In March 2021 we had a season of 12 Days of Gospel Stories. Weu2019re now reproducing these stories here for all to see and be inspired by!
Iu2019ve been intentional about our youth ministry coming to know Jesus in a deeper and more personal way. Recently, Iu2019ve had some profound conversations with young people about Jesus. Our ministry context has assumed belief or at least knowledge of him, yet many donu2019t have worldview that has room for Jesus. For many young people Iu2019ve connected with recently, Jesus is attached to a stale church. Heu2019s a boring Sunday morning. For many youth, heu2019s represented by global church leaders who fall from grace in public and damaging ways. Jesusu2019 call to love is drowned out by hate speech of all forms from pulpits and tweets.
Gospel renewal means a rediscovery of the word, and an application to the everyday.
Gospel renewal in my current ministry season hasnu2019t meant new believers and a constant stream of baptismu2019s (pun intended), but it has beenu2014and hopefully continues to beu2014a season where assumptions are raised to the surface, positive examples of Jesus followers are abundant and where we converse with Jesus and allow him to speak for himself.
Sentiments like u201cI donu2019t need Jesusu201d or u201cif God exists, heu2019s very evil or very far awayu201d have turned into u201cI think Jesus gets angry when people use him to hurt othersu201d and u201cGod says he cares, and I donu2019t think Godu2019s a liar.u201d Itu2019s a small but fundamental pivot: theyu2019re beginning to look to God as a source of hope!
Young people near me are rediscovering Jesus for who he is, earnestly and deeply. With God, the brokenness of our world is not overwhelming. There is hope to be had!
Psalm 42:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Saviour and my God.
Father, we lift a prayer of hope to you for young people across our nation. Help us to introduce your Son Jesus to those that donu2019t know him, that together we may praise Christ as our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
Contributor: Andy Beales-White, Karori Baptist
