Train Them Up - Cresslyn Clay

About a month ago I was walking through Target, and posted in big, red letters I saw the three words that teachers dread most in the summer: BACK TO SCHOOL. Yep, the shelves were already filled with pencils, binders, gluesticks, and every other brightly colored school supply imaginable. My teacher's heart couldn’t help but sigh and say, “Really, already?” Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and adore the students, but mid-July was just too soon to think about going back to spend my days convincing high schoolers that reading poetry is cool.

This week, however, I spent my days at Black Lake Bible Camp with our middle schoolers. I’m one of the boaters. But I get to attend worship services with the campers in the morning and evenings as well. I love to worship, but, you guys, worship with middle schoolers is on a whole different level. The worship team starts playing and all the campers rush toward the stage, hands go up, and they all start shouting and jumping in unison. Their energy along with God’s presence is palpable. After worship a speaker shares scripture and encourages them to grow their relationship with God. There were moments it was pin-drop quiet, which is saying something when it comes to middle schoolers. They were really hearing from the Lord. Some for the first time.

Kids desperately want to learn, even when they act like they don’t. They just need people willing to meet them where they are and help them along. They need people to love them while they instruct them. This is as true at school as it is at church. At Black Lake there were so many people ready and willing to love kids while teaching them about Jesus, and as a result lives were changed.

Truth is, God calls us all to take responsibility for Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” We all have a role in teaching the next generation about God, who He is and how we can have a relationship with Him. Our young people need us. They need you.

So, how can you help? Maybe God is calling you to directly work with kids or youth. There are so many ways to get involved here at church. Talk to Jake Vaden if you’re interested. But, there are other things you can do. Pray! Pray for the children and youth in our church, local schools, and your neighborhood. Pray for those that volunteer in our kids or youth ministries. Pray for teachers (public, private, or home schools). Or perhaps volunteer or give to an organization that supports young people, like the Wichita Center.

I feel very differently mid-August, post Black Lake, about heading back to school. The weight of my responsibility as someone who influences young people sits heavily on my shoulders, but there is joy as well. The next time I walk into Target, I know I’ll be excited to see that BACK TO SCHOOL sign. I’m ready to try and make poetry cool again, but more importantly, I am ready to show God’s love to young people in whatever ways I can. Won’t you join me in the latter?

Cresslyn Clay
Volunteer | Hope City Church