“All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.” || Magic Johnson
These words sum up the reason that the people of Cambodia have so severely stolen my heart. Here at New Life Fellowship Poipet, we are surrounded by a congregation of people who truly know the art of empowering the people around them.
Yesterday during worship I looked around at the congregation, 95% of which is comprised of teenagers, and was amazed at the pure devotion in worship that I saw by all of the youth. You could see on their faces that they were completely lost in Him whom we love. It was beautiful.
I thought of the boys and girls their age back at home who sometimes seem so lost in the sociality of a youth group or high school drama and wondered where the difference lay. Then I looked up towards the front where two of the youth were alongside Lekena, the pastor’s wife, leading worship, and it hit me. I have never in my life been a part of any facet of society that empowers their children as much as New Life Fellowship empowers and equips their youth. To them, serving and ministering aren’t simply the privilege and duty of the adult members of the congregation, but they are for all. When we go on outreach to the surrounding villages, it isn’t the pastor who plans the lessons and gives us instruction. It is two fourteen year old boys under the supervision of Socheat, the 21 year old intern. These two boys plan everything from the songs we will sing, the bible story/english lesson we will teach, and the games we will play. They have been discipled trusted with this and, in that, they know that they are believed in.
The amazing part is that these two boys came to know the Lord after they were serving with the church. Whaat? You would never find that in an American church, but can’t you see the beauty in it? They were accepted right where they were, empowered, discipled, and believed in. They were surrounded by kingdom-minded people who truly love the Lord, and they had no chance. None of us have any chance when we meet the living God. His love is too good. His faith in us is too big. His grace for us is too deep. So should ours be for our children. Who cares if our worship sets don’t sound concert ready. Are we willing to give up perfection to see our children reach greater heights? Let’s stand behind them and let them shine. Let’s disciple them and equip them for what God has called them. They were never called to do it alone. They need a group of people around them to teach them that they are worth believing in. I want to challenge us, the western church, to break out of the norm. Let’s stop letting fear hold us back from empowering our youth. They are waiting for us to come alongside them, disciple them, and empower them to step into what God has called them to do. So let’s do it. If we want our kids to fall madly in love with Jesus, we first must show him to them. So let’s start. Let’s raise up a generation of kids who know what it is like to be believed in, empowered, served and loved. Only does momentum really build.
