2 Timothy 1:1-7
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 6For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
As I was praying last week, God reminded me that there have been two people who have consistently poured into my life spiritually over the last six years, and that I would not be where I am in Christ today if it weren’t for them. This couple has taught me so much — about Holy Spirit, about ministering to people, about worship leading… For whatever reason, they took an interest in me when I starting coming to church at Ogden. They singled me out — or at least it felt that way. And I want our youth group to experience God like that.
He spoke to me and told me that if we wanted to see our youth grow like that, we were going to have to start pouring into their lives like that. I have come to realize over the last several years that I am most effective at one-on-one or small group ministry and teaching. Heidi Baker talked a lot this summer about “stopping for the one”. That’s basically what God has told me to do in this season. I think I knew it before last week, but there’s something special about when God breaks in and reveals something to you personally. I feel like I have a defined sense of purpose at our church now. I know what I’m supposed to be doing, and that is pouring my life into a few of the youth. I pray that I can be to them what that couple has been to me..