Worried about the next generation?

It’s Friday and I’m wrapping up my office work, but a big yellow envelope marked “G” in green pen keeps catching my eye.

About an hour ago it was dropped off at the CCWM headquarters for deposit. When our office administrator, Jane, opened the envelope she simply stated, “Whoa!”.

It was full of cash & coins - delivered to us from a nearby high school, Parkview Christian Academy.

A few weeks ago after the high of M Night 2022, executive director Dan Hennenfent and I hosted M Day for the students of PCA. They were unable to attend M Night due to the fact that they were facilitating the M Night Kids event for CCWM - 20 students introducing children to missions.

Just a bunch of kids.

It turns out it was a pretty good thing the students were busy serving children on the real M Night. One of our main speakers that night, a man whom we’ve chosen to call “G” had to deliver his video message with his face hidden because he is serving in a nation hostile to Christ. G has already been severely beaten for sharing the Gospel and we aim to protect both him and his wife whom we will call “B”. However, at M Day with the smaller group of PCA students, we were able to invite G to join us via livestream. G was right there in front of the students. His bright eyes and enthusiasm for missions connected with those in the room. G spoke with tremendous passion that morning with the students. You could feel the presence of God and the power of G’s words penetrating all our hearts.

After the students left that day, both Dan and I were aware that God was on the move. He was calling the next generation to missions and Dan and I had just experienced a fork in the road moment for some of them. In fact, it was out of the events that transpired during M Day that we began to dream up The YES Retreat (click below at the end of this story to learn what the YES Retreat is).

A few days passed before I got a call from their teacher. She asked me if the students could raise funds for G. They remembered me saying that G & B had a hard time getting support on the mission field because they can’t really talk much about their work. Due to the restrictions in their nation they can’t post updates on social media and even sending newsletters via email is risky for them. G & B were praying through how God would provide for them as they continue their work in the unreached slums of a desperate nation.

Part of my commitment as CCWM’s communications director is to tell the story of our CCWM ministry leaders and to help raise support for the team. I was speaking that day with high school students. In no way did I think I was doing any fundraising for G.

Just a bunch of kids.

I underestimated.

The students had gone home and dreamed up a fundraising idea. They aimed to raise $500 for G to help him stay. They had designed flyers, created slogans, written speeches, gone class to class to share G’s story, spoken at rallies and … prayed.

Before the fundraiser began though, their teacher told me about how the students had collectively decided to be the first givers. Giving from a student fund for retreats and fun activities. The students had asked to donate almost all of it to G.

Just a bunch of kids.

Jane had stacks of cash and little silos of coins on her desk at the end of her marathon count. The yellow envelope simply marked “G” contained over $2000 in cash. When we added up online donations the students had garnered and donations from the students themselves, it totaled just over $3000.

from just a bunch of kids.

I’m here lingering in the office later than I should, just wanting to sit in the presence of the Lord a little longer.

It’s hard to worry about the next generation when you see them through G’s eyes.