When people think about youth, it usually concerns three things: their slang, their clothes, and their technology. We consider them naïve, uninterested, and unreachable. There’s just always this opinion many people have on youth culture that stops us from seeing past the stereotypes. But 1 Corinthians 25-31 talks about how God chooses the overlooked and the ‘nobodies’ to shame the wise by human standards, all so that no one can boast in the Lord. Simply put, God likes to use people we least expect for His glory.
Last Sunday, we were humbled to be served by the youth ministry in our very first Youth Sunday since establishing Torch Youth. This group of passionate young people have reminded us that it is not age, experience, or influence that matter when it comes to serving the Lord, it is the heart. When the youth ministry went through a restructuring, us leaders grew skeptic. Many of our past efforts hadn’t made a dent in our bible studies’ attendance records and we were beginning to feel the weight of discouragement. But God had other plans. He decided to put a desire for the youth in the hearts of the youth. He chose to use the ones we had overlooked. And He hasn’t stopped surprising us since.
Nervous as they were at the beginning of the service, they really managed to capture the essence of what being Christ’s follower is all about. Using the torch as a metaphor, they’ve re-inspired many of us to once again look into our hearts for the passion to go and make disciples of all nations. That we may walk upon the waters Jesus calls us to, wherever that may be.
In my short time as a youth leader, I’ve had the humbling opportunity to see these amazing youth grow. And after that service, I have zero doubt that God is using them for His glory and it can come no sooner when we start seeing Torch Youth speaking the gospel outside the four walls of our bible studies.
Let us continue to support our youth and pray that God lead them as they walk with their ministry, their families, and their peers. Praise be to God for a spirit-filled Youth Sunday Service!