Tuesday, August 28, 2007

13 and 18 mean something

Bradley Wright's post on When do teenagers become more religious? is worth a look this week and should send shock waves through student ministry workers as they think about taking shepherding students for six years. 13 and 18 matter!

According to the study, significant religious transitions were made at ages 13 and 18.

We can't just simply welcome 7th graders and commission 12th graders. When they walk in they are ready. When they are preparing to leave they are ready. The most passionate people in the church are looking for the passion of Jesus to guide them through the uncharted waters that lie ahead. These are two HUGE transitions in life. And HUGE transitions must first be met with the Word of God. At these checkpoints in lives of our students they must see that God's Word will be a lamp to their feet and a light to their path. The passion that is required to live a life of faith can be found in God's Word when we meet.

According to this study how we start and end with students in our ministries must not be taken lightly. We must heed Paul's words in Acts 20:26-27 as we welcome our 7th graders and commission our 12th graders, and pray that this is true of us for the six years we have them,

"26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God."

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