This is the talk I am giving tonight to the Jr. High and Sr. High youth groups at church. It makes me feel old because I am 44 and have not yet changed the world. My prayer is that the Lord will continue to narrow my visions to things He is passionate about. And broaden my impact for Him.
Tonight we are talking about how serving changes the world
When I think about changing the world – it’s a huge idea, to big for me to grasp, and you are probably thinking as one person, I can’t do anything big enough to change the world.
But how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time
And how do you change the world by serving one person at a time
I have three things you need to keep in mind to change the world:
The first is 1. It can be done
1 timothy 4:12 says
“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.”
Can you imagine if world change started in our church and it started with Water’s Edge.
Cnn has heroes awards – you can go on line and nominate people and see the varies winners and one of the categories is young wonders
Here are just a few:
Kayla Cornale, 18, of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who developed a musical system to improve communications with autistic people
Pat Pedraja is only 12.
When he was diagnosed with leukemia he learned that minorities like himself make up less than a third of the U.S. bone marrow registry--so he started Driving for Donors. He travels the country to encourage minorities to register. This year, he signed up more than 5,000 donors in three months.
According to UNICEF, one of every six people on Earth lacks access to safe drinking water. So Sixteen-year-old Ryan Hreljac, who lives near Ottawa, Ontario, is working to change that. To date, the Ryan's Well Foundation has built 266 wells in 12 developing countries, bringing clean water to more than 435,000 people.
These are great examples of young people who served and are impacting the world
The second thing you need to keep in mind to change the world is
2.Your impact can be eternal
Right now in Hollywood it is very hip to help countries internationally, angelie jjolie and bread pitt are paving the way, and it is wonderful but if the people they impact don’t know jesus, they have only impacted 50 -80 years of their eternity.
Last summer, The Voice of the Martyrs which is a non-profit, interdenominational organization with a vision for aiding Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
invited eight ordinary teenagers from around the United States and Australia to meet the underground church of Vietnam. Their mission was simple-to bring Bibles and other help to Christians in a restricted nation.
Can you imagine at your age right now, smuggling Bibles into Viet Nam? Kids your age are doing it.
The third way your serving can change the world
is by giving what you have to God
I want to take you to John 6:5-13 This is when Jesus feeds the five thousand
He’s been teaching all day and they have no food for these people
In Vs 8 one of the disciples says “here is a boy with 5 loaves and 2 fish how far will they go among so many?” but Jesus takes it and starts to feed the people and then in verse13 they gathered the leftovers and it filled 12 baskets.
One small boy willing to share his lunch in a situation that seemed pointless got to see God multiply it!!
A few years ago there was a boy at my school, cfs, who needed to do community service hours for school – so he decided to collect money for an organization (International Justice Mission) who helps free modern slaves in other countries –where kids are enslaved in sex trades, working in factories and fields and so much more. His service project has grown into an arm of IJM. He has spoken all over the world and won awards and has helped so many people because he took something small and gave it to God. Lets watch this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3_V84gbUZs (if unable to see this video cut and paste it into your internet browswer)
Let me end with this quote by Margaret mead..
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead
Let’s pray
2 comments:
good stuff, can't wait for w-edge tonight.
A woman was overwhelmed by the poverty that she was seeing and felt that her work was futile. She went to Mother Theresa and said how do you help so many people? Mother Theresa answered, "do what is in front of you."
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