What Does the Church Need From You?

Teens are a vital part of the Church. Do you want to actively help the Church? Here’s what the Church needs the most from you now!

The Church needs really good men and women to rely on.

It’s no secret that the Church is aging. As time goes by, the younger generations will have to take on more and more responsibilities.

So, where do teenagers in the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, fit in? After all, we’re only teens—can we really help the Church now? Should all the service and responsibility wait until we’re older?

No excuse

Many of us have been given a wonderful blessing—to be born into the truth! Growing up in the Church doesn’t make us better, but it does make us different from the rest of the world (1 Corinthians 7:14). We have access to a relationship with God that most people don’t. He doesn’t want us to wait until we’re adults to know Him.

Many biblical examples show that God often uses teens and young adults. We are part of a legacy that includes Joseph (Genesis 37:2), Samuel (1 Samuel 2:26), David (1 Samuel 17:33), Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6-7), Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:1-3), Daniel and his friends (Daniel 1:3-6) and Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12).

Just like our biblical predecessors, we can serve God and His Church while we are young.

Preparation for responsibility

Now is the time to prepare for the rest of our lives. At age 17, Joseph had responsibility within his family (Genesis 37:1-2). While caring for sheep might not sound glamourous, what he learned as a shepherd helped him greatly when he was later given a high position in the Egyptian government.  

David is known for killing Goliath with a slingshot. His skill with a sling developed over his time as a shepherd. Likewise, there are skills that teens can develop now that God can use later—writing, singing and organizing—are just a few examples.

These famous youths had responsibilities while they were teens that prepared them to take advantage of amazing opportunities that came along later. The skills we develop when we are young can have an impact on what we can do in the future (Luke 16:10).

There are plenty of other ways we can use our skills and energy to benefit God’s Church now. We can start a Hilltop Outreach project, serve as staff at a preteen camp, make an effort to socialize with and care for the shut-ins in our congregations, or even do something as basic as setting a godly example at school. We can help with ushering, the sound crew, setup, takedown, kitchen duties—the list goes on. We can look for needs that need to be filled, and we can look at how our skills and interests can be of help.

But even while we’re developing and practicing skills to serve, we must also do something even more important. More important than his skills, David had a passion for upholding the honor of God. Teens today can also be committed to loving God and His truth. Like David, we must prepare to serve by focusing on our relationship with God. After all, love for God and for our fellow man are inseparable (Matthew 22:37-40). David was anointed as the king of Israel before he was even 20 because his heart was right with God (1 Samuel 16:7, 12-13).

After this

You are a teenager now, but not for long. What you make of these formative years is determined by your choices—large and small.

The Church needs good men and women to rely on. The Church needs you and your talents.

What are you waiting for?

For more insight into the importance of serving, read our article “A Heart of Service.”