International ASKing Point
“Europe’s younger generation seems so fragile and confused, and their future so uncertain. Yet perhaps this is precisely what God needs: a younger generation who are willing to look beyond human politics for the answers to what abundant life looks like. They need our prayers, our encouragement, and the freedom to use their gifts for God’s glory. It will not have escaped your attention that most of the Christian diaspora community in Europe are also young.
Most of the revivals in history have been among the young. More to the point, they have been led by the young. The mission agency I work with, European Christian Mission, was founded in a prayer meeting in Estonia in 1903 by Ganz Raud when he was just 25. YWAM, OM, and 24/7 Prayer were started by people in their 20s. The re-evangelisation of Europe depends on this next generation. We must release them into leadership.”
From an edited excerpt from Jim Memory’s Europe 2021: A Missiological Report..’ Read the full report. Via Lausanne.org
Jim Memory highlights the role of Diaspora churches, church-planting movements, and the next generation in mission.
The next generation in Europe have been very much on our hearts of late. They have suffered so much through the pandemic and the assault of liberal, individualistic ideologies. Yet we know how much God loves their generation. They understand their world and the challenges and opportunities of technology. They have such potential with all their God given gifts but need the support and wisdom of older Christians offered in love and humility.
If we look at the story of Samuel, he was taken to the Temple by his mother at 3 years old. His call came later, tradition suggests at the age of 12. David may well have been anointed king at the age of 15.Jeremiah is called when he sees himself as only a child.
Samuel’s calling came at a time when “the word of the Lord was rare” 1 Sam 3:1. He didn’t immediately recognise the voice of the Lord, but the aged Eli eventually realised what was happening and told him to respond when the call came again. Samuel listened to God and was entrusted with a really tough message of judgement that was coming on Eli’s sons, and he “was afraid to tell the vision to Eli”. Eli knows God has spoken and asks what God has said. Sadly he is unwilling to address the issue of the sins of his sons.
The story ends with the words, “As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheva knew that Samuel was a trustworthy prophet of the Lord.”
What an inspiration to us to be looking out for where God is at work in and speaking to the next generation, and to pray for them to hear His voice and respond to His call.
