God is drawing the next generation to seek him, and SU Central Team leader Dom Conidi shares an important reminder that prayer is fundamental.
God is drawing the next generation to seek him, and SU Central Team leader Dom Conidi shares an important reminder that prayer is fundamental.
Chris came to one of SU’s ‘Revival Ready’ webinars where we shared stories of young people without church backgrounds being drawn to visit churches without understanding why, and how churches should respond.
Chris was excited by the stories. But she was also disappointed. She had already prepared gift packs (a chocolate bar, a copy of Mark’s Gospel, SU’s So, What Next? booklet and other literature) to give out to young people turning up at her church. But so far, no young people had come.
The Sunday after our presentation, Chris was leading intercessions in the church service, so she included some prayers for young people to turn up at their church.
The next afternoon, Chris and two friends were doing a Bible study in church when four teenage boys turned up! Chris recalls, ‘They said they just felt compelled to come in! I said, “Well we’ve been praying for you, and we’ve got a pack ready for you.”’ The boys were visibly moved by this.
‘They were asking questions like, “What is your favourite verse in the Bible?” They had a cuppa with us, and we asked them if they would like us to pray for them and they were very keen. Two of them prayed out loud as well, thanking God for making them so welcome and for bringing them to their second home!’
God is moving in young people’s hearts. If your church is ready to welcome them but is yet to see any, try praying more deeply and specifically for them to come in.
How your church can prepare for ‘turner uppers’
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