Raising a New Generation for Christ

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe (I Timothy 4:12).

By Eric Mock

SGA Vice President of Ministry Operations

Young in years, but no less on fire for God's Word.

I am eager to tell you about how I have seen God at work in recent months. I have seen how God is raising up a generation among us like no other. In a time when the Christian world is moving from a postmodern culture to one that is increasingly post-Christian, I have seen God emboldening teens to build their lives on His truth and be ready to serve for His glory.

I recently traveled to Russia and Ukraine with Pastor Travis Huseby, IFCA’s national director for youth ministry, and his wife, Sheila. Speaking at two youth conferences in Russia and Ukraine, we saw young people between the ages of 13-22 with a passion to serve God and to be used by Him today. This generation no longer sees itself as former Soviets. Instead, they now see their national identities as uniquely Russian or Ukrainian. They are searching to understand who they are in the world today, and before our living God. They are hungry for the pure truth of God’s Word, wanting it to be written on their hearts so that their walk will in fact be a witness for even adult believers to follow. These zealous young men are being positioned by God to advance the Gospel in an age that is increasingly resistant to it.

The youth conference in Ukraine drew nearly 125 young men!

In the initial planning for the Ukraine conference, we had expected 25-40 young men to come. The aim of the conference was to provide a two-day seminar on biblical preaching. Young men from their respective youth groups would come and receive practical ministry instruction. In the end, nearly 125 young men came! Many pastors were skeptical at first of the idea to train young men to preach, thinking that their youth would not be interested in such things. On the last day of the conference, several young men stepped to the pulpit and preached short messages. This was after learning to exegete the text, draw out the clear biblical truths, and then teach the passage! It wasn’t so much about the quality of the message, which will improve with time and experience. Rather, it was that these young men — in spite of overwhelming fear in front of about 150 people — stood up and presented the Word of God — all considered too young by most! These young men by the power of God preached the Word of God. They were commended to their pastors for further discipleship, and challenged to attempt teaching an occasional short devotional in their churches. As a result, many pastors have begun more intensive discipleship of the youth in their churches.

Over 750 youth leaders, in Moscow, excited about advancing the Gospel!

In Moscow, we addressed over 750 youth leaders from 12 countries. It was a blessed time as we saw young people from their respective countries excited about advancing the Gospel. I encouraged them with this thought — after the days of ministry to youth, we must now embrace youth IN ministry. We need to equip the youth of today, as well as the congregation, to do the work of ministry. Instead of seeing youth ministry as a way to keep kids out of trouble, we need to see them instead as God’s ambassadors for today.

At SGA, we are refocusing our youth ministries to support young people who are being discipled and are serving in their local churches. As part of this focus, they can obtain a Russian-language study Bible and Concordance after weeks of faithful discipleship. They are also provided with evangelistic tracts to share their faith, and supported with gas for the cars needed for them to be out serving every month. I am excited to see what God can do! Regretfully, we hear that 85 percent of the teens in the U.S. walk away from their faith after high school. I would argue that the vast majority of these youths are merely nominally Christian and not really saved. Not so with this generation of Russian youth. They are truly on fire for God!

This past July, my wife, Kristi, and I took ten youth from our Illinois church plant to Russia and Ukraine, where they partnered with Russian and Ukrainian youth for street evangelism, vacation Bible school and leading worship in several small, impoverished churches. It was truly a privilege — and mutually encouraging — for these faithful youth from different cultures to serve Christ together. We ask that you would please keep our youth ministries in your prayers, and as always, we are thankful for your faithful support.