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Youth

Several years ago, an obscure passage from the Old Testament became quite popular in Christian circles, and was dubbed the ‘Prayer of Jabez.’ The passage is I Chronicles 4:10 and in it we read… ‘Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.’

The interesting thing is that we don’t often hear American Christians praying for our borders to be expanded into our communities and a world filled with great pain, suffering, and hopelessness. But Jesus says in John chapter 10 that he came so that we might have life, to the full. Surely this means that you and I will experience pain as well as joy, and be called by God to use those experiences in order to expand His kingdom.

Like the expert in the law in Luke 10, we want to know ‘…and who is my neighbor?’ We don’t ask this question, however, to justify ourselves, but to pray God would show us where we can join Him in the work He is already doing in expanding His kingdom.

So as the world spins on, we are asking God to expand our borders and change our perspectives. Perspectives on how we use time and money; how we interact with the culture which surrounds us, as well as how we treat our neighbors here in North Texas and across the world.

We believe that there is a desperate need to raise up a generation of Christ followers who refuse to stand still in the face of global suffering, war and abuse. That’s why we do youth ministry. We will not settle for teen ministry which seeks only to produce nice kids, but we will seek to expand the borders of the kingdom by empowering Christ followers to use their gifts and offer their lives in service of the King. Will you join us?