Nazarene Youth Conference is going on right now in Louisville, KY. This is a place for teens in high school to experience a time of teaching and service for a week. The teens come from all over the United States and Canada to gather together to the tune of about 7,000 teens under one roof worshiping God. Just like some of my kids this year, I was able to experience this while in high school. So, while some may wonder if a bunch of services, mission projects of painting and cleaning around the city, and concerts is worth their time and money, I would like to explain why it is important to keep our teens engaged with the church.

We must EMPOWER our youth.

For too long, we, as “helicopter” parents, have done too much for our kids. They are afraid to make decisions on their own. They doubt themselves and are afraid of failure. Yet, in their indecision, they are making a decision to either stay where they are or to follow someone else making a decision. They need to know they have the capacity to think for themselves. They must be empowered and allowed to fail.

We must continually TEACH our youth.

As much as they want us to think they have, the teens have not arrived to all the conclusions they will make in life. Their decision to follow God is still based on their parents’ relationship with God. They are in a learning stage of their life, trying to figure out what they want to do, and trying to figure out God and how He applied to their lives. We must teach them they are still in this phase of their life and not make them feel guilty or feel they have failed if they don’t have their Christianity figured out. In fact, we are all still in this teaching phase of learning daily how to be more like Christ.

We must INVOLVE our youth.

Why will they come to church if they don’t feel needed? These teens are not some accessory to your outfit of “a perfect family going to church”; they matter. Allow them to serve with the kids or senior adults. Give them responsibility throughout their time at church and throughout the week knowing that serving will bring them closer to the heart of God. This stirring in their hearts will drive them to continually get involved in the work of God around the church.

We must PRAY with our youth.

Prayer is the pipeline for a personal relationship with God. We must never make Christianity about church itself, but about the relationship with God. There must be one-on-one time spent between God and each person on this earth. If we are not willing to invest time to pray ourselves, why would we expect our youth to find prayer important? Prayer is the main communication for deepening our relationship with God.

Want biblical proof?

EMPOWER: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” I Timothy 4:12 NIV.

TEACH: “When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'” Mark 10:14 NIV

INVOLVE: “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…” Hebrews 12:1-2a NIV

PRAY: “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV

Lord, may Your Kingdom come on this earth through Your people.

Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net / Ambro