Millennials – individuals currently between 18 and 31.
My generation has a very negative stigma attached to us. We are labeled as overly spontaneous, radical, and straight-up weird; but what if these attributes could be used for the Kingdom? What if we followed the Lord’s calling for our life by becoming sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit and well-grounded enough in the Word of God? What if I asked you the following question:
“When do you feel most alive?”
I was in my third year of college when Ben Kaiser, one of the zaniest and insightful guys I’ve ever met, asked me this question. Following a long pause, I answered, “Well, I suppose when I’m doing new things in new places. Talking to new people. Yeah, talking to people!”
Ben continued to say, “It seems like the reoccurring topic of conversation as we approach our final moments in college is ‘God’s calling for our lives’. Jason, what’s God’s calling for your life?”
This answer was easier to muster up. I quickly responded, “I have no clue dude! But I’m praying that I’ll figure it out soon!”
Ben immediately proposed an idea derived from Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you…”
God formed us. Before we were even born, He knew us. Ever hear the cliché, “God made me who I am”? Well, it’s true! Our character, our natural talents, and our aspirations have been engraved into us by God himself! Now I don’t have time to argue about the way sin and broken human nature plays into all this, but here’s the point: If the purpose of our being is to glorify God, the one who breathed life into us and molded us with His own hands, then all we have to do is focus on what He’s given us and give it back to Him.
– Our passions, along with the abilities to pursue them, have been given to us by God. Okay sorry, I’m not here to preach, but this profound idea has adjusted my life and there’s one more verse that ties it all together. “Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3. We see here that God wants us to commit our works for Him and He will establish our plans! If you are making your decisions truly for His glory, then those plans in your head (however crazy they may seem) are established by God! Here are a few friends of mine that have inspired me with their radical callings from God:
| ANNA HODUSKI
When does she feel alive? – “adventures and running”
What has God called her to do? – *Project IF: Spend the next year running across America. No joke, this is some Forest Gump level stuff! Because of this natural desire to travel and run inside her, Anna has built a team and she is literally running from California to Washington DC. As she runs across thousands of miles, she will be doing all she can to be the voice for the unborn. This team is committed to fighting for Pro-Life efforts in order to battle abortion. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself, she started last week.
|| Project If
website: http://www.projectif.life/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/projectif2016
instagram: @projectiflife
| DYLAN CRANE
When does he feel alive? – “playing basketball”
What has God called Dylan to do? – *24/7 Basketball: Start a basketball training company. When I first heard he was doing this, I had my share of doubts. Both Anna and Dylan are fresh college graduates and they’re committing their livelihood to these endeavors. Dylan’s turning his love for basketball into a career and ultimately a ministry to all those he trains. Believe me, my doubts have been silenced by his calendar full of events, thousands of followers, and recent trip to the Bahamas with his team as they trained young deaf children on the fundamentals of basketball.
|| 24/7 Basketball
website: http://24-7basketball.com/index.html
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/24.7basketballtraining/
instagram: 24_7basketballtraining
| VON BASTES
When does he feel most alive? – “when God reveals himself”
What has God called Von to do? – *JYF: Pastor a church. Von, or should I say Pastor Von, is only 25 and God has called him to pastor a church on the Island of Coron, Palawan in the Philippines. This church is full of leaders and disciples. The church has a bible program and one requirement to graduate is for the student to plant a new church and baptize 10 new disciples who baptize 20 more discples! In just 3 years, over 17 churches have been planted out of this ministry.
|| JYF Church of Coron, Palawan
facebook: Jesus-Young-Followers
| EDWARD HWANG
When does he feel most alive? – Helping others
What has God called him to do? – Be a nurse. Of course, I saved the best for last. This guy is my best friend and a constant encouragement to me. He is pursuing his calling to become a nurse. He has always loved helping people and wants his everyday decisions to be his ministry. From reaching out to those he works with to discipline his little brother, this guy’s calling is amazing.
Edward Hwang, my best friend
*please note: this is a VERY old picture…
So I ask you… “When do you feel most alive?”
Maybe it’s running, playing basketball, learning, helping others, or even fishing. Whatever it is, give it to God and see what can be done through His hands. Each of our callings are equally as great in the hands of a great God. Trust in him. There’s a story of 4 men who loved to fish; so naturally, they made a living off being fisherman. One day, Jesus came across them and called them to be fishers of men. Over 2,000 years later, more than 2.2 billion people revel and continue in what God had started through Peter, Andrew, James and John (the first disciples). I wonder if the same stigma currently placed on radical millennials, has been transferred from those who watched the disciples drop their nets and leave everything to follow Jesus’ call. Here’s the beauty in all of it: to the disciples, and my friends listed above, these choices aren’t radical at all. These decisions are the obvious choice because they know God has called them to it.
It was the meditation of this question that ultimately led to me signing up for the Worldrace. In 11 days my team and I will be boarding a plane to start on this journey. 11 months of talking to people. 11 different countries filled with those who need to hear the good news. Thank you for taking time to read this article. Please contact me before I leave for Serbia on August 8th. I’d love to chat, pray, or find any other way to keep in contact with you!
