Speak Up!

3 Reasons to Give a Testimony

1. Give God the Glory
Many people today think as if God is dead because they never see Him at work in their life. When we tell others what God is doing in our lives, it shows them He is alive and still working today. Philippians 1:6 says, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” If you have made a decision for Christ or God is at work in your life, speak up and let someone know. It will give God the glory for what He is doing.

2. Encourage the Church Family
Even good people get tired or discouraged. One of the most encouraging things is to hear how God is working in someone else. Psalm 107:2 says, “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.”

3. Making Public What God Is Doing in Your Heart Makes You Accountable
We have no problem making decisions known when we truly intend on keeping them. When we shy away from telling others about a decision we have made, it is usually a sign that we really have no intention of keeping it at all. Learn to embrace and value accountability.

Let me encourage you to speak up and make known what God is doing in your heart and life. Share it with others in your youth group or Bible study group. Share it with your pastor and church. When is the last time you spoke of His work in you? I encourage you to do so. It will not only encourage others, it will encourage you.

How To Encourage Your Youth Director

If you have a youth director, you are blessed. Many young people would give anything to have a youth director. Whatever you do, please do not take your youth director for granted. I do know that youth directors everywhere need young people who will encourage them. God gave me the privilege of being a youth director for a few years before putting me in the pastoral ministry. My wife and I were blessed with some tremendous young people. Many of these young people are now faithfully serving the Lord today. I truly believe that a youth director/leader is very valuable to the young people in the Lord’s churches. Here are some of the ways that young people can encourage their youth leader and his wife. Many of these ideas would apply to encouraging a pastor, Sunday school teacher or Christian school teacher. To any young people who read this, I want to challenge you to encourage your youth leader and his wife.

1) Be faithful to church.

A youth director loves to see his young people faithful to every church service.

2) Be faithful to all youth events.

This would include Sunday school, teen hour (like FRMBC’s ProTeens), teen soul winning, teen prayer time, youth revivals, youth conferences, teen camp, etc.

3) Be a soul winner.

If you really want to encourage your youth director, lead a soul to Christ.

4) Show up early.

When you show up early, you can meet the visitors, be friendly, and help to set a good spirit.

5) Be responsive in services.

It’s okay for young men to say “amen” at the appropriate times. Pay attention, and allow God to speak to your heart. It will encourage your youth director to see you respond during the invitation.

6) Sing.

As a young person, you must learn to sing. Sing with fervency! Think about the words of the songs. A youth group that loves to sing is a youth group that is spiritual.

7) Sit up front.

I have never seen a young person do great things for God from the back row of Sunday school or church.

8) Look for ways to help.

Help your youth director set up before activities and clean up after activities. Don’t allow your youth director’s wife to clean the church kitchen. Don’t allow the youth director to sweep the bus/van. Take the initiative to help in any way possible.

9) Express your gratitude.

Be thankful. Thank your youth director for lessons, messages, activities, etc. Write a lot of thank you notes—be a thankful teenager.

10) Write notes of encouragement to your youth director and his wife.

I still have many notes of encouragement from young people in my youth group. Those young people will probably never know how much those notes encouraged me.

11) Don’t complain.

As a youth director, I organized a few activities that were awful. Perhaps you have experienced a boring activity. No matter what – don’t complain. Be glad that you have a youth director and youth activities of any kind; many teens do not.

12) Never criticize.

Your youth director needs your support not your criticism. Don’t be negative. Look for opportunities to compliment and encourage your youth director. Your parents should do that as well.

13) Be consistent.

Look like a Christian, act like a Christian, dress like a Christian, talk like a Christian 24/7. This will be a great encouragement to your youth director.

14) Pray for your youth director.

Pray for him daily. Pray for his wife and family. Pray that God would give him wisdom and power. Let him know that you are praying for him.

15) Communicate.

Let your youth director know how you are doing. Keep him informed about decisions you are making. Ask your youth director to pray for specific needs that you have.

Your youth director has invested much time, energy, and prayer into your life. After you graduate, don’t throw it all away. Continue to live for God. Stay faithful to church. FRMBC youth are encouraged to attend our Bible institute. Ask your pastor to have such a ministry for post -high school youth. Seek God’s will for your life. Seeing you give your life to God to serve Him will encourage your youth director like nothing else can.