Let me say this–I LOVE working with teenagers!
It makes me so angry when I hear someone say, “We need to really reach out to our youth–they are the church of tomorrow!”
They are the church of TODAY!
They matter TODAY!
They have struggles TODAY!
They need Jesus TODAY!
And if we don’t reach them TODAY then we may WILL lose them tomorrow!
A recent statistic I read sent chills up my spine–it said that out of all of the teenagers in America today, only around 4% of them will graduate high school with a relationship with Jesus Christ! Hello Houston, we have a problem! FOUR PERCENT!
That is why I believe that one of the greatest mission fields that exists in America today is the teenage population!!! If we don’t reach our teenagers…well…you just THINK America has problems now–wait until a generation who doesn’t know God takes the reigns of leadership!
And that is why we need dedicated leaders to take a chance and lead
You might not be able to preach, teach, or sing–but you can be there for a teen and model who Jesus –THAT is what they need.
They don’t need you to have all the answers to every question
They don’t need you to have a solution to every problem
They don’t need your to give them a christian shoulder rub and sing I can only imagine in Spanish to them
THEY NEED YOU.
You to be there
You to care
You to Listen
You to feel their hurt
You to understand that they don’t have it all together (and for them to know you don’t as well)
THEY NEED REAL PEOPLE, Who Love God, Love Them period.
It blows my mind how many teenagers are not dropping out of church because the church lacks the resources to reach them–
They are dropping out of church because, frankly, many adults in the church do not care and would rather spend time condemning their behavior rather than seeking to reach them!
So I ask you again,,,,
Will you lead the leaders of today and shape tomorrow?
Remember……Romans 15:13, “May the God of all hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”