Marking The Next Generation

I am still reeling from how incredible it was to hear about all the life change that is taking place in our students at NewLife. As each one of them shared about what God was doing in their life through the experience that they had a camp I couldn't help but think how can I get involved in their lives to help them process and move forward in the journey that they are in.

Laura...one of our student pastors gave us some great insight on some different levels of how we can get involved. I pray that you'll choose to get invovled...here's what she had to say:

Simple: Pray, Pray, Pray! Pray not only for your kids, but for all of our amazing teens in our student ministry, pray that they stay strong to the call that God has on their lives, pray that they not give into the temptation to fall back into familiar patterns at school, pray that they would be bold in their witness for Christ, pray that they would start a movement of purity and holiness in an environment where that is unheard of and even laughed at. Pray for the schools that our kids attend (Central High School, Timber Creek, Fossil Ridge, Kell High, Glenview Christian....) Pray that the students would have a strong hunger for the Word of God. Pray that their daily walk and relationship with Christ would remain fascinating to them. Like I said, PRAY!

Semi-Simple: Engage with them! Whenever you see anyone at all from this generation, prove to them that our generation hasn't given up on them. Be encouraging, ask them what they are reading in their bible, tell them about your walk with Christ, tell them what you are currently struggling with, ask them to pray for you right then and right there. Don't let what God has done in them slip away from them. They are supposed to be the immature ones, but we are not! We have got to step up and fight with our words and our actions. Show them that they are important to you by talking to them. They may seem skeptical at first, but once you prove to them that you are really listening, they will be putty in your hands.

Not so simple: Really step up to the plate by volunteering your most precious commodity: your time. Show up to our student services and activities. Just simply be there. Our services on Wednesdays bring a lot of painful subjects to the surface, be there as a shoulder to cry on. It's ok if you don't have all the answers for them, most of them just want to be heard, (and even if you did have the answers they will probably try it their way first!) Get to know the kids and become a part of their lives. You won't regret it!

Not even a little-bit simple: Take on a mentoring role with one of our students. Agree with them to meet once a week for a coffee (for you, a monster for them.) Hold them accountable, be their sounding board for advice. Pray for them in front of them so they learn how to pray, let them pray for you, its great practice. Talk about where you are at in your bible and what you gleam from it so that they can learn how to find life inside the pages. Tell them you are proud of the person they are becoming. Help them through the rejection and hard times. Live your roller coaster life in front of them so that they know that when tough times come that if they endure they will find joy in Christ!

I pray that you'll pick a way to get involved. This is our time to leave a mark on the next generation!