 years of age. We call them "Tweens" kids who are not quite children and not quite teens. They are too old for children's ministry but not quite old enough for youth ministry. We are being deliberate about engaging this unique age group in order to reach them now instead of rescuing them when they are 21.

If we are going to raise a generation that is "about the Fathers business" then that means we too must be serious and deliberate about what we do now in the lives of children. What does it mean to live a life that says "I must be about my Father's business"? It means; they embrace Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, just as Jesus embraced His own purpose and life mission, accept the Bible as truth and a personal guide for their life, and seek to be obedient to its principles and search it as a way to deepen their relationship with God. We believe that kids who live the 7 words of Jesus live in ways that is noticeably different from the norm—even when compared to the average churchgoer.

We believe that J12 is not just a model for kids to live when they reach maturity, but it's a model of how they can live now. Imagine a generation of kids equipped at such a young age whose decision making process is shaped by biblical principles not just as good lessons but absolute truths, and understand the consequences if compromised, but also understand the possibilities if they are lived out as they serve God. Kids who say "I must" live a life that reflects the character of God, and will invest large amounts of time and resources into God centered activity, they will carefully screen the media they ingest, and will openly display an intense commitment to their relationship with God and others and will on a daily basis strive to change the world in life impacting ways.