Matthew
16:18 - And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Last month I was blessed to spend an evening at a major
youth conference sponsored by the ministry I serve. That night over 850 teens
had gathered to worship, hear testimonies from their peers and hear the Word
preached by a young adult who had once been in their number. That night the
group also commissioned 23 teens to go on short term mission trips to three
international locations and one domestic location. It was a blessing to watch
the group pray for their peers and ask God’s blessings as they went on mission
for God. In addition to praying, the group also took up an offering. They had
been challenged to bring $10 to donate to the various mission efforts that the
23 students would be engaged in. Nearly $6,000 was raised that night, by teens,
to send teens on mission for God.
It was a moving moment to experience. But I think it also
serves as a great reminder that no matter what all the pundits say about young
people abandoning the church, there are still many who have not bowed the knee
to Baal. There a hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of teenagers across
America who are deeply committed to sharing the love of Christ with others.
They are willing to give of their time and their money to make this happen. They are a force to be reckoned with.
Though many are concerned about the future of the church in
America, I am not discouraged. In fact, I am encouraged. I witness gatherings
like that one and I am reminded that the gates of hell will not prevail against
God’s church. The church may go through ups and downs, but until Jesus returns to take His bride, the church, home to heaven, the church will continue to be His voice on earth.
Lord, raise up a generation of men and women willing to put it
all on the line for You. Amen.
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Dr. Terry W. Dorsett has been a pastor, church planter,
denominational leader and author in New England for more than 20
years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and adoring grandfather.
He is a cancer survivor and believes that God
works powerfully through times of suffering. He has written a book
about the spirit of offense that prevails in our current society. You can find
all of his books at:
Too bad son our news agency does not want to tell about the wonderful things the teens do today where all the world could hear . Blessings you listened as teen and still do today.
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