So, later this year I am blessed with the opportunity to speak at the 2010 National Youth Gathering, held in New Orleans. It happens every 4 years and brings together 10’s of thousands of high school students from around the country.
The night I speak I’ll have about 20 minutes to talk and somewhere around 25,000 kids listening in. Crazy, right? It’s been a really interesting process over the last few months to wrestle with just what God wants them to hear.
I believe He’s led me to a really cool place with what I’ve prepared, but I still wonder at times - “is this making the most of those 20 minutes and the attention of the 25,000 kids?”
So let me ask you. If you had just one shot, 20 minutes and the attention of 25,000 kids–each at a pivotal point in their life–what is the one thing you’d want them to hear? What would you say with your one shot?
April 19th, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Don’t vote Progressive!
April 19th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
I don’t think that teens can hear Romans 8:31-38 too much. They are going to mess up- but they can’t mess up so much that they on the outs with God.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:09 am
Tell them YOUR story of how God walked you through all the changes and challenges of growing through your teen years. Tell YOUR story of how God intervened, how God shaped you through the events, circumstances, opportunities and people in your life at that time. Tell YOUR Story of seeking to employ your gifts and talents for the Kingdom and how you came to that decision, wrestling with what God laid before you and invite and engage the kids to enter into that same journey trusting a Savior who knows what he’s doing.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Keep praying and listening until you KNOW God has spoken to you about what to speak to these kids about
April 20th, 2010 at 11:33 am
On the lighter side: Wear Sunscreen - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xavFb4WH7o0
April 20th, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Love each other more and learn to share what you have and what you make out in the world. Land, skin, bliefs and ways that differ don’t make a person wrong, bad or evil. Find something to laugh about every day! Eat steak med rare always! ..lol.
April 20th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Wow - I went to the National Lutheran Youth Gathering in 1994 in Atlanta, GA. You’ll do great - it’s a very powerful week for teenagers.
April 20th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
I had never seen the ‘Wear Sunscreen’ video, but that really sums it up and in only 7 minutes.
Seriously though, I’ve found that people only hear what they want to hear. Or, sometimes they hear, but they don’t understand because their lives have not had the context for understanding. Or, maybe they understand the words but not so deeply as to embrace it and have it affect their lives. That is quite a challenge you’ve got there! I’m confident you’ll be inspired!
April 21st, 2010 at 6:59 am
Wow….something about being 40ish really makes you think about the things you would “do over” if you could. Of course I don’t have any regrets because everything in my life has been leading up to becoming the person God wants me to be and I’m still a work in progress. But if I could impart one small bit of wisdom it would be to “NOT be afraid to follow your heart” because I think that’s one way God speaks to us and He is ALWAYS with us so there is no reason to fear.
I know you’re going to do an awesome job and really inspire all those young people. I wish I could be there to hear you speak. A friend of mine is taking our youlth group and I keep telling her how much I want to go.
April 21st, 2010 at 7:21 am
Kids want someone who actually “listens” to them and “follows through” on their promises. Making you feel important and that you matter.
April 21st, 2010 at 7:30 am
On that same note….here I sit in this fish bowl of 25,000….and I matter….my life, my thoughts, my path all matter to God. I am valuable enough that God makes himself personal to me…He cares when I hurt, he surrounds me with choices and opens my eyes to see them. More importantly…in this fish bowl He feels that exact same way about the kid next to me, two seats ahead of me, across the stadium from me, the one who couldn’t wait to get here and the one who feels “dragged” to this event.
He loves me….He knit me together in my Mother’s womb…Knitting is done one stitch at a time…did God truly create me like that….one stitch…one detail…one piece…with an extraordinary goal in mind…perfection.
He knew I would stubble, get derailed, and at times not even look to the one who created me…but all the time He was filled with overwhelming love and passion for me. I am “His desire”…me…the kid sitting here in this fish bowl matters.
April 21st, 2010 at 11:35 pm
tell them what i wished i could have been told in highschool…tell them they are loved no matter what…tell them there is a father who will fight for them when peer pressure comes… a father who will tell them they are a beautiful woman or a strong man… a father who will fix their heart when it gets broken..tell them there is hope and to not be afraid ..tell them “I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4).
- you know stuff i wish i could of heard
April 26th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Tell them how a relationship should be- not so much what it shouldn’t be but paint a picture of what it should be. There are so many teens in relationships because it is cool or because their friends are and they are making decisions based on what’s popular not on what God wants.
I knew what kind of relationship I wanted but couldn’t find it right away so I settled. I think people do this all the time.
God’s blessings on your time with all those kids.
Liza
May 12th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
You will do great. You reach us - you will do great with them. They do need to know one thing - no matter what life throws at them - and there will be a lot that will beat, batter and bruise them - all they need to do is ask for God’s help, trust that it will come, and it will. God is the only remedy they will need to face whatever life throws at them.
June 3rd, 2010 at 3:09 pm
I think something that you should really focus on is “Who am I in Christ Jesus?” These kids are so young and vulnerable & impresionable and are looking for an identity. I remember when I was at that age I was looking for anything good or bad to define me. I sought out relationships with people needing an identity. Had I of known then not only who I am but to WHOM I belong to I would have been better off. That was the one thing I never heard enough growing up & had to learn it the hard way.
Congrats & I wish you well. You will do great things & reach out to so many people. Way to go! Woo Hoo!
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Anything taken to prayer will be provided for. Just so happens God spoke perfectly through you, my friend.
Absolutely with Divine purpose. What else could we ever ask for? 
July 23rd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
Amen, Shanna! And so God spoke perfectly through you as well! Unfortunately, this mom of daughters, age 23 and 19, and a ten year old son, was so moved by your story and message that I was too emotional to speak during our family group time after the mass event. Thank you both for sharing your hearts, and in the process sharing God’s heart for us!
August 9th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Matt- I just wanted to tell you that what you spoke at the Gathering was truly moving and inspiring. I couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel and have our family group time after the event but circumstances occured that prevented that conversation. Is there any way I can get a recording or text of your talk? I still want to have that conversation with our youth group!
August 9th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Thanks for the kind words Cheryl. I really appreciate it. It was an amazing experience to be a part of. If you email me–mpopovitsATcrosspt.org–I can send you the full text of my message. I hope it’s a blessing.