1-31-12
The Army of The Next Generation Is Rising
( This past Friday I got to share my testimony with 50-60 youth. It was great & God really showed up!)
“But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.”
Psalm 71: 14-18
This month, God keeps revealing to me about investing in the next generation. The youth. This has been a common theme along the race in my personal journey with the Lord. He has been revealing to me my passion for especially youth girls. Each month in Africa I developed friendships with youth girls. It has been a common thing that the Lord has been revealing to me about what he has planned for a future ministry for me. This month has been extra special in what God had planned & is developing. I have been investing in relationships with some of the youth girls here. Speaking into them truth about who God is, what he says about them, and praying over them for healing, joy, hope, and for wisdom for their exams. Vuthey (Voo-tee), is in charge of the ministry here at Light Of Hope church. He shared his testimony with us during our first week here. He keeps stressing that it is a vision from God. His vision includes 150 youth coming here next year to gather & worship God. Right now there are a group of about 50-60 youth coming on Friday night youth gatherings. No problem for God to multiply that by 3!
After reading about Cambodia, and about the genocide & all the hardships this country has been through…its plain to see that God is at work transforming the youth & rising up a generation of believers and followers of Christ. These youth are eager and hungry to learn about God. They come to hang out more than an hour before class sometimes. They are asking questions and just hungry for more Jesus. The population of youth here in Cambodia is 70% or so of the population because of the genocide which occurred here. On Sunday, its truly amazing how many youth ride their bikes here to come to the service. Without their parents. These kids want to come praise God, and learn more about him. Even if their parents are non-believers. They find a way to get here. I thought about what kind of miracle that would be back home in the U.S. if kids were riding their bikes to church, begging their parents to come…Instead of parents dragging their children along to church. I pray that more children would realize what a joy it is to come and praise the Lord with their families. These kids struggle so much to follow Christ without any help of their family. Most of them between the ages of 5 and 18.
(Me & Saren- 17 yr old girl who is really hungry for the word of God. One of the girls in my bible study I have been having this week. : )
God keeps speaking to me Psalm 71 for the next generation of youth. We are called to declare the salvation of the Lord & praise the Lord for all he has done. To testify to his power, and the truth of who he is. To feed life to the army God is rising up. We should be investing in the youth because they are the ones carrying the gospel to the next generation. Who knows, maybe with this army rising up, Christ’s return is sooner than we think?
After getting to share my testimony on this past Friday, I was reminded of the purposes I am here in Cambodia. To invest in the next generation of youth. To share the love of Christ with them. After speaking to the group of about 50-60 youth, more than 20 hands shot up to accept salvation. These kids are eager to know God. One girl in particular I have been feeling very connected to. She came up and shared with me that my story touched her heart. Then she had some questions for me about her faith…It’s really neat to be a part of speaking truth into her and other girls lives. After we were talking, God gave me a picture of having a bible study with the girls here. So on Saturday we started our first bible study meeting an hour before class. Five girls showed up for the first meeting! We have been studying the book of Galatians and we will finish the book before I leave on Friday. I am investing into the leaders God has already called up so that they can lead the Bible study when I leave. My prayer is that they can continue the bible study and it can help many other youth here grow in their faith… They have bibles in Camai (Cambodian language) but they are learning English very well so they are able to translate some & help other youth to understand the word of God better than I probably could. God’s already started the work, he’s just using me to ignite something.
So excited about being a part of the vision of this ministry & in investing in the youth here. These youth are amazing. So hungry for God. The army is rising up…!
