The promise for us in 2019 and always is Jesus is making All Things New.
“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.'” – Revelation 21:5
This week our story of how God is making All Things New comes from Colton Dunn of Central Alberta Youth for Christ. I’ve been so encouraged and challenged by what God is doing in Central Alberta. I trust you will be as well.
Baptismal Tank – Timber Coffee, Central Alberta Youth for Christ
“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:13-14
As a community of believers and as Youth for Christ staff here in Sylvan Lake, Alberta, we were challenged by this scripture that we all know so well. What we were challenged by as a group was this: Do we ask outside of what we think we could make happen or do we truly ask for anything? It’s scary because the big ask means you really have to lean into God to come through. But back in September we did just that. As a group we prayed and we all felt led to ask for salvation over the youth at our skate park and coffee shop, Incline Industries and Timber Coffee Co. We also pressed in and seven of us fasted for seven days each, praying and crying out to God for the youth in our communities. We could have left it at that and celebrated when one kid said yes at some point this year, but we decided to ask for something outside of us and lean in to what Jesus said: “ASK FOR ANYTHING.” So we asked Him for 12 salvations before Christmas. Every Monday at our small group we thanked God for the 12 that were going to say yes to Him. Then during a thing we call Life 360 – which is a program where we shut down the skate park and coffee shop to the public so that we can invite youth from grades 7 -12 in, have a family style dinner, and talk and share in small groups – we straight up offered the Good News of the Gospel to these kids and asked if they would like to start a journey with Jesus in their lives. The next thing that happened brought us all to tears, twelve hands shot up in the air saying yes to Jesus. This happened at the end of November. So we started the wonderful journey of walking with them in discipleship and journeying with them in Jesus. And the best part is Jesus has been adding to the number that have said yes almost daily. We had a total of 27 youth say yes to Jesus since then, nine of them have already been baptized. Jesus can do far greater than we could ever ask or think. So ask big and think bigger. God wins every time and He gets the glory. Praise God.
Go ahead. Pray bold prayers, from a place of deep abiding in Jesus and watch him make all things new.
Praying With You,
Joel Martin
Youth for Christ Canada National Prayer Coordinator