Older Vets Encouraging Young Dudes

Posted on June 11, 2009
We know God is masterminding history. But at the same time our hearts are broken about how Americans in their teens, 20s and 30s have for the most part abandoned biblical Christianity. There is much prayer among some concerned Christians for a great movement of God. Many of us keep on praying for spiritual awakenings because we know that with God, anything is possible (Matthew 19:26). It was long ago, but revival did break out throughout America in the 1740s and then again in Kentucky around the 1800s. It can happen again! But history reveals something very crucial about spiritual awakenings. The big bang behind them has been the young. Young people have ignited the great spiritual movements of the past. There is today a movement of God occurring with young people in Asia, Africa and South America. But in the USA and Europe - former cradles of spiritual rebirth - Christianity is loosing its grip. This leaves us older toots (anybody over age 40) wondering what to do -- other than to pray. Since the large Billy Graham kind of evangelical events cease to work, this leaves us with a rarely used but very effective strategy -- one-on-one evangelism/discipleship. It is the strategy that Jesus used.  Here is how it works. We veterans in the faith are watchful for the young ones that God puts across our path. We pray for him to show them to us. And if we're paying attention, we can find these young dudes everywhere - at work, in the neighborhood, in recreational activities, and sometimes at church. When God shows them to us, we vets try to get on their page. We learn to be patient with their different perspectives on life than we have (Col 2:8, 2 Tim 23-25). We take the trouble to forge bonds with one or two of them. Then after some trust is built (today's young are very slow to trust anybody), and when we sense an openness from them, we share the deeper Biblical truths that transform lives. The strategy is simple: older vets encourage younger dudes -- one at a time. We sacrificially make time to meet with them for meals; attend games together; golf or fish, jointly work on a project, etc. (Read my 6/11/09 blog about my own disappointments and successes in my own one-on-ones) We vets discover that as we're generous with our own lives, it'll prompt some younger guys to open up to God (Matt 5:6). But such a disciple strategy runs contrary to our natural desire for a comfortable, hassle-free life, as we get older. There are more disappointments than successes. We sometimes want to throw in the towel. But one or two changed lives occurring right before our eyes along the way keeps us going. Who knows, these few men may be just the ones who God uses to ignite a spiritual awakening - maybe even the next American revolution, a revolutionary without guns. www.menwhowin.com -- Chocked full of insights about building better marriages, having good sex, kicking porn, controlling anger, and getting tighter with God.

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