The mission trip went well. We touched a lot of lives, and in turn, were touched by a lot of people. Each member of the youth who went on the trip grew both spiritually and in maturity. My prayer is that it is a mountain top experience for all involved, so that the Holy Spirit can use that trip to stir up in them ―a great cloud of witnesses‖. (Heb 12:1) We made real relationships with the folks we served and, as a youth group, we grew the relationships in the fertile soil of Christian servant-hood.
Authentic relationships are in dire peril with this next genera-tion. The next time you are at the mall, just watch a group of teenagers. They are standing next to a friend and texting someone else at the same time. And believe me when I say that they will talk about things on Facebook that they would never say to each other face to face (which is a double-edged sword). Being a AAA (Authentic, Affirming, Available) adult is at it’s highest challenge when the youth have a disconnect with their peers, let alone some strange alien from a prior generation. It seems that society and this world work in opposition to Christi-anity. Look at how the early church grew...in the breaking of bread and fellowship with each other.
Have you seen people out to eat, sitting at a table with friends or family, and they have their heads down texting someone? How many times did one of my elders tell me, ―Look at me, boy, when I’m talking to you!‖ My grandparents’ generation understood the importance for relationship. Maybe it was the sacrifices they made in terms of WWII or the Great Depression. Whatever it was, we played card games and board games at―Pampi and Mami’s House. And at ―Granny’s and Paw Paw’s, we played bluegrass music and sang together. I think the mix of different generations willing to engage the current generation in relationship will make a big difference.
When we are intentional with our exchanges, it matters that we engage this next generation. When being authentic, the youth see a real Christian faith, and if it’s not real they will see that too. When we are available, the youth see value in both the other generation and other people. When we are affirming, they see worth in
themselves. When we do something well or we do something poorly, it manifests itself eventually.
For Our Savior’s youth, it manifested itself when a group of high school and college kids spent a week of Christian servant-hood; or when a couple of high school girls decided to go to LOMF’s leadership training camp. Again, when the mission trip made an impression on the church where we worked– by working all day in 97 degree heat– in grit and dust among piles of rubble with such positive attitudes. And, yet again, it was manifested in the earnest appreciation for the hospitality of the hosting church. Even the places where we ate knew these young people were special. On one occasion, a customer at the restaurant who was from another church in Cullman anonymously paid our lunch tab, which was a hearty sum.
Isa 55:11- “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Join us for Rock the Universe! September 9 and 10!
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