This past weekend we had our Elevation Services. In other words, the teenagers in our church preached, did announcements, lead pre-service prayer, did a dance, basically took the lead and organized both our morning and evening services!
It was amazing!
Can teenagers preach? Absolutely...!
For too long have the church said that they value children and believe God can use them, but almost never give them the opportunity to actually minister! This needs to change... and we believe slowly but surely as Every Nation we are moving in a direction where our words and deeds show that we value children and teenagers.
We need to empower teenagers to minister the Word of God. We need to give them platforms to excel in what God calls them to do. Allowing our teenagers to "take over" our services is just one way we are doing this.
Imagine someone believed in you enough when you were thirteen, to give you the opportunity to preach to hundreds? You would probably be extremely inspired and you would start to believe that when people say God can and want to use you, He really means it!
1 Timothy 4:12-13 - 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. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching.
May you be encouraged to see that there are young people stepping up, to make disciples and advance God's kingdom!
Here are a few photo's taken during the services:
Here is a short video of the whole church, even the older generation, supporting the teenagers by joining with the "Monkey Dance". Creating an environment where every generation feels welcome.
Thank you for everyone's support and prayer!
Blessings,
Phil
It was amazing!
Can teenagers preach? Absolutely...!
For too long have the church said that they value children and believe God can use them, but almost never give them the opportunity to actually minister! This needs to change... and we believe slowly but surely as Every Nation we are moving in a direction where our words and deeds show that we value children and teenagers.
We need to empower teenagers to minister the Word of God. We need to give them platforms to excel in what God calls them to do. Allowing our teenagers to "take over" our services is just one way we are doing this.
Imagine someone believed in you enough when you were thirteen, to give you the opportunity to preach to hundreds? You would probably be extremely inspired and you would start to believe that when people say God can and want to use you, He really means it!
1 Timothy 4:12-13 - 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. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching.
May you be encouraged to see that there are young people stepping up, to make disciples and advance God's kingdom!
Here are a few photo's taken during the services:
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| Myself introducing Rosinah (13) to do announcements |
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| Stedman (17) sharing a testimony of how God is using him to impact his friends |
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| Martin, one of our new leaders, sharing how God is opening doors for us to minister at Boys High |
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| Trisha (15) preaching a message about the life of Peter |
Thank you for everyone's support and prayer!
Blessings,
Phil
