Getting connected: In the largest Louisiana Baptist
gathering of the year, young people from across the state were challenged to
connect solidly with God – and to help others they know do the same
Getting connected: In the largest Louisiana Baptist
gathering of the year, young people from across the state were challenged to
connect solidly with God – and to help others they know do the same
For too many Christians, once they are connected with God – “thats
all theyre interested in,” Landon Dowden told thousands of Louisiana
Baptist young people recently.
“Where is the generation that will say, I want to connect my friend?”
Dowden asked more than 5,000 high school students attending the 2003 Youth Evangelism
Celebration in Alexandria just prior to the Thanksgiving holidays. For the past
number of years, the youth event has ranked as the largest annual Louisiana
Baptist gathering.
At this years conference, Dowden told participants the reason many Christians
may not evangelize is because it requires leaving their comfort zone.
“We think (evangelism) is only for ministers, those who have the God life
or those who know the four spiritual laws,” theorized Dowden, who is a
New Orleans-based student evangelist. “Man, thats so wrong.”
He explained that in Matthew 9, Jesus displayed three principles to reach the
lost.
These include:
Jesus sought out sinners
“In our churches, we say, Yall come,” Dowden said.
“Well, theres a difference in saying, Yall come,
and in you bringing them. Jesus didnt wait for the people to come to him.
He went and intentionally sought people.”
Jesus reached out to the most despised individuals in his society, such as
Matthew the tax collector, Dowden reminded young people. And as a result of
Jesus showing love toward the future disciple, Matthew was so excited that he
brought his friends into contact with Christ.
“When was the last time you were so pumped about Jesus that you wanted
all of your friends to be in on it?” Dowden asked conference participants.
Christ was not influenced by them but influenced those people, Dowden pointed
out. He then challenged youth to reach people in their schools.
Jesus stirred up stiffnecks
The religious officials of the day criticized Jesus because he fraternized
with the despised people such as Matthew. Dowden said the officials did not
think people such as that even deserved forgiveness.
Dowden added that he still comes in contact with Christians who become excited
when they see someone who may spend eternity in hell.
“They think thats all right because theyre going to get theirs
someday,” he explained.
“(But) We ought to be thankful we didnt get ours.”
Jesus sold his strategy
Jesus used logic, scripture and his own authority to get his message across,
Dowden said.
Dowden was one of two featured speakers at the recent youth conference, which
also featured testimonies from students, dramatic skits and concerts.
The theme of this years conference was “Connect.” Official
attendance for the conference was 5,029, the second highest in the history of
the event.
An accurate number on decisions made was not available because of the different
methodologies used by the two main speakers, noted Kevin Boles, Louisiana Baptist
youth and young adult director.
Dowden and student evangelist Voddie Baucham used adults that accompanied each
conference youth group for immediate counseling. “They both issued a challenge
for the local church to counsel their students immediately in their seats and,
then, follow up with them, rather than a traditional altar call,” Boles
explained.
However, despite the lack of statistics, Boles said it is clear that Gods
kingdom is growing.
“We are already hearing reports of teenagers who heard the call to connect
with God, connect with a friend and connect that friend to God,” he recounted.
To that end, Dowden offered five characteristics a youth group should display
as a connection grows.
He said they should be:
Strong in heart
Dowden cited the example of Paul in a prison. Instead of complaining, Paul
said Gods spirit strengthened him.
“Its about being strong in heart,” Dowden emphasized to young
people. “Are you singing in your struggles or wallowing in your struggles?”
United in love
“If your youth group isnt united in love, then, we run the risk
of the world saying that Jesus stuff is obviously not real,” Dowden said.
“When we have this connection with God, he wants us to be grounded in
his Word, but he also wants us to be connected with our friends that are around
us.”
The key to that is having a peacemaker in the youth group. Dowden said there
should be some individuals who will seek forgiveness and reconciliation within
the group.
Settled and understanding
“Its hard to tell people about whats coming in heaven if youre
not sure youre going there,” Dowden said.
He reassured young people attending the conference that when they walk and
grow in the Bible and are united with other Christians, they move toward being
settled and understanding their salvation is for certain.
“The reason many people doubt their salvation is not because they dont
know biblical truth,” Dowden explained. “Its because they dont
apply it to their lives and walk it.”
Walking in Christ
The more a person walks with Christ, the more the believers faith is
established, Dowden explained.
Overflowing with thankfulness
One thing Dowden said he is thankful for is that he cannot be disconnected
from Christ. He noted that Paul wrote in Romans 8 that a Christians future
in heaven is secure.
Dowden said the passage pointed out two things that will never separate a Christian
from God – a person or a
problem.
“Paul says, If God is for us, who can be against us,”
Dowden reminded conference participants. “We think that we may can walk
out of the hand of salvation.
“If God is for you, he wont let you walk out of the hand of salvation,
…” Dowden continued. “The devil and the flesh want to get in your
face. But Paul says those things, no matter how bad they are, can never separate
you.”
Dowden added that trials and problems do not separate a Christian from salvation.
Instead, they should bring a believer closer to Jesus.