Reaching the Next Generation Pt. 1

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Part 1

Sitting in my office recently on a typical work day, I was working on some reports that I needed to get done by the end of the day.  I knew I had a few meetings that afternoon, so I kept myself disciplined on the tasks at hand.  To my surprise, a scheduled meeting that I had with a young man was moved up a bit due to his very early arrival.  Not wanting to keep him idle and to be quite honest, wanting to continue with my to-do list, I went ahead and met with him before our appointed time.

“I want to do something big,” he stated.  “I feel like God wants to bring more unity among the Church here in the Rio Grande Valley,” he proclaimed to me in my office.  As he continued to share what was on his heart with me, I could not get over the fact that this “kid” was only 17 years old, yet he was speaking with such passion and conviction.  I heard him out, and I shared my pastoral counsel and wisdom with him.  As he left my office, I encouraged him to continue to seek the Lord and pursue his God-given dreams.

Truth be told, I consider myself to be “Next Generation” in church ministry seeing as that I am still in my early 30s.  Yet, I am realizing that there is another younger generation coming up through the Church here in the RGV with God-sized dreams.  It is my personal “prophetic” belief that God is raising up some anointed, younger leaders during this season of ministry throughout this entire region.  They are a new and exciting breed of preachers, leaders, and thinkers that are eager to speak into their peers and friends.  I have worked with young people for years in this area, and I have ministered at many different youth services, youth camps, and youth conferences.  What I have witnessed is a fresh harvest of young people giving their lives over to Jesus with anticipation of Him using their lives.

We recently held our Annual Student Conference OUTPOUR 2013 in July, and we saw hundreds of young people worshipping God with such passion that the Presence of the Lord could be felt even through the live stream on the internet.  Our team of young adults and students came together to make this event happen!  Over the course of the 3 nights, we had a total of over 1800 students come experience this move of God.  At another conference in the McAllen area last month, hundreds of teenagers poured into the McAllen Convention Center to seek Jesus and lift His name up.  Did I mention that this particular conference is led by a team of students?  These are just a few examples of what is happening among this Next Generation in this Valley.  My spirit is stirred!

Speaking from my heart, I am so glad that God does not see age as a barrier, but that He seeks out the young as early as possible.  From the time we are children, God is longing for us to know Him.  If you remember correctly, it was young David who knocked down the giant, and not his older brothers.  It was young Josiah who began to seek the Lord while he was still young, and brought national reform to his land.  It was also a young Mary who was chosen to carry the Son of God in her virgin womb.  God uses young people!

Every generation must have a fresh touch from Heaven.  In this day and hour within our region, I truly believe that this is happening among our young people.  As a preacher and a pastor, I pray that we would begin to see the Next Generation as part of the solution, and not part of the problem.  They need us and we need them.  In the midst of changing times, there is hope.  Jesus continues to call disciples into His field regardless of age or background.  From what I have been seeing and hearing, the Next Generation has been responding to His voice.  Are you?