Our Youth And Our Future | Rev Dr S.O. James

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TEXT: Jeremiah 1:4-12; 1Samuel 17:23-40

Today the Christian faith is facing an unprecedented challenge and attack. The problem is both within and without. The faith is so bastardized that on-lookers and even many believers are confused about the truth of the Christian faith. We are indeed in the “perilous time.” God is looking for men, churches and ministry that will be wholly committed to teaching the truth, live by the truth and defend the truth in this perverse and crooked world.

Many of us as leaders are concern about the situation of things in the church and in the world. We are however neglecting the major instrument of change, revival and restoration; i.e. the youth. The youth should and be thoroughly empowered to contend earnestly for the faith. Without empowering the youth, we cannot get any meaningful result. The hard truth is that the world transformation and the future belong to the youth. Any great effort that does not involve the youth will not last.

In this study, we shall limit ourselves to the discourse on how to empower the youth to contend for the faith. Other speakers will dwell extensively on the theme of contending for the faith.

WHY WE NEED TO EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION

1. The youth forms the largest group of our population demography. There are over three billion youths in the world, and 2.3 billion are not in Christ. They constitute about 62% of Nigeria over 200 Million populations. Randy Smith asserted that “If the Great Commission is to be accomplished in the 21st Century, it must, by and large, become a YOUTH MOVEMENT.” [1] This requires innovative thinking and sound Missiological strategies.
2. They are unique and peculiar. They have their culture and language. The youth age is a transitional stage. Muller noted that “the teen years are daunting, exciting and utterly confusing, but rarely clear-cut.”[2] What was used in reaching the last generation will not be effective in ministering to this generation.

NOTE: We cannot put our dresses on them (as Saul tried to) and expect them to win in the battle of life (1 Sam. 17:38-40)

3. They are a liberal group. Youth easily accept strange practices and change their position on issues and practices
4. They are the most receptive age group. When the gospel is rightly preached, the youth respond well and better than adults. In the USA, “95% of those who get saved do so before the age of 21.” The Campus Crusade popularized this statistic.[3]
5. The youths are the future leaders of both the Church and the nation. The future of the Church and denomination depends on them: A church without youths is a Church without a future. “The youths you work with will be the leaders of the Church and the entire country in 20-25 years.”[4]

NOTE: Take the statistic of the youth in the leadership conference and the executive committee.

• The fallacy of Saul (1 Sam. 17:33); To him David was too young but Goliath was a CHAMPION from his Stop telling them they are too young.

We must learn great lessons from the Church in many countries in the western world. These countries started as Christian nations, but today their children do not know the Lord. The nations are no longer Christian nations but purely secular nations.

6. They are a primary target of the world and the devil. There is a high rate of rebellion among the youths of our time.
7. They are a “mobile generation.” Youths no longer stay in Churches because it is their parents’ churches. “It takes extra effort not just to keep the youth in the Church but to make them active, relevant and serve as agents of growth for the Church.”[5]
8. When youths are adequately empowered, they can effectively reach other youths.
9. God uses the youths and the nation need them for true greatness (Jeremiah 1: 5;-7, 10). (Note the example of Nigeria founding fathers and their ages during pre-independence struggle)

Our Youths are God’s battle axe (Jer. 51:20-23).

1. EMPOWERING THE YOUTH: WHAT IT ENTAILS

Empowering the next generation entails:

• Equipping: effective training and preparation
• Embracing: understand their culture and world
• Enlisting: involve them in ministry and leadership
• Engaging: Interaction and interpersonal relationship
• Exposure: Help them learn to see life and other people with perspective
• Endow: Invest in youth lives and ministry
• Endue: Give them the strength to stand by their convictions
• Education: All-round grooming, tutoring and schooling

CONCLUSION

The future of our Churches and denomination depends on how youth-friendly we are and how much we are willing to invest in raising and empowering this great and amazing generation for great exploits and global impact. Without them, we have no future.

God asked Jeremiah a fundamental question; “… what do you see?”

Beloved, what do you see as you look at the teeming youths?

• … Restless Youths?
• … Rebellious Youths?
• … Arrogant Youths?
• … Troubled Youths?
• … Problematic Youths?
• … A Liability to the Church?
• … A “Messed” Age?
• …. A “Hopeless and Helpless” Generation?

NO oooooo  ………… Instead, they are today both the LARGEST MISSION FIELD (which is ripe for harvest) and THE GREATEST MINISTRY TOOL waiting to be tapped. Let the Church arise and empower the youths for a glorious future.

END NOTES

 

[1] Randy Smith, Youth Ministry International: NBC Youth Ministry Seminar, May 2019.

[2] Walt Mueller, The Space Between: A Parent’s Guide to Teenage Development (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009), 31.

[3] Randy Smith, Principles of Youth Ministry Lecture Note (Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary), 2017.

[4] Youth Ministry Strategy Seminar Level 1: Trainer’s Notebook 2.

[5] Samuel Olaleye, “Youth-Compliant minister” In  The Nigerian Baptist Magazine Vol. 98 No. 07 (Ibadan: Baptist Press (Nig.) Ltd., July 2019),