I Am Not Ashamed That I Am a Christian by Caitlyn Conover
Being a part of the L.I.T. program has been the highlight of my year since I first started. I began L.I.T. when I was in 5th grade. I am currently in 12th grade, and I am still involved.
It teaches lots of things that stick with you through hands-on experience and serving in different roles. Because of this, my eyes have been opened to how I can help at home and in the communities around me.
L.I.T. taught me that I can share God’s love whenever and wherever. It does not have to be a certain week of the year to share the Gospel. I have learned to be proud to have God with me through everything.
I am not ashamed that I am a Christian. L.I.T. helped me realize that we need to involve our younger leaders in the church because they are the next generation, the next church, and the next prayer warriors.
L.I.T. has called me to be a leader and assist others who may be timid or unsure about sharing the Gospel. Involving children with leadership in the church encourages them to show His love through action and allows them to discover their own spiritual gifts.
We are all called to share the Gospel, and we all have a different role in sharing it. L.I.T has shown me what my role is in His mission.
Caitlyn has been such a blessing over the past two summers serving with us on our mission trips. Her joy is contagious, and it pours into her giftedness as a leader.
Minutes With Dr. Clint May
We are working on a new podcast called “Minutes With Dr. Clint May.” I am excited to share brief insight for churches and families to further their efforts to disciple and equip children. If you are interested, you can find more information on our website at www.leadersintraining.com/podcast. This podcast will only be one to five minutes in length; however, it will be loaded with pertinent information.
Family Pastors Institute
This past year, I was asked to do a seminar for theFamily Pastors Institute. They are putting togetheronline training for family pastors. They have a topteam of leaders who are investing their time to develop ministers who focus on equipping families to disciple their children. My sessions were on children and missions. My prayer is to light a fire in the hearts of leaders to lead families on mission trips. What a joy to invest in future leaders in the church. If you would like more information, you can sign up at https://familypastorsinstitute.org/biblical-parenting/.
Who Is Your Paul? Who Is Your Timothy? by Dr. Clint May
I remember years ago hearing a Christian leader ask, “Who is your Paul, and who is your Timothy?” That resonated with me. I know several leaders who have had a tremendous impact on my life. It came more from their teaching and from reading their books. I wanted to be challenged. I wanted to go far beyond where I am now.
Look at it from a different perspective: YOUR greatest joy in ministry will be when you pass the mantle to others. I love investing in the lives of other leaders, pastors, and children’s pastors. I have found that when I pass on the knowledge the Lord has given me, I am doing the very thing that He has called me to do...“equip the saints for works of ministry” (Ephesians 4:11- 13). I love to watch them succeed.
Did you know that Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother? But it took Paul to help Timothy become who he was in the church. Paul recognized Timothy’s gifts and fanned the flame in his heart to serve. What a joy you will find when you invest in the lives of children, students, and adults and help them find God’s plan and purpose in the church today. I have personally witnessed many children who discovered their spiritual gifts and became powerful leaders because my leaders and I allowed them to lead.
Here are some suggestions:
Pray for the Lord to put someone in your life to mentor you. Watch, listen, and wait.
Pray for your Timothy—that child, student, or adult you can invest in. There are kids in your church who desperately need someone who believes in them.
Release your Timonty to minister. That is when you will experience true joy in your
journey of faith. As children minister, their spiritual gifts will manifest before your eyes.
It is not about you; it’s about Him. Remember, Jesus is the Lord. It is His plan you are
following, not yours.
Make it your life goal to pass the mantle to the kids and leaders in your church. This is when you will experience true joy in ministry.
Pray requests:
Pray for God’s grace and guidance for 2024.
Pray for the Lord’s continued provision for the ministry.
Pray for wisdom for our mission trips. We have one that is filling up quickly.
Pray for the leadership of the Holy Spirit as we walk into a new year by faith.
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