I'm sure many of you watched as Donald Trump became the next President of the United States. Even if you didn't, the news has spread. Regardless of ones personal views or the lack there of, as believers we are called to pray for those in authority. I encourage you to do so with your student(s).
We have our Bonefire coming up and we are pretty excited! In light of that, I wanted to speak to the students tonight and next week regarding their unique place of ministry. They interact with people you and I may never have influence over. They spend hours on end at school and on the sports field with other students who you and I may never have influence over.
"I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching. For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear something new. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. But as for you, be serious about everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 Timothy 4:1-5
I love this charge given to Timothy from Paul. More importantly, from God. I love this because it speaks to the totality of the ministry- to both those in the family of faith and those outside.
The charge is given before God and Christ Jesus. This gives it much authority, urgency and power. I want the student(s) to be confident of the one who has commissioned them and called them as vessels for His Name sake.
The charge is to proclaim THE message. Not just a message, not just any message. But rather THE Message of Jesus Christ. Whether convenient or not. The Gospel will free the sinner. But before it frees it will rebuke. It will call the sinner to die to self and to the ways they once walked. I want the student(s) to be confident of THE Message.
The charge is to be serious. To endure. To work. To fulfill their ministry. I want the student(s) to see the seriousness of the ministry, to press on, to labor. I want the student(s) to seek the Lord in regards to the ministry set before them. Not that they would all be in the pastorate but we know that all of us in a general sense are called to ministry.
In the middle of the charge is the disclaimer that a time will come when people will turn from truth and they will seek what sounds good to their ears and what allows for the feeding of their desires. Not only do I want the student(s) to flee from this themselves, I want them to know the reality that there will be a time that people turn away from listening to truth.
In light of all of this- we will be asking the students to write down at least one student whom they would like to pray for regarding their salvation. We want this to be someone that the students will begin to engage and invite.
My encouragement to you as parents is to ask who they are praying for, pray with them and encourage them as they step out in faith. Pray for your student(s) as they walk in the ministry and good works set before them in the days and months and years ahead:)
As we journey,
-R