The Young People Reaching Out to Other Young People

It seems good to write a few words concerning the attempts young people make to reach other young people that are lost. My thoughts will come in no order of priority. Rather, as they come to my mind, consider the following observations:

First, it has been my observation for many years that a young person ( I mean young - maybe as young as 12 or 14 or 16) could do much good in reaching out to the 1,000’s of other young people in our area who have never heard the gospel. There is a natural connection just as the rich person has a natural connection with the rich or the young couple with the young couple. All around us are young people almost anxious to hear the gospel. When I was growing up, attempts to reach the young by the young (under some supervision) were very useful and resulted in some converting work. 

Second, the equipment for doing this a sound home life, sound doctrine, and the grace of God to overcome temptation that will be involved in such endeavors. At all ages temptation is there when doing evangelistic work. This is especially so for the young person. There is a thin line at times in this matter. On one hand, we want to be friend’s to the sinner, but on the other hand we know a “companion of riotous men will come to shame.” This a difficult and dangerous area to say the least. We, as parents, want our children kept from evil, rightly so. Yet we want them to grow in the Lord.  And we want them to eventually be used to reach the lost in varying degrees. It may be that only certain young people will have the wisdom and holiness to be used this way. Are there young people in the church here that meet those qualifications? 

Third, we have not seen this done to any noticeable degree. I do think that in general the child who is converted will grow up spending the majority of his time with the believer (outside maybe work situations) which is understandable. In fact, the young person who spends most of his/her time with the lost (when free) is probably indulging in carnality to some degree unless those relationships are to reach the lost. But, while we have not seen this in a noticeable way, it does not mean we can not desire it. If you are a young person, allow a few questions. Are you born again? Do you see all about you the 1,000’s of young people who are lost? Do you have desire to reach out to them? Are you keeping yourself pure when around them? Are you willing/desire to reach them? Maybe the Lord will stir up your heart to begin to wisely reach out to the 1,000’s of young people in our city and surrounding area. They need the Lord. It is an extremely needed and rewarding endeavor. Do you like “extreme” sports? Then I challenge you to take up winning the young who are lost. Do so and you will learn a new meaning to the word “extreme.” You will suffer ridicule, rejection and opposition for Christ’s sake. But some will hear and believe the Gospel. Give it your prayerful consideration. The 1,000’s of young people are waiting.....