The Next Generation

I have heard many leaders label the next generation of Christ Followers as a "sit and soak" generation.

I challenge that assessment.

The next generation wants to be a part of more than "just church." I believe they want to be a part of a movement worth living for and in some cases, dying for.

Students are volunteering across college campuses at an incredibly increasing rate. The number of college students volunteering grew by 600,000 from 2.7 million in 2002 to 3.3 million in 2005 and is now closing in on 5 million. That is an 85% increase in volunteering since 2002. The next generation wants to believe they be involved in something that matters.

They need leadership. They need to be challenged. They need someone to move them past simply throwing nickels at the worlds problems to getting involved, face-to-face, all across the world.

I decided to put this test with High School and Junior High students this Christmas.

The next generation responded.

The instructions were simple. Dream up something as a life group (guys & girls separated by grades) that will make an impact and then… GIVE!

-12th grade guys raised $3000 by doing yard work and spreading the word--to buy a single mom a new car

-10th grade girls gave their own money, $500, and bought Christmas for a family at Children’s Hospital

-7th grade girls helped decorate nursing home rooms for residents who do not have family.

-10th grade guys collected clothes, towels, and socks for the homeless.

-11th grade guys spent a Friday night investing in 6th grade guys.

The closer we get to the heart of God, the more we realize how much he cares about people and their real needs. The next generation wants to be a part of a passionate, authentic, life changing movement that cares about people and their real needs.

The great news is we don’t have to invent it. It is call Christianity!

Wal-Mart Christianity will never change the world. A group of people who show up once a week, quickly get what they need, pay as little as possible and then get out will never make an impact.

If movement of people will commit to sacrifice their time, gifts, abilities, resources, and all they have for the Gospel… they will become a movement that could change the world… and that is just what the next generation is longing for!

Hope

I was almost finished with the final lighting strand in the backyard, when I heard something running through the woods towards my back fence.

To my shock, there stood a young high school boy… out of breath, tears in his eyes, blood running down his face, and what appeared to be the weight of the world on his shoulders.
“Sir, please don’t shoot me… I need your help.” I said, “Son, what is wrong?” The next sentence out of his mouth changed the course of my life.

“My father is chasing me, and He is trying to kill me. Please help me!”

In that moment… many thoughts go through your head and the first concern was for Courtney, Carson, & Cameron.I told the boy to jump the fence and stay there until I can get my family put in safe place. I ran in the house, moved Courtney and the girls into the closet, and called 911. The next 4 minutes seemed like a lifetime.

The boy and I rushed into the garage and hid behind the trashcan in the corner, waiting patiently for the police.

I will never forget the look in his eyes. Like an abused dog scared of the outreaching hand of a new owner, shaking with his tail between his legs, and scared to make eye contact.

Pride… Gone
Significance… Gone
Respect… Gone
Value… Gone

The reason… a text messaging bill with 10 texts over the limit.

We sat behind that trash and I simply held his head on my shoulder and told him that he was safe now. I would protect him. He had run to the one place where he did not have to be afraid. Finally, I asked, “Is there anything that I can do?”

He looked back, sobbing, with his last bit of pride, lifted his hands and said… “I can’t stop my hands from shaking… will you just hold my hands?” So there we sat…. His Life & Mine Forever Changed.

You don’t go through moments like that without God changing you.

I have long prayed that God would let me see the world the way he sees it and respond they way he would…. I didn’t know what I was praying for. His view is more than I can handle.

This Christmas, I have challenged our students to Give. Food, clean water, socks, towels, clothing, and the list goes on and on. They have responded with more “Give” than I could have ever imagined.

And now I challenge you. The world needs your gifts of food, water, socks, towels, and clothing... but more than those things…. it needs your life!
In the words of one of my favorite Pastors, “We can no longer sit high in our SUV’s, throw nickels at the world’s problems, and expect them to change. We have to invest our life and true giving always requires a sacrifice.”

The message of Christmas is simple.

Christ came. He abandoned the throne to GIVE hope the beaten, abused, lost, afraid, lonely, scared, hopeless, ashamed, sinful men we are.

We must take that message to every part of the world so the boy behind the trash can knows…. HE HAS HOPE! Who in your life needs to hear that message this Christmas?

This Sunday will be my new friends first Sunday to attend Church.

Merry Christmas! Hope Has Arrived!