When Youth Go...

There's two indicators that summer has arrived at church.

-Vacation Bible School.
-Youth group missions trips.

Our team left Sunday for a week-long endeavor one of the largest cities in the nation and I read another youth group left this week one of the largest cities in my home state. As I thought about the power of missions trips (and it applies to missionaries, as well), it truly is a front-line experience in sharing the love of Christ, not only by word, but also in action.

Of course this point was driven home, when our youth pastor posted to social media about serving at a soup kitchen and it took him back to a time in his life when God used a homeless man to minister to him at a critical time in his life and faith.

These are the places where lives are impacted for Christ. Those on the receiving end experience the love of God by those who love God. To those going to serve, it's a time to witness the miraculous. As a result, it is a time of change for all involved.

For the youth, it's a time when many experience a very personal call into ministry or a clarity into what God would have them do with their lives while impacting the kingdom of God.

For youth pastors, it's a time when their group moves to the next level. Kids are drawn closer to the presence and power of God at work in their lives. There's a revitalization that occurs in the lives of the pastors as they are renewed and refreshed... exhausted physically, yes. But empowered and quickened; remembering perhaps why they went into youth ministry in the first place and ready to take those kids higher, deeper, closer and farther in their personal journey of faith in Christ.

On this missions-minded #youthPastorWednesday, pray for the kids and youth of today's church; that this summer of events and in particular, missions trips, would be a time of clarity as they engage in taking the Gospel to those in need. Pray that their lives would be changed, as many discover the calling, anointing and purpose that God has placed within them. Pray for the pastors and leaders of these trips; may God strengthen them for all the work and time that they have invested. May it be a time of many miracles of all kinds; as people are healed and restored and hearts and minds prepared to receive the love of God and the salvation made available through the cross of Christ.

A powerful time of ministry
From those simply willing to engage
In being the hands and feet of Christ
To a lost and hurting world in need.
To the glory of God
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC

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