By the Way: Youth can find hope and purpose through Him

By Aaron Pardy on November 16, 2024.

People love to complain on Facebook, don’t they? One of the things I saw someone complain about recently is the next generation – aka the young people of Medicine Hat. While they pointed out their imperfections, shortcomings, and bad behaviours, I felt sad that they did not get to see what I see as a pastor of a church that is actively trying to reach young people since its conception 78 years ago.

My aim today is to turn skeptics into believers and offer some hope that God is not done with the young people of the city. Despite what you may attest to know – they have a hope, a future and a purpose that can be found in Him. Check this out:

Over the past five summers, we have held an in-house youth camp. What once started off as a response to COVID regulations, has now grown and materialized into this staple event for many students in our city.

It is here where we have seen students genuinely encounter Jesus. It is here at camp that gross and stupid games are massive attributor to lifelong friendships. It is here where students tell us that they have been reminded of their identity and purpose.

It’s years like this past year where we had eight students decide to make a public declaration of their faith and relationship in Jesus Christ and get water baptized in front of family and friends. It is here, in the presence of Jesus Christ and these young people where “older” people, like myself, have been given a renewed hope in this up and coming generation.

This is a small sample size of what God is doing in the young people of our city. Would you continue to pray and invest in them and believe for so much more!