Sending A Generation

Man…what a week it has been. I honestly don’t even know how to put it into words except to say that God is moving in a mighty way in the lives of young people all over the country. What does it look like when a generation is fully alive for Christ? This week I have seen what it looks like. I have seen young people who are giving their lives to serve God. Many have been through trials that many of us cannot fathom, but despite all of that, they have their eyes on Christ and their hearts set to impact the nations. If that doesn’t get you excited than I don’t know what will. I know it gets me so excited that I can hardly stay in my seat. It is time for this generation to take a stand and put Christ first in their lives and impact the nations for Him.

It has been such a blessing for me to be able to sit through many of the teaching sessions these past two weeks. An extraordinary man of God, Andrew Shearman posed the following question, and I have not been able to get it out of my mind since. He asked, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” Wow…what a question! It just really hit me. So many of us, myself included, go through our routine every day without ever doing something new. So many times we have the desire deep down to live a life that is fully alive for Christ, but because of fear, circumstances, doubts etc. we don’t ever step out of our comfort zones to find what Christ truly has for us. We settle for the comfortable. I have been challenged this week never to settle for less than what God has for me and never to let Satan detour me from doing what I know God has called me to do. This, and only this, is when we will find the “fully alive” life that we all desire.

It is amazing how the more you pour into other people, the more God pours into you. I just love being around these young men and women who love Jesus with all their hearts. It motivates me and invigorates my soul. The Lord has shown me that even if He only uses me to impact one person for Him…that is enough and more than worth it. I am thankful He has put me here…to be a part of igniting a generation that is going to change the world for Him. There are no words to describe how grateful I am for all that God is doing in my life through these young people, and I am thankful He is using me to help expand His kingdom.

After a week of training, last night we held our commissioning service for over 100 Christ-followers who left today to go to bases all over the world: Peru, Mexico, Dominican Republic, England, India, Swaziland, Jeffreys Bay, Johannesburg and Kenya. Last night we had a time of worship, reading the Bible, communion and praying over each group individually. It was an amazing time to just worship the Lord and to send them all out covered in prayer and love. It is funny how attached you can get to people after only a week. I have had the opportunity to get to know some of these phenomenal people and have truly fallen in love with them. Saying goodbye was hard. As I poured into them, they in return poured into me. They are madly in love with God and ready to go out and reclaim the world for Him. When I think about all that God is going to do in and through them over this next year, I am truly overwhelmed. Thank you for remembering these young people in your prayers as they give of their lives to serve Him.

This is why I am here. This is what it is all about!