How Encouraging!

http://www.alphayouthfilmseries.com/stories/#jassie

Last night my wife and I attended a fundraising supper at Harry Ainlay High School in support of Young Life. We were served by a group of 30 or 40 terrific young people from that club in that school, and heard testimonies from people, who are now adults, of how Young Life had changed their lives.

Then this morning I received an email form a woman who had coordinated an Alpha Youth Film Series in a high school, with some amazing and encouraging Alpha Feedback stats.

Among them:
  • BEFORE ALPHA: 18% of respondents said they were Active Christians or Christians on Fire; 60% said they were Christian but not active.
  • AFTER ALPHA: 60% of respondents said they were Active Christians or Christians on Fire; 25% said they were Christian but not active.
  • BEFORE ALPHA: 23% of respondents said they did not believe in God or were spiritual but not religious.
  • AFTER ALPHA: 10% of respondents said they did not believe in God, were spiritual but not religious, or were not yet Christians, but wanted to know more.

The world and our culture seems to be marching resolutely in a completely different direction from what we, as Christians, might say is compatible with our faith. And it seems to me that young people today stand in danger, perhaps more than ever, of being caught up by this misdirected throng.

It must take a great deal of personal courage to resist. But I believe this courage can be found in the knowledge that any young person is not alone; that there are others who share their same beliefs and values. We just have to find a way to bring these kids from a sense of moral and spiritual isolation, to the knowledge that they are not alone in how they think and feel. Both Young Life and Alpha, among other organizations I'm sure, can do this by giving students a safe and encouraging place among their peers where they can realize they are, "not the only one."

 

That's for starters. Then we progress from there to introducing other young people to a right way of living - to a knowledge that a relationship with God is the greatest they can ever know; that He will be with them in whatever they are going through, and that He will never leave them or forsake them.

With your prayers and support we can make a difference; for a young person, or for society.
 
Blessings,
 
John 





 

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