Many years ago in my home Corps we were sent a young Lieutenant. He seemed like a nice young man. The Corps Officer assigned him, among other responsibilities, the youth group. It was an active youth group. The soldiers supported these young people and they seemed to be enjoying their involvement in the youth activities, especially the Friday night teen gatherings.
A few of our youth were the children of a DHQ officcer couple who soon after the arrival of the Lieutenant were given farewell orders. After the OK's moved the new Lt. announced that Friday night teen group would only meet once a month. We were all perplexed! As the Lt. explained it, now that the OK's were gone, there wasn't much point in meeting every week, even though there were still 11 youth who wanted to meet. Nothing could sway this young man from his decision. The Corps officer spoke with the young Lieutenant but the Lieutenant refused. The CO said there was little he could do. Over the next three months, our Corps lost all 11 of these precious youth to other churches whose youth were meeting every week. Their non Army friends invited them.
Seem incredible? Yes it does, but let me assure you this actually happened.
Our young people are a precious gift from God. We have been given the responsibility to nurture them in the faith and give them reason to be found in God's house. I have often thought that God will hold that young Lieutenant accountable for his actions, in the next world or in this one. Today he is a DHQ officer of significant position.
I try not to be bitter...you see five of those youth were my children! Today they serve their denominations as fine Christian adults. One has returned to the Army. Another is the wife of a Baptist minister. Yet another a fine Christian lady serving in the Christian Missionary Alliance, still another with the Nazarene Church and all very much involved with the youth groups.
Can you imagine what could have been? Our children have given us 22 grandchildren who might have been soldiers, local officers and Officers in full time service. Now, understand that we are proud of each one of them, and we praise God for their involvement with their churches...... but deep in my heart I have always coveted them for the Army.
Oh! what might have been had a young Lieutenant had a vision for the future!!!! Are the children worth your personal attention? Oh, yes, yes, a thousand times yes!
So what can be done today? First recognise that your ministry may have an impact on several generations yet unborn. Second, get to work engaging your youth in activities that are of interest to them. Third, Do this because you desire to reach them for God and the Army and really mean it! Fourth, remain consistant, week after week. Don't cancel programs if it is not necessary. And fifth, know that ministry to youth is how you really build a lasting congregation.
God Bless you.
Is he still an officer? What kind of officer would let his lieutenant get away with that? Where was DHQ's head?
ReplyDeleteYes, the young man is now a Major and serving on HQ. My CO lamented that he just could not get this young man to work with the youth. He thought it was beneath him. As an officer, he felt his ministry was to the adult sections of the Corps. That is what was shared with me at the time.
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