Summer of Fun: Youth Director’s Perspective
Over the past year, there’s been a young lady in the news making a mark in the world. Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old Swedish girl, has been recognized worldwide for the environmental sermons she’s been preaching. I have not been keeping up with every one of her speeches. However, if you’re interested, you could always go to YouTube to hear them presented at various events and organizations.
What I like about Greta is her tenacity to brave the news media and politicians, regardless of the many questions posed to her. To me, she responds with reasonable answers reflecting her perspective, based on her limited experience. Recently, Greta was asked to speak at the United Nations General Assembly in NYC. She was passionate, eloquent, and unflinching in her message to world leaders about the need to pay more attention to the environment and to be stewards of it. Additionally, Greta was nominated as a Nobel Prize Laureate for her work on environmental issues. What’s most impressive about her is that she does all of this activism while living with Asperger’s, a neurological disorder.
I appreciate reflecting on stories like hers because they challenge me to assess my own life and the ministry to which I’m committed. Am I doing enough to make lasting changes in the lives of youth? Am I limiting myself to the tried and true rather than pushing the envelope to achieve higher goals for God’s glory? What more could I do and say which might create an environment where youth and young adults can reach their potential?
Beyond this, my belief that there are youth and young adults in Ontario just like Greta who are making huge differences in the lives of people around them. They may not capture the attention of news media whenever they rise to speak. Neither will they be mentioned or followed on social media as influencers. Yet, the work they do, in small but significant ways, speaks volumes, reflecting their commitment to service and their desire to be messengers of Christ. These unsung heroes should have our continual recognition, as well as our prayers and support.