Tonight I watched hundreds of college students and 20 somethings coming into our church. In just 5 months, the Sub30 service has grown from 100-300+. The numbers are good, but the faces are priceless. Tonight I stood at the window watching people from afar as they came in. What I saw is a movement I hope is only in its infant stages
It’s a movement that has a heart for God and people at its most basic cellular structure. It reminds me of a quote I just read this weekend…
While reading Chapter 1 of John Sowers’ “Fatherless Generation”, I found this in the foreward by Don Miller.
“Since we hired John, he has become my friend. I am very proudof him, and he is very proud of me. Fatherless men need friends who are proud of them. It feeds our souls to have friends who are proudof us. John can write a book and lead an organization, but in theend, he’s a fatherless kid looking for somebody to be proud of him. Iknow because that’s exactly who I am too.”
Our students and leaders at Sub30 get it. People just want friends who won’t give up on them. Kids of all ages are like the prodigal son or the 1 sheep that got away from the 99. They aren’t drawn to a crowd of 99 that’s saving a seat for them. They don’t care that the older brother thinks he has all the answers and is always right. They don’t care that the 99 are safe and going to heaven….
They don’t care that the 99 have great songs, great messages, or even good coffee. They don’t care that the older brother faithfully loves the Father.
1 Sheep facing 99 it left does not care about the # 99. There’s only 1 number that matters…… 1. One person who will come back and find them. 1 who will listen. 1 who will care and love them even if they’ve fallen into a pigpen and lost everything.
The prodigals are drawn to a crowd who chases them down, picks them up, commits to them come hell or high water, cares for them, listens to them, prays for them and lives for the day that kid finds belonging, finds home, both with God and with His family.
Sub30 What I love about YOU is your love for the Father and for the Lost. Week after week I see you..passionate Christians walking side by side with YOUR wayward friends.
You not only GO to the party for your prodigal brother…you are the ones who put it together. You throw it with all your energy and all your heart. Not only are you happy when you see the prodigals run to the Father….you are the ones who go out, find them and bring them home one by one.
Christianity as a whole, we have 99 problems. It’s us 99 sheep that have accepted that the Shepherd will go out and get the 1. thank you for modelling how a generation will be won.
Awesome post. God is seriously doing something in sub30. I am humbled more and more each week. Thanks for your insights.
Thanks Trevor—it’s been crazy the # of kids i know that are now attending that were involved in the youth ministries of our campuses back 2004-2008 specifically. HUGE that sub30′ers are going into all the world and bringing back their compadres.
Awesome word, Bro!!
hey, it’s just the realization of a dream… i remember a certain guy calling this core group world changers week after week for a couple years….you speak things as though they are often enough….and no surprise it happens!
Thats the funniest little ever!!!! Great insight man
I recently wrote a song about the Prodigal Son. This is my testimony of God’s amazing grace in my life. If you have a sec here it is. Thanks for listening
thanks Brice…I love the song and your heart. wow man. ….
My fave lyrics ….
“i shouldn’t have this ring, but he won’t let me take it off”….
“you said I love you but I said goodbye.”
“that’s one of many things you could have said.”
God’s blessings man. keep it up.
bigj