He is saving my generation.

In the two churches I’ve regularly gone to since being saved, the population is quite young. Like mostly ages 18 to 30. And at first that seemed kind of strange to me because I always thought of churches as places for old people who wear doilies on their heads and for families locked in legalism. I didn’t know that there were churches overrun with young adults.

I guess I was like most Americans who believe that my generation is an instant-gratification generation, especially those of us who went to college in big cities. At USC, I’d say a lot of the student population lives up to the work-hard/play-hard stereotype. Our parents pay for our education, our cars, our rent, our groceries, our football tickets. But we’re also expected to graduate with high 5 digit salaries and amazing prospects for promotions. We maximize our time filling it with as many leadership roles as we can get our hands on, from student body president to life of the party.

But then I was saved. And started going to 9:30 AM service in Hollywood. And I had to get there early to fight other college students for seats in the overflowing auditorium…Yes. That’s right. College students were choosing to stay in Saturday nights so they could be dressed and out the door FOR CHURCH at 8:30 AM. In Los Angeles.

Now, maybe this isn’t a huge surprise to my fellow racers, nor to a lot of Race-Blog readership. But for ye non-Christians and for the older generation of Christians or for jaded young believers, be SO ENCOURAGED at the work God is doing. I went back to LA for church a few weeks ago, and I got there as service was starting. And I had to sit outside with about 75 other people because the early morning service was FULL. Full of a generation that wanted to stop their crazy, expectation-driven lifestyle and lay all their junk down to God. Full of the busiest generation of kids who just wanted to spend time worshiping the one who has blessed each of them so abundantly.

It’s crazy for me to think that 16 months ago, I thought I was the only one my age God had “saved” in awhile. It’s crazy to realize that I still go through times where I think I am the exception. And who am I to put God in that box? He is moving big time in my peers, evidenced by those voices crying out to God in the early AM, instead of drooling on pillows or slaving over textbooks.

Tonight I was at the Rock Church in San Diego. And watched again as over 100 people came up to the altar at the end of service and gave their lives to Christ. And so many of them were my age. And as the tears streamed down my face, I felt so blessed to be a part of this generation that He is saving.

I saw one 25ish year old go up to the altar, and then his buddy chased down after him, wrapped his arms around him and the two just stood worshipping God. Both of them with the most radiant smiles. They got to watch their friendship become an eternal bond. They will be together in Heaven. Yeah. My God is might to save.