THE DYNAMICS OF A NEW GENERATION

 "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart 

and a good conscience and a sincere faith."

1 TIMOTHY 1:5

There are those who run church youth clubs, reaching out to bored teenagers who would be destroying things on the streets, but instead kick a ball inside church and destroy things inside. (It would be a shame if they had nothing to talk about in deacon's meeting or fabric comittee). I'm grateful to my friends who save this government a fortune, by investing in lives this way, and engage with those the politicians (and even sometimes the police) would like to forget about. There are those who build massive youth work activities, and energise half the church for Friday night crowd control. I am grateful to those who impact the community in this way, showing the beauty of God's new community working together.

There are however those who think one step ahead, and aim bigger. There are those for whom a single trophy conversion of the 7 year old drug pusher is not enough. For some have a passion bigger than a spike of impact, their desire and prayer is for an army of disciples to transform the next generation in their city, region and country. Some have a real pastors' heart, not just to minister to isolated individuals but to minister to the whole generation. To this end they think always about the next stage, how  disciples will be taught now  in truth - maybe even before they come to faith, so that one day they will be great leaders. The think carefully as they teach young people in their context, about what they will emulate, what is intimated about parenthood, leadership and a lifetime of service. They teach them to read their own times, so that theirs is a legacy long enduring after we are old. They invest in making disciples who make disciples. These are the people I really, really, thank God for.

Meet my friend POLIKARP Ciganuk

 

Polikarp has this kind of pastors' heart. To this end he has a local, regional and wide impacting ministry. Until recently that ministry has kept him often in the car, trailing the (rather bumpy)  North Ukranian roads. His heart is for the next generation, and many of them love him for it. There is a reason the growth in youthwork is outgrowing other agegroups in Krements. This is gospel work, life changeing investment, that is good for the whole community, and it is magnetic. Polikarp has Invested his time energy and prayers into youth leaders, but not just for the sake of a trophy youthwork, his prayer is to invest in people in order that the church, will have fully orbed leaders emerging from the next generation.

1 Tim 1:5 reminds us that gospel training is about love. Where gospel love abounds, something explosive happens. Love is something our world is crying out for. True love for young people is bigger than letting them have fun (it is that, but so much more). It is about modelling dynamic discipleship, training "the heart" and "conscience". It is pastoring people 1 on 1 , life on life, partnering with them through life. Helping them make wise, bible informed choices about; friendships, life partners, character issues, life goals, dreams and desires. It is about helping thoughts be captivated and captured by Christ, the only one who will never let us down. If this is the shape of our desire, then our rewards are much bigger than a healthy youth work. 

POLIKARP teaching foundations of the Christian faith.

 

The young people of Kremenets are impacting the world for the gospel. They are sharing their "turn around story " with other young people on the streets. This is the reason for a steady stream of baptismal services.  The ripple effect is bigger than one baptism pool. The young people of Kremenets are listening to the wise bible teaching of Polikarp and the team. They will make great leaders if they maintain this teachability, and attitude of servanthood. The impact of this ministry will be bigger than a few teenagers less bored on a Friday night, it will be a whole generation who have caught the gospel passion to reach their nation and the world for Christ.

DAY 23: Pray  for Polikarp and his family.

We thank God that Polikarp has spent more time stuck in one place (Kremenets), and that the church have been able to be the receivers of his giftedness in  preaching, leading and pastoral care during this covid season.

Sadly this has meant extra challenges also for Polikarp - the challenge of income, the pressures on future "tentmaking" and the many things that are harder to achieve when stuck at home. Please pray for our brother, that God will provide, supply, guide, and direct.

Pray that there will be a great harvest from this ministry. An army of great people, Christlike people... great  parents, who look after the neglected and forgotten, who treasure the orphan, who commend the love, purity and beauty of Jesus Christ. 

Praying with you,

BLOGSKI