Usually, when I lead I try not to watch those worshiping. I try to keep my focus on the Lord and what He is doing in these precious moments. But, one night God spoke to me to look across the altar and see the young people passionately, seeking the Lord. As I did, I noticed that all the seats were empty. Every teenager was at the altar. Not only that, they all were pursuing God in their own worship. Sometimes with teenagers you'll see the "distracted" teenager who is just doing what his/her neighbor is doing. Or you'll see the kid who has their arms folded just standing there cause honestly they'd rather be at their seat but, they went with the crowd. No, this night, every teenager was worshiping. As I scanned the altar and was filled with encouragement and fire in my own worship, one teenage boy caught my eye. He was most likely six foot tall very athletic looking, not your average youth group student. Popularity most likely followed him at schools as well as girls. He should be out with the popular kids in the summer playing around and doing what popular kids do. But, there he was at a youth camp both hands lifted towards heaven, eyes closed singing. Not a care in the world. In that moment, I was overwhelmed. My heart was struck with admiration. It's typical to see teenage girls worshiping. It's so uncommon to see an athletic teenage boy pursuing God. I thought of all the places he would be within the next school year, lunch rooms, locker rooms, football fields, bus rides, the platforms that God would give him that not everybody else would have. I was so encouraged by his worship I pray that he continues to pursue God with such passion. There is such a power in a teenage boy's worship.
One night the pastor asked students if God had done anything in their lives to come give their testimonies. Shortly after he said that, a line began to form on the side of the stage full of teenagers. One after the other students shared what God was doing in their lives. It was amazing to hear them share. This young boy grabbed the mic and began to share his story. He shared how his parents had gotten divorced and before they did he was laying in his bed one night and God had spoken to him that they would be getting a divorce. As he talked he became emotional and my heart began to break because you could see what divorce had done to him. He shared that during this trip God had healed him of all the pain he'd gone through and that he was going to make it. This student was barely even a teenager. Tears began to fall from my eyes as I looked away to wipe them, I wasn't the only one. Every grown adult in that room was emotional. Why? Because divorce is a decision we make, not that a child makes. Through his testimony he looked out at his friends and said you're going to make it those of you who are going what I'm going through and it broke me. Divorce. Such a wretched thing. Has more effect than it is given. The pastor asked students to raise their hands if they had been through divorce because he wanted to pray for them. When those students raised their hands, I hung my head. My heart was so heavy. Youth camp is where students are supposed to give testimonies of hearing God's voice for the first time, feeling the Holy Spirit, choosing to stop drinking or dipping or choosing to be abstinent until marriage. Things they can decide for THEMSELVES. Divorce is something they cannot decide for themselves. The precious fourteen year old boy folded into the pastor's chest and just began to squall. In that moment, I made a decision, a vow and a commitment. I NEVER EVER wanted to hear that my son or daughter stood at youth camp to testify that they'd been healed of a decision I made for their life. I know marriage isn't perfect. I know parents aren't perfect and sometimes yes, situations become better on the other side after divorce. But, I did not want to take that chance. The fact that we even had to have an altar call for students to be prayed for who had gone through divorce hurt me. I am so thankful for two Godly parents. I never had to experience that pain. Through that little boy's testimony he'll never know how many of his friends, other teenagers, and adults he ministered to.
Needless to say it was one awesome week in the presence of the Most Holy One. I'll never renounce that a young person has heard from God or that they know God. Some of the teenagers there prayed better than 30 year olds that I know. It's such a precious season, a season of influence. I left the retreat encouraged and ministered to by teenagers and their hearts turned towards God. The worship leader! :)
