The Urgency of Reaching the Next Generation

These words have been echoing in my thoughts the last few days.

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."  Jeremiah 8:20

Recent studies show that the percentage of Christ-followers is decreasing with each new generation.

"Nones" are people that self-identify as atheists or agnostics, as well as those who say their religion is “nothing in particular."

32% of Millennials identify themselves as "nones."  This is compared to only 14% of Boomers who identify as "nones."  If this trend continues, the next generation, Gen Z, who are the children in your community and mine, will grow up with the vast majority of them unreached.

The task before us is urgent.  We know that most people who come to faith in Christ do so when they are children.  We only have a short window of time to reach the next generation.  The harvest season is quickly passing us by.

May our hearts be heavy with what is heavy on God's heart...kids who do not know Him.  May the burden produce a holy unrest in our spirit that won't diminish until every child has been reached with the Gospel.  May it move us to action.

When was the last time you wept for the children of your city?  When was the last time you missed sleep because you were praying for the children of your city?  When was the last time you fasted for the children of your city? 

May we have such a passion to reach the kids in our city that we can say with Paul, "My Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed--cut off from Christ!--if that would save them."  Romans 9:3

God wants the children of your city to come to Him...and He wants to use you to reach them.  2016 can be the year He uses you to make a major impact.  2016 can be the year He uses you to bring hundreds of kids into His kingdom.  2016 can be the year He uses you to turn the declining percentage of Christ-followers into a growing percentage of Christ-followers.  

I'm praying and believing with you for the hearts and souls of the next generation.  There is nothing more important that we can give our life to.