Ep 219 - Developing A Discipleship Roadmap from Birth to Graduation w/ Lauren Brown and Jeff Borton

The episode begins with an overview of the 'rethink framework' for next-gen ministries, focusing on the importance of intentional discipleship from birth through college. The hosts review last week’s discussion on five major shifts needed for future ministries and introduce the acronym RETHINK. These letters stand for Transformative, Home-empowered, Interconnected, Nurtured partnerships, Kid-centric learning, highlighting core principles for effective ministry. The speakers emphasize that these shifts aim to shape a holistic, interconnected approach that involves both church and family in disciple-making, setting the tone for the rest of the episode.

Jeff shares insights from a major reorganization at Long Hollow involving two large departments—kids and students—that had been somewhat siloed. He explains that the shift was driven by a desire for unity and shared purpose, resulting in redefined staff roles and a common disciple model called 'MARX'—which outlines key traits like accountability, reproduction, community, and scriptural focus. Jeff stresses that regardless of staff size, focus and collaboration are essential. The goal was to see these ministries as one team fighting for the same family and disciple-making purpose, which has fostered better collaboration and a holistic perspective among staff.

Lauren Brown discusses the risks when children's and students' ministries operate independently—chiefly, the potential loss of families during ministry transitions. She underscores the importance of leadership community and shared language, encouraging partnerships between different age groups even beyond formal integration. Lauren advocates for ministries to involve staff and volunteers in each other’s events, which creates better understanding and unity. Jeff adds that even simple steps like regular communication and sharing resources can significantly improve family handoffs, and he humorously acknowledges the idealized open communication with email open rates as a playful benchmark.

Lauren highlights how adult learning styles fail to serve children and students, stressing the need for developmentally appropriate teaching methods based on age, stage, and how kids learn best. She suggests fun, sensory-rich environments and interactive teaching—like breakout sessions and WOW moments involving smells or movement—to engage children effectively. Jeff affirms these ideas by sharing how they adapt their ministry activities to meet age-specific needs, especially for middle schoolers who benefit from brief, interactive, and question-driven sessions. They emphasize that understanding developmental stages is critical to nurturing lifelong followers of Christ.

Jeff explains the concept of a 'roadmap,' also called a taxonomy, which maps out developmental stages from birth through high school. It includes core questions students face at each stage, the biblical answers, and disciple traits like being accountable or missional—summarized under the acronym MAR. The roadmap also celebrates milestones, such as child dedication or graduation, as opportunities to connect families and affirm progress. Lauren describes her church's 'Brookwood Blueprints,' developed with input from parents, detailing specific programs and milestones for each life stage, ensuring coordinated, intentional discipleship. Both leaders emphasize that this roadmap provides clarity, accountability, and reassurance to parents and staff while guiding long-term disciple development.

The speakers acknowledge that creating a comprehensive roadmap is a multi-year process that requires patience and iteration. Jeff advises not to rush but to involve families and volunteers early to ensure the plan fits the church’s context. They stress the importance of listening, tweaking, and gradually implementing the roadmap, emphasizing long-term commitment. Lauren adds that starting small or with a simplified version—focusing on understanding stages, milestones, and parent partnership—can be effective. The guidance encourages churches not to be daunted by the scope but to begin with a clear focus and build from there.

When asked how a leader with limited staff or resources can move toward a more interconnected approach, Jeff recommends engaging key volunteers across ministries who are invested in the discipleship process. Lauren suggests focusing on understanding the developmental needs of the particular age group served—what they need to learn at each stage—and partnering with parents accordingly. Both emphasize that heart and attitude—doing what they can with available resources—are more important than structural perfection. They advocate for small, intentional steps toward collaboration and family support, fostering a culture of unity and shared purpose even without full organizational integration.