Today, we’re excited to share a guest post from Mariah Hazzard, Youth & Children’s Pastor at Grace Church, Bouctouche, NB. Mariah recently spent a week with our junior high students and leaders at Youth Breakaway 1. Check out what she has to say about her time with us in Newfoundland.
Galatians 6:9 says: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap if we do not give up. As a youth pastor, this verse has reminded me that there are seeds being planted in the hearts of my students, and that we will see a harvest if we do not give up.
This past week at Youth Breakaway was an amazing opportunity to see those seeds, that many youth pastors and leaders have planted, grow. Oftentimes we wonder if we’re doing it right, if we’re actually making a difference in the lives of the young people we serve.
Before I arrived, I thought to myself, will I actually have anything to say that they’ll want to listen to? But the first night, watching all the teenagers come up to the altar and want to make God a part of their story, settled my doubts. Then, night after night they showed up to meet with God, and allow Him to speak into their lives. It was an absolute privilege.
Several teenagers received a calling into ministry, many received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. So many more had real and tangible encounters with God. Watching the leaders pray with their teenagers, being able to celebrate the victories and pray through the fears, was by far my favourite part of the week. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, working with teenagers, is that they are hungry for more. More purpose. More grace. More love. More community. Our young people are longing to make a difference in their communities, in their schools and in their families.
“… [T]hey are hungry for more. More purpose. More grace. More love. More community.”
So, please be encouraged, leaders. You are doing a phenomenal job. Watching you work, play, and pray this week encouraged me greatly. It reminded me that we are all on the same mission, to allow teenagers to meet with the Creator of the universe, the One who made them.
It was a privilege to be with you and I am continually praying for you! I pray that Youth Breakaway was an opportunity for you and your students to meet with God and be inspired to be the salt and light of the world!
