Youth: Our Talents, Our Future, Our Survival

YOUTH: OUR TALENTS-OUR FUTURE-OUR SURVIVAL

Matt 25:14-15 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

The continued growth and future of the Congregational Holiness Church is closely linked to our commitment to youth and youth ministries. It is a statement of fact and clear reality that a local church or even a denomination that has no active and ongoing commitment to winning, training, and utilizing youth will eventually cease to exist. Yet churches and denominations that do see youth as treasures given by God and that do commit themselves to invest in youth accordingly, will grow and prosper in the 21^st Century. Investment of God-given resources and treasures always results in God’s blessings and favor. This Biblical principle is found in the Parable of the Talents and can be applied to our commitment to the youth and children of the Congregational Holiness Church.

Before the wealthy landowner or lord left on his trip, he entrusted three of his servants with valuable talents of silver. The key word is entrusted. He entrusted them with talents. Each silver talent consisted of 1000 silver coins and would be worth between one and two thousand dollars today. God has entrusted to us "talents" much more valuable than silver or gold. He has entrusted each local Congregational Holiness Church with youth and children. They are of infinite, eternal value to God’s kingdom. Jesus Christ acknowledged their value when He cried out to His disciples to let the children/youth come to Him; for the Kingdom of God belonged to such (Mark 10:14). Youth represent the future of the Congregational Holiness Church. Yet, they are our valuable "talents" NOW!

Each of the three servants was given talents by the landowner. The first servant was given five talents, the second servant received two talents, and the third received one. Regardless of size, God has given every Congregational Holiness Church youth and/or children. The number may be small or large. Yet, the number is not the issue. Faithfulness and commitment to those youth and/or children that God has given us is the real basis of God’s blessing. Zechariah 4:10 states, "For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth. "No one who hopes to accomplish or does accomplish anything great despises the day of small things" (Keil & Delitzsch).

They were to invest their lord’s talents, and upon his return present to him the original talents and the increase. The two servants, who worked diligently and invested their talents, multiplied their talents. One servant neglected the talent that was entrusted to him and buried it. He saw no increase. Later when the landowner returned, he rewarded the two servants who had faithfully invested the talents entrusted to them. The talent of the third servant was taken from him. "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." The implications of this parable are quite sobering, and many may choose to ignore them. If we see our youth/children as our valuable "talents" entrusted to us by God and truly invest in them with our prayers, time, and money; then God will wonderfully help us to keep our present youth/children and help us to win more. If we are truly serious about our "talents," each CHC must gear itself as never before to reach, teach, and win youth for the Kingdom. There are literally thousands of successful programs, activities, and Bible study materials available that work! The book, The Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, is an excellent resource from which to develop strategies, plans, and programs to allow local Congregational Holiness Churches and Districts to truly invest in their "talents." A growing church thinking about employing someone to assist the pastor would do well to obtain a youth pastor totally called to youth and children’s ministries. Even District activities such as our annual District Camp Meetings should be more aggressively youth-friendly and oriented. A good barometer of this would be to look at the percentage of youth twenty-one years old and younger present nightly at our District Camp Meetings.

Each servant was rewarded according to his faithfulness. The times in which we now live are evil. Yet, it is in such times that God often gives us the greatest times of opportunity to ministry. The number of youth and children is growing astronomically in this country as in no other time in history. Wow, what a great time for the Congregational Holiness Church to seize the opportunity! In the parable the lord gave each servant talents according to his ability. It is understood that churches vary in size and ability to invest in their youth/children. YET EVERY CONGREGATIONAL HOLINESS CHURCH SHOULD HAVE A VISION FOR YOUTH INVESTMENT AND ACTIVE PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES FOR ITS "TALENTS." For if we neglect and "bury our talents," there will never be an increase and we will lose the youth/children that we do have. We lose too many youth to other churches/denominations each year. Yet, tragically we lose youth to the world of sin because of neglect to invest in our youth. In the Parable of the Talents Jesus clearly demonstrates that God’s blessings and increase occur when His people invest in those blessings or talents given to them. Jesus also pointed out that there is no increase or even future for those who do not invest in the talents that God has given them. OUR YOUTH ARE OUR TALENTS, OUR FUTURE, and OUR SURVIVAL. WHAT WILL WE DO WITH THEM?

---Rev. Danny K. Jones, General Christian Education Director

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