A CASE FOR THE WILDERNESS TODAY
Solitude and adventure has a significant place in any student ministry program that desires to see radical transformation. The more we invest in indigenous youth missions around the world, we become more convinced of this: If we are going to bring change to our cities and communities, and ultimately the hearts of hurting young people in our world today, we are going to need to find creative ways to quiet the noise for them so they can hear the Father’s voice.Transformation will begin when young people are able to hear the Gospel over the sounds of honking horns, thumping woofers, and angry stressed out parents.
YOUNG PEOPLE NEED WILDERNESS NOW
Lets face it, video games, Itunes, the latest situation comedies and reality shows are not going to bring hope or life to young people. Yet this has become their food and drink. The airwaves have become the voices of truth that sing them to sleep at night. Yet consider this: Even in the much-less-technologically busy days of Jesus, even He, the Master, saw it necessary to spend a bulk of His time with a group of young people (His disciples) away from the noise of the city. He went out into the wilderness with them—teaching them how to once again hear the voice of their Heavenly Father. If Jesus made such a concerted effort to get His disciples out of the hustle and bustle to clean out their ears, and minister to their hearts in an era which was much less-technologically noisy than today, then we can certainly conclude that the need for helping kids quiet their souls is equally if not more important right now!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
One thing I am wholeheartedly behind is the Project 54 fundraiser because it is focused on starting outdoor ministries around the globe. This world-impacting event takes place on the last Saturday in August every year.
What is Project 54 you might ask? It is an annual fundraising event of the Wilderness Ministry Institute. The goal is to raise money to outfit indigenous youth workers with the needed training and gear to share the Gospel with underprivileged youth through outdoor adventure. The success WMI has had in starting outdoor ministries overseas in the last 10 years is completely unprecedented. If you would like to get involved, you don’t want to miss the video below. Then go to the Project54 website and sign up!
