Hebrews 4 12

JODIE STEHOUWER: It's time to raise our expectations

Since the beginning of our church, over 20 years ago, one of our main focuses has always been the younger generation. A large portion of our annual budget went toward providing rich, high-energy ministry for children of all ages, toddlers to teens. This mandate still stands strong today. However, a number of years ago, God began to challenge me to take this strategy to another level. He began to show me that, in addition to providing compelling ministry to our young people, we needed to empower them to impact their own circles of influence and entrust them … with ministry. Instead of waiting until students were 14, 15 or 16, I began to see what could transpire if we started at age 10, 11 and 12. As we began to open these doors of opportunity, we witnessed something greater than anything we could have anticipated. You see, at age 14, the things of this world are already screaming at young people for their attention. They are surrounded and hounded with temptations to pull them away from the things in life that will give them true fulfillment. God's Spirit began to show me what could happen if young people experienced God firsthand at age 9, 10 and even earlier. If we gave them opportunities to slay their own giants and to give of their own time, talents and treasures, they would receive far greater than what they sowed. If we gave them opportunities to step out of the boat and onto the water while they were young, then as they grew into adults they could journey ahead knowing that God is real - and not just that He's real, but that He's active and He's alive in their hearts. He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do! He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). By giving young people opportunities to experience God firsthand - not just hearing about Him or watching Him work in the life of someone else - when things of this world come their way (and they will!), they can reject these things as poor substitutes for what they've already experienced with Him. Since the beginning of our church, over 20 years ago, one of our main focuses has always been the younger generation. A large portion of our annual budget went toward providing rich, high-energy ministry for children of all ages, toddlers to teens. This mandate still stands strong today. However, a number of years ago, God began to challenge me to take this strategy to another level.

Mac « Pamforddavis's Blog

” He stood upon the bedrock authority of God’s infallible word as he humbly filled the pulpit answering God’s calling to preach Jesus crucified, buried and resurrected.

Brother Mac loved his Lord and shared that love with those he met as freely as the forgiveness of sin he had received. His warm smile and Alabama southern drawl had a way of soothing a soul and stirring a hungry heart. Mac stood on his convictions and saw potential in young men in his midst. Through his influence and mentoring, Alabama has a group characterized as Mac’s preacher boys , who carry on in his footsteps.

He once served in Pioneer Missions work in New York State, not very far from my birthplace and we shared a love for the people in the central New York State rural areas. He told the story of leaving that productive work following a heart attack, returning to Alabama with his wife and children to ease his beloved’s concerns. Part of his heart remained in the Empire State…

“Mac, I’ll never forget you and hope to be worthy of our Lord as I live by the power of the sword.”

“ For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NAS).