Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:16-20
I believe that every Disciple here wants to be a missionary. If you look around within the fellowship, how many former paid and unpaid ministry leaders are there. How many missionaries to foreign lands are with in this fellowship? How many Bible talk, small group, house church, D-group, or niche ministry leaders are in here. How many former leaders of some sort are there? How many of us have dreams of being able to help plant a church either on the Western Slope, Wyoming, Eastern plains, Vail, La Junta, etc. We've all had a dream of some day working in an office of all Disciples, some of do. What has stopped us?
What if I told you I have been praying for a mission team to go out there help a select group of people. These men and women have heard the gospel. Some would say they posses the one true gift God ask us to keep with in our hearts. These people face the world and have to make some of the toughest decisions. On any given day, they have the world in their lap, ears and before their eyes. Some of the things they hear on a regular basis would make a sailor blush. They have some of the softest hearts to do great things, but they feel the pressure of their families to be stellar and sometimes forced to lead a double lives. They have hearts to learn, but get turned off by a being taught.
How many of your hearts are just yearning to help these people? What if I told you that you pass by these people on a regular basis. These people look at you day in and day out. Most of them you've known at some point in time. You've even talked to them and have asked them stop doing things you think may put them in danger? Who are these people? They are the members of the Teen Ministry.
It breaks my heart when I hear our great leadership group has asked someone to help serve as leaders in the teen ministry and the response is NO. Or, former teen leaders feel they are not getting the spiritual nurturing they need to get and step out before ensuring the ministry is in a better place. About a month ago, my wife and I were asked to pray about how we felt about being in the teens. Specifically, if we should step out and be a part of young marrieds ministry. To me, no question, we are staying in the teens, because this mission field needs us, and who else is coming to help. When I started dating, I was encouraged to approach the relationship as to building a relationship that will be better in the end no matter what the outcome is, and I feel that is why God had us become teen leaders.
Some of the amazing things I have found in being in the Teen/Youth Ministry:
- No matter what, you are relateable to everyone. The same struggles teens go through you are going through as well.
- Teens only want what is best for the outcome of their lives, and it's up to everyone involved to help them seen how God is working it all out.
- Teens reflect who you are spiritually
- It is a make it or break it ministry, either you make it or you break it, but you will never be broken by it.
- Parents or older marrieds are cool to hang out with, and have a great wealth of wisdom to help me see how I can be more soft hearted.
- Where else can you be that it is okay not to act your age.
- No matter how old you get as a teen leader, everyone around you stays the same age.
- A great teen ministry builds strong teens who move into campus and singles ministries to build spiritual fever and become future leaders for our churches world wide.
- Fellowship is sweeter when doughnuts are involved
When it comes to the Great Commission and the Teen Ministry, what have you done to help it build it? In my observation, I feel that we have become an independent ministry, which makes decisions and changes in a split second. There was a time when leaders were proud to serve in the this ministry, and it was treated a badge of honor to have spent time in the teens. I feel that former teen leaders dropped their relationships they had with some of these teens to pursue peer relationships. I ask, did you do the same thing to your peers?
As a more mature ministry, what can you do to help out this group? Maybe say hi to a teen and find out their name. If it looks like they are doing something wrong, share your input with them. If you feel motivated to help out more with the teens, say yes when some one asks you to help. If you are related to the teen ministry, stand up for your us and plead with the larger group to help protect the interests of families who might be torn between two conflicting ministry events. If you know a family has been missing out on coming to teen events, help us get the word out. My list goes on...
In reflection of the cross, what mission field do you want to be a part of? We all want to go out and plant churches, our church needs planting. We all want to see victories in the most challenging situations, a teenager now sees worldliness sooner than you did. We all would love to see a Jewish conversion. Our teens know the promises of God, as the Jews did, let's help them come to Jesus sooner. We all have our gifts, and we can use them to reach out to the teens. I ask you in the glow of the cross, how soft has your heart been to see even greater victories in Jesus.
