The Next Generation at New Covenant

Written By John Gilstrap

A NOTE FROM JOHN GILSTRAP, DIRECTOR OF NEXT GEN MINISTRIES

If you’ve ever spent time in our NC Café, you’ve likely caught a glimpse of our Next Generation Ministries. It’s hard to miss the NC Kids building with its indoor treehouse and giant slide! You’ve probably also seen middle and high school students hanging out in the Café, the gym, or the Commons — our student space. And if you’ve been especially fortunate, you may have witnessed the laughter, worship, and deep conversations about faith in Jesus that happen every week.

Our heart in Next Gen is simple: to see every baby, toddler, child, and student come to know Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and very best friend. The exciting thing is—we see it happening! We see it in our programs as kids and students hear about Jesus and say “yes” to following Him. We see it through our faithful leaders who show up each week to share their love for Christ. And we see it through the generous support of our New Covenant family. It’s clear that God is doing something truly special in our church for the next generation!

 

Celebrating What God Has Done

As our Next Gen team reflects on the past couple of years, we can’t help but celebrate all that God has done. Here are just a few highlights worth rejoicing over:

  • 2024 brought growth for NC Students! We launched separate ministries for Middle School and High School students, allowing us to better care for each age group and create more intentional discipleship environments. This transition also allowed us to welcome Cody Blair as our full-time Middle School Director, joining Jonah Grisham, our High School Director.

  • We launched NC 45, a brand-new Sunday morning program for 4th and 5th graders. This ministry creates a space just for preteens — helping them transition toward middle school through age-appropriate teaching and community. If you were served communion by a young person this past Sunday, you’ve seen NC 45 in action!

  • Our NC Kids team grew! In August, Aimee Kester joined as Associate Kids Director, partnering with Cristina Hughes, our Kids Director. Together, they’re strengthening ministry to both our NC Littles (birth through preschool) and our Midweek Adventure program.

  • In 2025, we celebrated 13 baptisms — kids and students publicly declaring their faith in Jesus! We also engaged over 300 individual kids and students through weekly programs that challenge them to grow as followers of Christ.

  • VBS 2025 welcomed more than 300 children who heard the good news of Jesus and learned how to live out their faith. This incredible week was made possible by over 150 amazing volunteers!

  • NC Students went on mission! Our Middle School Ministry took 27 students on a local mission trip, partnering with Shiloh Camp, Restore OKC, and Skyline. Meanwhile, 14 High School students traveled internationally to serve at Casa Aleluya in Guatemala — a ministry that provides education, healing, and a home for children who’ve been abused or abandoned. Our students are truly living out what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

  • This fall, we launched Midweek Adventure, a new Wednesday night program for kids. In just a short time, over 60 kids have come to learn about Jesus through STEM experiments, art projects, theater, games, and small groups.

  • Our volunteer team is thriving! In 2025, over 140 people have served in Next Gen Ministries — including 104 regular NC Kids volunteers, 15 substitutes, and 24 adults serving weekly as NC Students small group leaders.

  • We’re diving deeper into God’s Word. Our kids’ curriculum is walking through the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Each month, kids and students memorize new verses, and families grow together through Bible Blast, a family Bible study designed to help parents lead their children spiritually.

  • Student leadership is growing! Fifteen middle school students meet weekly for Elevate, our student leadership team. They’re learning to live out Romans 12:9–13—genuinely loving others, honoring one another, serving with joy, and welcoming new faces. Their kindness, creativity, and Christlike leadership are shaping a culture of belonging across our student ministry.

  • Our facilities have expanded and improved! Thanks to the generosity of our church family, we renovated The Loft—our high school space—creating an incredible environment for students to connect and grow. We also upgraded technology in our Kids area, making it easier than ever to share the message of Jesus.

  • Our ministry spaces are growing! With more kids than ever, we’ve opened a sixth Sunday school room in our elementary area—and soon, a fourth room will open in NC Littles!

  • Coming in 2026: The First 365. This new initiative will walk alongside parents as they welcome their newborns into the life of our church. Beginning with prayer during pregnancy, families will receive meaningful check-ins, gifts, and resources throughout their baby’s first year. Our goal is to celebrate milestones and nurture spiritual connection from the very beginning.

 

Looking Ahead with Gratitude

As we celebrate all that’s happening in our Next Generation Ministries, we’re reminded of two important truths:

First, God is so good. None of this could have happened without His grace, power, and faithfulness. Every story of growth and transformation is a reflection of His work among us, and we give him all the praise!

Second, our New Covenant family is incredible. Your prayers, your service, your giving, and your encouragement make all the difference. You are helping to pass on the story of Jesus to those who will lead, serve, and share His love in the future.

On behalf of the entire Next Gen Team — thank you for believing in this mission, for investing in our kids and students, and for helping shape a generation that knows and follows Jesus.

John Gilstrap