History

Throughout the Bible we find young people used by God, including such prominent figures as Joseph, Josiah, Esther, Jeremiah, Mary, John Mark and Timothy.  God works in and through young people.  If we are to do what we see the Father doing, the church must make it a priority to draw youth into His Kingdom and train them up as disciples. The Old Testament is clear in its admonishment to make sure that young people are taught the precepts of God.  God called Israel to teach their young to obey and revere the Lord.  (Deuteronomy 4:9-10).  Deuteronomy 6 indicates that great effort should be taken to ensure that the word of God is passed on to the next generation.  (see also Exodus 11, 13).  Psalms repetitively declares that God should be made known to future generations (Psalms 22:30, 33:11, 100:5, 102:12).  Joel 1:3 succinctly summarizes the mandate to pass God’s prophetic word on to younger generations: “Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation.”  We are to “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).  God’s people are admonished: “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth!” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)