We all love harvest, but how do you feel about sowing? Last week I sat with a grandparent who had taken in their high school-aged grandson. The kid is hanging onto school by a thread, doesn’t want anything to do with Jesus, and recently assaulted his mom. This grandpa is doing everything he can to pour into the boy and save him from the cliff edge that he is racing towards.
Sowing is hard work. Sweat on the brow, sun beating down, hands in the dirt kind of work. Of the lost kids we share Christ with, 80% in the course of a year do not accept Jesus. Many of them make progress towards that goal, but others say no, move on, or just ghost us. We have kids that relapse, go AWOL from their homes, get pregnant, or bring hard liquor to our teen center (I had the unique experience of tackling that one).
But seeds do sprout. The gospel does transform. And because we see life change happen, we keep sowing in faith.
Lynette served on Campus Life staff at Computech Middle School 5 years ago. Just this last month she got a text out of the blue
What an encouragement to receive!
Sharline came up to me at a Northpark Church missions fair asking about an old Campus Life guy named Ben Lester. She was a Fresno High kid back in the 70s, youngest of six siblings with divorced parents who found herself at a YFC event. The fun activities and messages were great, but the retreats were especially pivotal moments where she encountered the power of God’s presence.
Her YFC leader, Ben, was who kept her on track and growing with Christ. He was fun, connected with teens well, and was someone to look up to. He was a spiritual guide who ministered in a loving way. Sharline told me that she was following Jesus because of Ben Lester. I was so touched by her story I had the pleasure of calling Ben to relay it to him!
We sow in faith. But biblical faith is a funny thing. Hebrews 11:1 says that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” I don’t know if that grandson will choose to turn the corner, but do know God’s after him and there’s still time. I’ve seen enough Jaylenes and Sharlines and Jamesons and Bens to know that God can do it.
I trust that the seed planted today, though it grows not before my eyes, may yet be developing the first tender roots below ground.
Sowing Together,
Jameson White | Executive Director