By Tim Falk – Wynyard Gospel Church
August 1, 2023
Wynyard Gospel Church and three other churches in the area work together each year to put together the program at Fishing Lake Bible Camp. As a part of the Wynyard church, my wife and I have the joy of serving at camp every year. And I say joy because I love getting to know people and observing how they grow over their time at camp.
This year I have grown in appreciation of our local youth. It amazes me how we can cross paths with people over the year, but it is in a closed environment like this that we are most able to see their talents and potential.
My first encouragement is to take time to get to know our young people and invest in them. It is easy to lump generations together and put negative labels on them. Get to know individuals and notice how they serve in many places like gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants.
The second point I want to make is that we need to be very intentional in training up the next generation. At camp, we see young people come to us at a very crucial age. We know that in some cases, things at home are often difficult, and we get to support them and encourage them in the short time we have. We know that being a young person is difficult. Most of us reading this have experienced the pressure to fit in or the feeling of being left out at some point or another. We know that many life-changing choices are made before people reach the age of 20.
We must be intentional and to go out of our way to raise up the next generation—not just physically by providing a roof over their heads and nourishing meals to eat, but emotionally and spiritually as well.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you know that to care for someone spiritually is to also care for them emotionally and physically. This challenge may come from me, Tim, but it is an expectation that comes from God as He calls us to love one another.
I want to end this message by calling those who call themselves followers of Jesus to take notice of the people—especially the young people around them—and care for them by speaking words of encouragement whenever the opportunity comes their way.
Tim Falk – Wynyard Gospel Church
