Probably no other week is more important to our young people than this week at camp. Church, pray fervently for GOD to get a hold of their hearts, and for the Word of God to break up the fallow ground and take deep root in their souls.
Nothing is better for them than God’s Word, and nothing will be stressed more than the preaching next week. Sure, they’ll have fun, eat good food, and make memories, but the MOST important part of next week is that God will be affecting the eternity of people.
I’m praying for young people to be saved. Will you pray with me on that? I am praying that a week away from their phones (and the vices that come along with it) will create a quietness in their soul that they haven’t taken the time to notice for a long while.
I’m praying for young men to be called to preach. Our temporal lives are made up of families, and college, and jobs, and busy, busy, busy stuff, but God still calls men out of the rat-race to give their lives to Him. Where else will Christian young people hear a clearer call than at a Christian camp where we’re hearing the Word for Christians to live a Christian life and connect to a Christian church?
The world has its loud-speakers pointed directly into the faces of these young people, and the siren call of money, and me, and my life, and my dreams, and me, and me, and me can easily drown out the still, small voice of God… if we’re never in a place to hear it. I’m praying that God breaks through to a few young people this week, and we see more missionaries like Anneliese (going to Nigeria this month), and more youth pastors like Bro. Christian (our youth pastor), and more Christian workers like Sean, Cassi, and Lois (working at Bible colleges,) and more faithful Christian workmen like the Solie brothers and their wives. These are only a representative few.
I fully support and 100% love every student who’s ever come through the Teens of Faith and that are in the Rooted class right now, and this note must not be taken as if Bible college is the end goal for all graduates—that is a complete misrepresentation, not to mention an unbiblical goal if it were true—but the point is… if the CHURCH is not sounding out the call for young men to surrender their lives to preach, to pastor, to be a missionary, to give their lives to vocational ministry… who is?! The high school counselors? Carnal parents? The lost?
The world looks at the call of God and calls it foolishness.
God looks at the call of the world and calls it foolishness. Oh, and at His weakest and most foolish state, he’s still wiser and stronger than men (see 1 Corinthians 1.)
Would you beg God to work in our young people’s lives this week? Nothing will last if it’s mere manipulation or a funny story from the preacher. We must pray for God to convict, and people to respond.
Yes, pray for safety, and for them to have a good time, and for them to make friends. But pray most earnestly for God to change their hearts.
-Pastor Ryan