Why are gender-specific ministries important when ministering to children? That was a question addressed by members from the GBB (Grace Brethren Boys) National Board and the National SMM (Serving My Master) Cabinet as they met on April 12, 2008, to discuss their respective ministries.
GBB is a ministry of men mentoring boys, while SMM is a ministry of women mentoring girls. Both organizations are affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.
Rob Gable, director of boys’ ministry for GBB, and Viki Rife, director of girls’ ministries for Women of Grace USA, realized their ministries had common challenges and opportunities. One concern is the reduction in the number of children, families, and young adults involved in church. They feel that children are pulled in many directions, and on many fronts the church is losing the battle for the chance to influence its own children, let alone the children in their communities.
Both groups have been evaluating why they have chosen gender-specific avenues of ministering to children. They agreed on a number of points. One is that, despite the secular world’s efforts to deny it, there is still strong evidence that girls and boys are different. Men and women were created to complete each other by contributing unique characteristics to the family and to society in general. Therefore, it’s important to meet each gender in their areas of interest when they are young. Girls, for example, want to interact and chat together, while boys like to have adventure, excitement, and a degree of competition.
The group also discussed studies that have shown that children develop their values and beliefs at an early age. These studies show that by age two the foundations of a child’s understanding of who God is are being laid, provided they have someone in their life who speaks of God. By age nine their moral foundations are developed, and by age 13 they have usually decided what they believe. Cults and political ideologies know that the best way to gain followers is to target the young.
Children need to learn to have meaningful relationships with each other and with Christ. The best way to learn is by having close relationships with their parents and other adults. Many young people today don’t know how to preserve their relationships because they’ve not seen it modeled; therefore, often even those with the best intentions end up divorced, abandoning their children or even their faith because they don’t know how to handle the day-to-day “bumps” of life.
The foundations laid for our children now will determine the kind of spouses, parents, and spiritual influencers the next generation will be. So what does gender have to do with it?
The group responded with a logical answer. Who has the best influence on a boy? Godly men, preferably including his father, who will teach him and model what it is to be a man of God. The same is true for girls; they need to have godly women who will properly teach and model those qualities that will influence them to become women of God.
Simply put, men are not the best equipped to teach girls and women are not the best equipped to teach boys. There are distinct biblical differences between the responsibilities of men and women. Boys and girls need to be taught these differences at a very young age and have good relationships with gender models to influence them through their teenage years.
This is why GBB and SMM have committed to continue to offer gender-specific ministries to the Fellowship. Pray for these leaders and keep your eyes open for new things coming from GBB and SMM in the future.
If you would like to know more about GBB or SMM please contact either Rob Gable or Viki Rife using the information below:
Rob Gable
GBB National
Phone (330) 464-8185
Rgable1357@neo.rr.com
Viki Rife
National SMM
Phone (574) 267-4252
smm@wgusa.org