Just One Hour Can Be Transformational.

I remember my teen years. They were super awkward! I also remember how the church cared about me. It was through my local youth group we called Teen Club, where our mentors would spend time each week listening and showing us the truth of God’s Word applied to life. This was more than just a weekly opportunity to get out of the house. This was one hour that transformed my life.

In my teen years, not that unusual from many others that age, it was not easy. Life was awkward and there were many negative influences. My peers, though they were not criminals, were not always the best influence. I have, yet this day some of the best friends from my teen years.

That one hour in Teen Club was both fun and practical because  we played lots of games and we would study the Bible. It was a place where I could go and share my disappointments and ask my difficult questions. I am sure that our adult mentors saw their role as investing in others that would yield eternal results. 

There were three guiding principles that they tried to teach me:  Honesty. Truth. Faith.

It was through mentors and group interactions that I learned to be honest.

It was through practical teachings from The Living Bible that I learned to know God.

It was through prayer that I learned to develop faith.

Those three guiding values are always included in any of my interactions with youth.

Later in my life I became a mentor for youth. Many of those or opportunities to impact a teen and influence of the ways of God.  My hope is that I taught them to be honest and that I gave practical teaching about God and increased their faith through prayer.

When I was a youth pastor, I had that opportunity to bring other positive adults to the youth group to influence the lives of teenagers. I tried to pass on some of the things that I learned from the sponsors of my useth group growing up in emulate those values in the lives of teens.

When I was a mentor to at-risk youth, those that were on the borderline of police intervention I was able to help them be honest and then advocate for them with police and court authorities.

When I was a probation officer, I was able to spend time with youth when they would make poor choices causing them to have court intervention.

I would teach them to be honest and model integrity.

I would help them to understand what the Bible has to say about their life and their understanding of God.

I would also encourage them to pray, the alignment of their will with gods will in order to find God’s best for them and to teach them faith.