A New Youth Movement — A Tribute

They have left homes, families, close friends and financial security. They live in tents, war-torn buildings, African huts, South American jungles, and the most troubled areas of urban poverty. They serve in orphanages and in medical clinics, with street children and with hardened prostitutes.

A new youth movement is underway across America. Just as a Jesus movement swept the nation decades ago, God is moving among young people again. And this generation is out to impact the world. We rejoice that many of these young heroes are graduates of our Mt. Zion School of Ministry, some are from Times Square Church, and still others are volunteers through World Challenge ministries, having heard of our various mission endeavors. Some grew up in poverty themselves, yet now are going out to bless the world’s poorest.

And they all have this in common: they have rejected the affluence-seeking, self-serving culture of many of their peers, and are instead going to the neediest and most desperate areas of the globe, giving their lives for others’ sake in Christ’s name. Some were headed for coveted executive positions in large corporations, while others turned down potential careers that would have fulfilled anyone’s wildest version of the American dream. Others were stirred out of a stupor of video-watching, iPod-listening, and X-box-obsessing that plagues their generation. They have awakened to God’s dream for their lives, and are now engaged in a totally abandoning, self-sacrificing life of other-centered service.

And they are walking the walk. Some helped build a school for impoverished children.One led a team in South Africa where living quarters was a tent with no running water, bathroom or electricity—all to live among the suffering orphans they minister to. Yet another just returned from Ethiopia, where she helped build a school and a church.

In the jungles of Guatemala, a team of Mt. Zion School graduates is building roads, bridges, homes and churches, as they preach the gospel in both word and deed. In recent weeks, another team went to live and minister among the thousands of people left homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

All of these efforts are much more than works of charity. These young people’s decisions are affecting eternal destinies. They are making a difference, their lives counting for the gospel.

World Challenge would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the hundreds of graduates and young heroes who have taken up the call of their Master Jesus to serve in such incredible ways.

We also would like to thank you, our supporters. It is your gifts that have helped train, encourage, send and support this new wave of Jesus followers to the ends of the world. Would you please take a moment today to pray for these fiery young leaders, as they abandon all for the cause of Christ? Thank you. —Gary Wilkerson