For the past five years, the North American Division (NAD) has tackled a growing pastor and teacher shortage caused by retirements, resignations, and fewer graduates entering those fields. Solutions such as improved educator remuneration and pastoral recruitment have been discussed at the NAD Year-End Meeting and student leader advisories. NAD leaders have increasingly sought to introduce young people to ministry opportunities and empower those feeling called to church work at major division events.

The 2019 Chosen International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, saw the launch of the NAD Ministerial Association “NextGen” initiative, featuring a social event for young people interested in pastoral ministry. One thousand attended.

At the 2024 camporee, held August 5-10, 2024, in Gillette, Wyoming, several NAD departments hosted booths designed to engage children, youth, and young adults interested in serving the church in different capacities. These included the Office of Volunteer Ministries (OVM), NAD Leadership, NAD Ministerial Association, NAD Adventist Camps (under Youth and Young Adult Ministries), and NAD Adventist Education, which had its own exhibit hall.

Visitors to all five booths could collect a complete set of patches for NextGen missionaries, leaders, pastors, teachers, and camp staff, each with activities and challenges related to that ministry area. For instance, NextGen Missionaries received three stickers daily — one to keep and two to trade with someone new while sharing that Jesus loves them. Gladys Guerrero, OVM tutoring and mentoring coordinator, noted, “Most of the kids who came today said, ‘I did my assignment yesterday. Can I get [the sticker] today?’” Some even asked for more than three stickers. 

The booths also provided ministry resources, including details on a free virtual mentorship certification trainingscheduled for September 15, 2024, and leadership books from NAD Leadership; links to volunteer opportunities; and information about ministry options in education, camps, churches, and other Adventist entities.

Jose Cortes, NAD Ministerial Association associate director, reported that between noon on Tuesday, August 6, and 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, the ministerial team distributed 5,000 NextGen Pastor t-shirts and 12,000 pins. Clubs also engaged in 360 photo and video booths.

“But most important were the conversations and prayers we were able to share with teens and children who feel that God is calling them to ministry, the divine appointments,” said Cortes. 

He continued, “A young girl passed by, and as she received the shirt and the pin we gave her, she said, ‘I am actually here because I would like to be a NextGen Pastor.’” Per Cortes, she was one of many young people they spoke to who are either contemplating pastoral ministry or are already enrolled in a theology program at an Adventist university. 

Cortes concluded, “We wanted Pathfinders to know that we are looking for NextGen pastors, a new generation of youth, who are willing to say, “Speak God … I am listening.”

Further Information

Scholarships: Since 2022, Walla Walla University has been offering free tuition for aspiring pastors and teachers through NextGen scholarships, with other schools considering similar initiatives. 

The original article was published on the North American Division website.