A World-Changing Generation

-
Lazy. Entitled. Self-centered. Me-generation.  These are all words that have been used to describe the millennial generation of teenagers to twenty-somethings.  For nearly a decade now I have spent a significant amount of my time with this generation.  And while some of those descriptions may be true at times (and to be fair could probably be used to describe people of many age groups), I regularly get to see something different.
I have worked with this generation in my professional and personal life, in athletic, academic and spiritual settings. This generation is resourceful.  They are creative and passionate. They have grown up with social media and, as a result, are incredibly aware of its power and its influence in the world around them.  I consider it a privilege that God has placed a call on my life to work with these amazing world-changers on a professional level.  I get to work every day with kids who, no matter what is going on with their friends or at home, are standing up in front of their peers to share their love of Jesus.  When so many kids are using social media for negative things I see kids using Twitter and Instastories (series of videos/pictures on Instagram for my non-Insta user friends) to invite their friends to FCA huddles and events. Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up.”  I see that in these kids.  They are doing small things now, in their schools, that are going to yield a great harvest in the future.  It is a beautiful thing to watch and I’m so grateful that I get to play a small part in that.

Christina, an 8th grader at River Bend MS, leads a devotion at her huddle.

Screen shot from a student leader's Instastory, inviting friends to FCA
         I really do believe it is the responsibility of all of us with a few more years under our belt to disciple the generation behind us.  The thing about negative labels, whether we hear them from people around us or the enemy whispering them to our hearts, is that after a while, we start to believe them and even live up to them.   We can’t complain that this generation is lazy and entitled and all of the other things if we’re not willing to invest in them.  To those of you who already invest your time and resources, whether through FCA, teaching, community sports, or personal discipleship, thank you.   If you’re interested in learning more about the work FCA is doing with students in Loudoun County, please visit www.loudounFCA.org and consider registering to attend our Victory Dinner on April 22.  The event is free to attend and you’ll have a chance to hear more about Loudoun FCA, talk to students in our ministry, and learn about different ways to partner with us to pour into this amazing generation. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Idolatry of Safety

-
My favorite scene in C.S. Lewis’s book, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is when the children are learning about Aslan, the Christ figure in the books, for the first time.  In the scene, Susan, Lucy, and their brothers are talking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, who inform them that Aslan is likely not exactly what they expect: “Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh" said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"... "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver ..."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.” He’s not safe.  But He’s the King.  How often do I live in a way that equates safety with God’s goodness?  I mean, this is crazy thinking, right?  But don’t we all feel this way sometimes?  Even though the Bible clearly says that following Jesus means taking up your cross (which doesn’t sound very safe to me)...
Read more

Step by Step

-
Image
Tomorrow morning I leave for my first FCA camp of the summer, Virginia Leadership Camp.   My role at this camp and our upcoming multi-sport camp at the University of Richmond is Huddle Leader Coordinator.   I love this role because it means I get to the camp early and train and equip the college athletes who will then lead the middle and high school students attending the camp.   If I’m honest, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve spent more mental energy stressing about filling these Huddle Leader roles than I have spent praying about it, forgetting that the battle is not mine, but God's (2 chronicles  20:12 ). What if, every time I start to feel my anxiety elevate, I pause and praise God in the midst of the battle? What kind of great blessing would I see then, both for our camp in and in my own life?   I believe the enemy knows that students’ and coaches’ lives are changed at camp and he will do whatever he can to discourage us before we even get there. ...
Read more

A New Adventure Begins!

-
Image
Welcome to my new FCA blog!  I can't wait to share how the Lord is working in the lives of coaches and athletes in Loudoun County.  Here are a few highlights of the past few months as I've been working to raise support and transition into this new women's ministry role on the Loudoun FCA staff: Women's Ministry teammates, Rebekah and Noelle at the NSC in April In April I traveled to FCA’s National Support Center in Kansas City, MO to attend Fundraising Bootcamp.  I flew out with two other amazing women who are also prospective women’s ministry staff for Northern VA FCA.  We were given about 20 hours of prep work before coming to bootcamp, all related with understanding the Biblical model of support raising in ministry and being able to share our personal stories of how the Lord brought us to this desire to work for FCA.  The prep work was so helpful and the information I learned at bootcamp has been invaluable as I started raising support.  La...
Read more