Instructing the young
The great reformer Martin Luther said, “If ever the church is to flourish again, one must begin by instructing the young.” I am convinced that the kind of church that will thrive in a post-Christian culture will be the church that trains their young people to see themselves as participants rather than spectators, ambassadors rather than consumers, and grace-givers rather than guilt-trippers.
One of our great desires at Mars Hill Students is to go beyond being a mere program that provides ministry for students. Instead, we want to equip students to live for the fame of King Jesus by seeing every relationship God has placed them in through the lens of his mission. And I get so excited when I hear stories like the below about students like Cam—students who simply make themselves available for whatever God wants them to do!
Inviting Colton
Cameron is a senior at our Bellevue church, who in his free time works at a local ranch in Maple Valley. The first time Cam met Colton on the ranch, he gave Colton a ride to a friend’s house, where they were having a “pot party.” For this group of guys, smoking was their only pastime, and Colton’s friends described him as “the ultimate stoner.”
After a couple conversations, Colton started hanging out with Cam and his young brothers. Cam invited him to go off-roading together, attend a fishing derby, and eventually invited Colton to a Bible study at the ranch on Sundays, where Colton first heard about the grace of God. That night Colton said, “It must be the grace of God that I’m here instead of smoking pot right now!” Three days later, Colton came to Mars Hill Students for the first time, where he made a decision to become a Christian and follow Jesus.
One found, more to find
Since that time, Colton will tell you that Jesus has already radically changed his life. He says that he’s not ashamed anymore, because God has delivered him from sin to live a new life in front of his family. He wants those God has placed in his own life to see the same grace that he encountered when he met Jesus Christ. And just last Sunday, Colton and his dad went to church together! Because you know what found people do? They find more people!
We’re asking Jesus for thousands of young people who will live “sent” like Cam, so that we might celebrate with tens of thousands more who would call on his name and be saved like Colton!
“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Rom. 10:14–15
If you’re a student who is in or near a Mars Hill church, we want you to be a part of this movement of young people who are on a mission that is infinitely more satisfying and far more crucial than the one that finishes when you turn off your Xbox. Go to the Connect Desk at your local Mars Hill church on Sunday to get in touch with your local Student Ministry lead about how to get involved.
