Why it is so important to me to win young people for Jesus

From Miles G. McPhersonExclusive columnist Tuesday, 25 June 2024

On Wednesday, June 26th, Rock Church, in partnership with local schools and youth organizations in San Diego, will host a free youth event called Just1 San Diego. We expect thousands of middle and high school students to gather and enjoy powerful performances from special guests Elevation Rhythm and Christian rapper Hulvey. I will also share with students a message of hope that will change their lives through prayer.

I am often asked why I am so passionate about winning young people to Christ. Many people don’t know that although I am currently the senior pastor of Rock Church, my first ministry was in youth ministry. In 1984, I began ministering to the teenagers in my neighborhood. I spent most of my time with children who did not attend church. I led school assemblies and went to pizza parlors and high school football games. Eventually, I became the youth pastor at Horizon Christian Fellowship.

One of the most amazing experiences I had during this time was when we were training students to work in the ministry. Ephesians 4:11-12 says in the Bible, “And he himself appointed some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

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We taught students how to set up the room, perform skits, lead the service, and preach. The more they took on leadership roles in the ministry, the more God blessed their faith. The verse I relied on in my early years as a youth minister was Ephesians 3:20. I always believed that God would exceed my expectations, and that is exactly what happened. As I continue to work with students, it is exciting to see how God continues to strengthen my faith and theirs.

My commitment to winning this generation to Christ also stems from my childhood. My high school years were so beautiful. I remember growing and maturing as I discovered who I was. It’s exciting to see young people with their whole lives ahead of them dreaming about their future. They inspire me to dream and make a difference. I see how important it is for them to have the right information to make the best decisions for their lives. I also see how powerful the influence of their friends can be. Sometimes that influence can be so much greater than that of an adult. It breaks my heart to see how many teens and young people are led astray.

As we pray for Just1 San Diego, we hope that countless young people will accept Christ as their Savior and eventually share the gospel with their friends. The Bible says in Romans 1:16, “The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. It is supernatural and life-changing.”

Reflecting on my time in youth ministry helps me determine the direction of my current work. I am reminded that the gospel is the only message we have. There is no other reason for our hope. The gospel works. It changed students’ lives when I started youth ministry in 1984, and it continues to change students’ lives forty years later! Many students are searching for meaning, trying to find what only the gospel offers. As we look at what is going on in our culture and watch the media, we realize that this generation has fewer and fewer credible ways to hear and receive the gospel. That is why it is more important now than ever to make the gospel easy and accessible to all.

The Just1 event in San Diego is just one of the ways we are reaching this generation. I hope God will ignite the hearts of pastors and churches across the country and that we will be passionate about reaching youth and surrounding communities to Christ. At Rock Church, we are developing a Just1 evangelism training to train people to share the gospel with this generation. The training will be available later this year to anyone who wants to learn how to share their faith.

If you are in San Diego, we invite you to join us for Just 1 San Diego on Wednesday, June 26. For more information visit: sdrock.com/just1sd and for those who would like to receive more training on sharing your faith visit: https://www.sdrock.com/gospel.