Last Sunday night I gave our State of the Student Ministry Address to our students and parents. I started out with what a fantastic year 2011 was for the Karns student ministry. We accomplished so much more than I had even hoped to accomplish in our first full year together. Looking back on it, I’m not surprised at all. The Karns congregation, and especially the young people we have here, are some of the best I have ever encountered. I would put this group of students up with the best of them. However, I wanted to remind them that 2011 is in the past and we are now one month into 2012. The question I wanted our students and parents to consider was this, “What more can we accomplish?” “What more can we do through our student ministry to aid in our student’s faith development?”

The answer to that question is very simple. With the help of God, we can accomplish much more than any one of us could ever dream. Do you remember the words of Jesus when telling His disciples how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? He said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God” (Mk. 10:27). As long as we are following after God and His will, anything is possible. It is my hope and prayer that this year the Karns student ministry can help our student become true disciples of Jesus. I don’t want to just have a group of students who are devoted to activities and youth gatherings, but rather I want a group of students who are hungry for knowing God more intimately and whole-heartedly devoted to following after their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Baptizing them is not enough; let’s move toward teaching them what a true relationship with the Lord really results in, one who is willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads. The Bible refers to this as a disciple.

And Jesus said unto them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. God therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:18-20).

Now that’s Something to Think About!