Let Youth Be Served (and Serve)
If I were to tell you that I had discovered the key to the fountain of youth, would you believe me? Probably not!
If I were to tell you that I had discovered the key to the future of the church, would I be any more believable? Maybe?
Well, I am inviting you to test both hypotheses this Sunday when our fledgling Youth Group leads our service, and our youth coordinator, J.J. Cline, brings forth the message.
Our numbers are still small, but we are making progress. Those who will be participating this Sunday are excited (and maybe a little nervous, too). They are looking forward to what we believe will be an uplifting and inspirational service, and we know that you will be very supportive, encouraging, and understanding if everything doesn’t go exactly as planned.
It’s no secret that young people are the key to future success in any organization. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the church because let’s face it, if we have no young people, we have no future, and if we have no future, what happens to all the seekers of generations to come. Where will they go for assurance and enlightenment? Where will they go to experience the Spirit of God and the wisdom of His Holy Word?
Scripture makes numerous references to young people, but not a great deal about youth leadership. We feel it is important for our young people to be servant leaders to attract and engage other young people so that the church can grow and prosper.
Will it be easy? No, not at all. Will it be possible? Absolutely, if we all work together to make it happen.
Isaiah 11 foreshadows the birth of the Messiah, who, as we all know, came into this world as a child, “with the Spirit of the Lord resting on him in the form of wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord.”
There is, of course, only one Savior, but is it too much of a stretch to think that our young people can follow in the footsteps of the Lord with “righteousness as their belt and faithfulness as the sash around their waist?” Is it possible that our young people can foster tranquility in which we can overcome our differences, set aside our conflicts, and live in peace?
I sure hope so! In fact, I’m counting on it. Besides, what do we have to lose when compared to all that we have to gain? Perhaps our young people can be the catalyst for change, the stimulus for transformation, the basis for hope, the foundation for peace.
Join us this Sunday, not only to participate, but also to support our young people and to be a witness as we plant the seeds for the future of our church.
Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John