This winter has been a doozy. We have had snow just about every weekend, which makes holding regular Church services a challenge. However, despite all of the storms, we have not had to cancel any of our worship gatherings. It is a good thing too, because we have had visitors every Sunday. People are still seeking even when the weather is undesirable. 

One benefit to all this snow is that I had the chance to take a group of students from our ministry with Youth For Christ to Deep Freeze at Camp Berea. I remember going to Christian camps all throughout my childhood and then working at camps with Word of Life in Schroon Lake, NY during college. I want to provide the same experience for the teens in our community. 

Several of our campers signed up for paintball and of course I had to join them. When the organizer was dividing up the teams, he put two of my campers on the opposite team and the rest were on my side. I asked if I could switch with the other two so that I would be on the opposite team from my campers. As soon as the match started, I took advantage of the fact that none of them had ever played paintball before. I stormed the other team and took out all of the opponents before they even knew what hit them. During the next match, I ran out of paint and tried dry firing to scare them into surrendering, but when I got to the last bunker, where there were six kids hiding, I got lit up. Still, I earned the title of Pastor Rambo (Which I may have given to myself). 

We also participated in the Polar Plunge where students and leaders were encouraged to jump into the frigid waters of Newfound Lake. I wasn’t going to back down from a challenge. I jumped right into the water with our campers. If you noticed that my voice sounded different on the radio recently, it would have been the result of the cold I got from camp, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. 

Of course the main reason to take our students to camp was to get them into the Word of God and give them an exciting encounter with Jesus. The immersive experience of removing students from their usual environment and surrounding them with fun and faith-filled programs is something that cannot be underestimated. 

Zac Workun, from Lifeway Student Ministries, was the speaker. He did an excellent job taking us through I Peter with a challenge to consider ourselves as exiles in this world, but citizens of heaven. 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

“Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (I Peter 2:9-12).

The epistles of Peter are such a timely lesson for the next generation, and it is the direction we will be going this spring in our teaching schedule on the broadcast. We all need to be reminded that we are destined for heaven, we are sojourners in this world, and we are ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. 

I remember as a twelve year old boy, going forward at a campfire service to throw my stick in the fire and commit my life to ministry. It was a profound moment and I have remained faithful to my calling ever since. 

Several of our students went forward during the Saturday evening service to take what Camp Berea calls ‘Next Steps.’ There were three calls for response. Afterward we were able to sit down with our students and ask them to share their decisions. Here is how I explained it to them. 

Whenever the gospel is presented, the Spirit of God is working to bring people to repentance and redemption. This first step is called ‘Conversion.’ When someone responds to the gospel, they are beginning their journey in following Jesus. 

Our experience working with Youth For Christ has been incredibly positive and fruitful. This is not a sponsored endorsement or a solicitation. I am simply offering a testimony of how it has made a difference in our effort to reach the next generation. 

We have partnered with Youth For Christ Cape Cod in order to work together and develop regionally based outreach youth ministries to connect with unchurched students. I fully believe in this vision as a potential inspiration for any church, but particularly those who would otherwise be unable to host a youth group on their own. 

Our collaboration with Youth For Christ provides us with accountability, consistency, and reproducibility. They offer background checks and insurance, coaching and training, lesson plans and activities, and a community effort to share in each other's successes. 

Is your Church struggling to reach the next generation? Are other Churches in your area unable to run their own youth programs? Would you like to see a collaborative effort in your region to reach the next generation?