March 13, 2007
Good Morning,
Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them.
Lady Bird Johnson
It was a thrill to be at Camp Homelani this past weekend for Youth Councils. The older I get the more encouraging it is for me to be around young people. I am not sure about you, but I believe the media today gives an incorrect view of today’s youth. It describes them as self-serving, self-indulging and self-pleasing. Actually, I think that more accurately describes my generation than this one. I watched the young people during the weekend and I saw that they cared for each other; they were encouraging and very interested in finding ways to reach out to others.
I have attended many youth weekends over the years. There has been a significant change in recent years, moving from entertainment based to service and ministry based. The delegates seem to have a more intense desire to doing something of meaning rather than to sit back and be entertained. I was blessed by the young people, but must also admit they challenged me as well.
Saturday afternoon the delegates split into eight groups and left camp to find ways to serve others in practical ministry. The groups did things such as washing car windows at gas stations, walked down the main street in Haleiwa asking people if they could pray for them, went to parks and played games with local children, while finding ways to encourage and serve them. I do not see me being nearly as bold as these young people were in sharing their faith and serving others. It was an encouragement to me.
Another highlight for me was the Saturday night prayer stations. Several prayer stations were set up around the dining room, where the delegates would move to each, praying for specific needs of the world. I watched intently as the young people moved from station to station sincerely praying. I saw some praying by themselves, while others joined into groups of two or three praying for things such as world missions, their corps leaders, relationships and God’s plan for their lives. Again, it was a very different picture than the world paints of these fine people.
My sincere thanks go to our divisional youth leaders Captains Neil and Rubina Navarro. The Navarros, being from Hawaii, have a very special relationship with the young people. Many young people see them as role models. In a world that has all too many poor role models, it is a joy to watch a couple that young people should emulate.
Our young people and youth leaders certainly followed Paul’s instructions when he told his student Timothy, “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
Blessings,
d
