The Preacher's Pen

This issue of Abundant Life has become kind of a tradition around here. Each year we ask some of our young men to edit the August issue with a special emphasis on the concerns of young people. It is printed and ready on time for our Youth Lectures, which are always the first weekend in August. Jerry Drew and Scott Eversole worked together to put out what you now hold. It is a labor of love and frustration and fun and difficulty. As usual, our young men did a superb job.

It always makes me glad to see our young people developing into meaningful and substantial roles of service in God's kingdom. Paul was pleased at Timothy and Titus' development. Likewise, we take a kind of godly pride in seeing those we knew as little tykes become grown men and women who elect to serve God faithfully and fully. What can we do to encourage this process and keep it going? A few suggestions:

Tell a young person they are important to God today. It is easy for young people to begin to believe that religion is for old folks, that they have no value in the kingdom, and that they are the church of tomorrow so they will just wait until tomorrow to be active. We must defeat such wrong thinking by constantly reminding our youth that they matter to us because they matter to God. By their presence, by sitting down front paying attention, by dressing right - by being who they are they influence and encourage all of us.

Tell a young person to 'give it a try.' The world will never want for negative naysayers who constantly inform everyone that nothing will work so no one should even try. Be different. Be a Caleb and say "With God's help, we can do it, so let's get started." Young people want to know if they should try to lead singing, try to assist in Bible class, try to help the elderly, try to invite their friends to a meeting or try any of a hundred other areas of service. Be the one to say "You can do it, I'll help you, so let's try."

Tell a young person you are praying for him or her. Then do it. Not just once. Everyday. Constantly. Consistently. Always. Bring them before our Father and pray His blessings on them during this difficult transitional stage.

It is not enough to sit back and look with pride upon our fine young people here at Westside. Let us be about the business of helping them remain faithful and grow even stronger.