Training the next generation at Tri-State

“Tell your children about these things, then let your children tell their children, and let your grandchildren tell their children." (Joel 1:3 NCV)

God says we have a responsibility to pass on what we know to those younger than us. That’s a responsibility for all of us – not just parents, but everyone. This responsibility is of extreme importance to Tri-State Christian Service Camp.  God is calling us to pass on everything he has shown us to a new generation that will outlive you.

What have we been called to pass on? Knowledge, perspective, conviction, skills, and character.

Jesus modeled all five of these in how he trained his disciples. All of us – need to be passing on these five building blocks to younger generations. At Tri-State in 2007 we want to:

1.         Help them to acquire knowledge.

Proverbs 16:16 says, “It’s much better to have wisdom and knowledge than gold and silver.” (NCV) In other words, it’s better to be smart than wealthy. It’s better to have knowledge than money.

How do you help kids or young adults acquire knowledge? There’s lots of ways you can do it. You can take them on trips with you. You can go to the library with them. You can pass on books to them that are important to you. Why? It is part of passing on a legacy of what we think is important.

Still, the most important way to pass on knowledge to the next generation is for you to be interested in it as well. Learning is contagious. You’ve got to want to learn. You must model it. As a leader, this should be second nature to you. All leaders are learners.

What’s the most important knowledge to acquire? Knowledge about God. The Bible says in Proverbs 1:7: “Knowledge begins with respect for the Lord.” Knowledge of everything else is important. In fact, God wants us to know as much about as many different things as we can, but he wants us to know him more than anything else. The most important knowledge you can pass on to the next generation is knowledge of God. This is a vital part of our ministry.

2.         Help them broaden their perspective.

What is perspective? Perspective is seeing life from God’s point of view. That’s not the natural way for us to see things. We normally see life from our point of view. That’s what causes all our problems.

Perspective answers the “why” questions of life, just as knowledge answers the “what” questions. The more you get God’s perspective on life the more you understand why what’s happening is happening.

How do you help young people gain perspective?

• Introduce them to the Bible. Help them to become a Bible reader because God’s perspective is in his Word.
• Introduce them to wise people. The quality of their lives will be determined by the relationships they choose to have.

3.         Help them cultivate convictions.

The people who changed this world – for good or bad – were those with the deepest convictions. They were passionate people. When you have convictions, you can accomplish almost anything.

If kids don’t have convictions, they’ll be captivated by culture. This culture basically has four values: pleasure (“I want to feel good”), possessions, (“I want to make a lot of money”), prestige (“I want other people to envy me”), and power (“I want to be in control”). We can’t allow the next generation to be captivated by these values. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Hold tight to your convictions. Give it all you’ve got. Be resolute.” (MSG)

So what to do we do? We share our convictions passionately. Convictions are caught not taught. If you’re excited about your convictions, those whom you lead will be as well. Convictions grab people.

More important though is that convictions must be modeled. In other words, you be what you want them to become. Jesus talked about this in the Gospel of John. John 17:19 says, “For their sake I dedicate myself completely to you, Father, in order that they too may be completely dedicated to you.” (TEV) Jesus modeled conviction for us. Now we must model it for the next generation.

4.         Help them develop skills.

Skills answer the “how” of life. And today’s youth need our help in developing both learning skills and life skills. They need to learn how to do things from figuring out their multiplication tables, to how to make their bed, to – eventually – how to raise children and get along with a spouse.

You see, hard work doesn’t guarantee success. We’d like to think it does, but it doesn’t. I know a lot of people who work hard and are not successful. Why? Because it’s not hard work that brings success. “If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success.” (Eccl. 10:10 NIV) The Bible says skill will bring success.

So how do you help people develop skills? There are three ways.

First, identify their spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. It is how God has wired us. Want to change the destiny of a young person? Help them understand what they’re good at.

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train a child in the way he should go.”(NIV) The Hebrew there literally means “in his natural bent,” the way he’s naturally wired by God. If you try to train a young person in a way that opposes his spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences, you’re doomed to failure.

Once you’ve helped them figure out what they are good at, you help them practice what they are good at. The only way you develop skill is by doing it over and over and over again. Whether the skill is hitting a baseball or preaching a sermon, the more you do it, the more skilled you become.

Then you trust them with responsibility. You’ve got to let them do it on their own. People respond to responsibility. If you treat kids like babies, you’re going to have to diaper them the rest of your life.

5.         Help them establish character.

This is the pinnacle. God says you’re going to take your character to heaven so that’s what’s important.

The Bible says, “Take on an entirely new way of life, a God-fashioned life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” (Eph. 4:23-24 MSG) This is one of God’s five purposes for our lives – to grow up and develop the character of Christ.

How do you help young people establish character? There are many ways. Let me just give you two.

• Protect their minds from evil thoughts. Garbage in – garbage out. Proverbs 15:14 says, “A wise person is hungry for truth while the fool feeds on trash.” (NLT) The Bible says we want to keep youth innocent regarding evil, so that they become mature in what is good.
• Don’t protect them from difficulty.  We grow through tough times. We build character not by having everything go our way. Failure is not fatal. Everybody’s got to learn that. Allow your kids to learn from their failures.

We are looking forward to a great year at Tri-State in 2007.  We have the greatest opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives. 

In Christ,

Don Conley
Camp Director