Written by Peter Strand - A former summer missionary and intern with the Great River Chapter shares how CEF gave him a passion to reach others with the gospel and helped deepen his faith and mentored him on his path to be a leader.
I’ve been to CYIA six times, so why do I keep going back? Why CYIA for me?
It hit me recently that my life would look significantly different if I hadn’t taken the step to try out Child Evangelism’s student training ministry, Christian Youth in Action. The answer to the “why” question at the beginning would have been “because my sister dragged me into it.” The transformation I experienced in my life after that, however, would easily change my answer.
Let’s talk first about what my answer was then. As a 12-year-old with about as much desire to work with kids as a baked potato, the idea of joining Christian Youth in Action to learn about teaching kids didn’t exactly thrill me on its own. I convinced a friend to do it with me--I really had no desire to reach the lost. If you had asked me then why I joined, I would have offered up some superficial answer about “helping kids learn about God” or “just following orders!” Instead, I was spiritually stagnant in my walk with Christ. I wasn't expecting that summer to be the jumpstart my faith needed. Immature and selfish, I went into CYIA thinking, "no sweat"-turns out, yes sweat."
" I wasn’t expecting that summer to be the jumpstart my faith needed. Immature and selfish, I went into CYIA thinking, “no sweat”—turns out, yes sweat."
CYIA doesn’t mess around—they make sure you know the Gospel, along with some cold, hard facts about why kids need it. Suicide rates among kids ages 5-11 spiking, primarily caused by mental health issues, trauma, and peer or family-related problems (CWLA, 2020). 70% of 18-year-old’s surveyed born 2000 and later saying they believe God does not exist (Pew, 2018). Staggering child abuse rates, divorce and broken homes, and parents in prison. It was sobering to discover how little I knew and to see some of these things for myself while out on the field.
Not to be a Debbie Downer.
So why CYIA for me? Christian Youth in Action is built with the Gospel as its foundation. I realized when I started that I could probably not coherently communicate the Gospel to anyone who asked me. Was I really ready to give an answer for the hope that I had? CYIA changed me in two ways: first, it showed me that I was not, in fact, ready to give that answer. But it also showed me how. It gave me straightforward yet complete tools to learn the Gospel and be able to communicate it effectively to a child who had never been to church. If I can do that, I often think, I can share it with anyone. With the help of the training I received at CYIA, I was able to learn the Gospel, the need I was facing on the field, and, as I progressed through the new levels of training in the ensuing years, the deeper concepts of scripture and the importance of connecting a child to them. CYIA has developed me as a person and as a leader, as a Christians and as a teacher of the Gospel.
" CYIA has developed me as a person and as a leader, as a Christian and as a teacher of the Gospel."
But that’s me. What about you? I find myself asking this question more because of how much I want to convince others that they should try CYIA. Why CYIA for you? Here’s a start on an answer.
CYIA doesn’t just want you to care about the Gospel. They want you to want to care about the Gospel. The Gospel is the root of a Christian’s life and our most important reality—what disciple does not know where his Master stands or what he says? I can think of one thing He said: “Go into all the world and make disciples”—I’d call that a pretty good reason to get moving. If that doesn’t convince you, here are some other ideas: (just kidding, there are no other good ones).
The greatest gift we have received as people of God is new life and salvation—the free, undeserved gift of freedom from bondage. Second Timothy 2 says, “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No good soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since it is his aim to please the one who enlisted him.” The difficulty we may face in proclaiming the Gospel—outside opposition or our sinful flesh—should further encourage us to remain faithful Christians and share in Christ’s sufferings as we labor to share this Gospel of hope, since as soldiers of Christ, our sole responsibility is to follow orders. His orders? Proclaim the Gospel. And please use words. It’s not an optional thing. “When you have a minute” is not included in the operating instructions. Until I started, I thought it was.
I never expected to be confronted with the harsh realities kids experience, even in my own neighborhoods. What I thought was a safe, primarily problem-free middle class lifestyle for many around me, turned out to be dark, hopeless homes and experiences for kids barely old enough to read. I never expected to meet anyone wrestling with their own suicide attempts, and definitely not someone under the age of 10. I never expected to be asked questions I thought had simple, well-known answers, like, “Who is God?” “How did God create so many things?” “How could Jesus love me?” I also never expected to be a child's first experience with God's Word and stand there to witness them touch a Bible for the first time with more excitement than I had. I never expected the deep joy I experienced the first time I led a child to Christ, or to be excited to work with kids and see their lives changed.
"I also never expected to be a child’s first experience with God’s Word and stand there to witness them touch a Bible for the first time with more excitement than I had. I never expected the deep joy I experienced the first time I led a child to Christ, or to be excited to work with kids and see their lives changed."
CYIA and the summer ministry through CEF’s 5-Day Clubs have offered me real, tangible ministry experiences with fellow Christian students, showing the hope and truth of the Gospel to kids who may otherwise never have a chance to hear. CYIA differentiates itself from alternative teen-driven ministries in several key ways. While other student missions opportunities may be focused on the power of a program or superficial, brief spiritual growth, CEF places students in the heart of the mission field, building relationships with kids and teaching the truth. It’s simple—on the field, we only have the Gospel—but that’s all there really needs to be.
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