Each month I have the privilege of reading five spiritual growth updates (SGUs) from teenaged young men in Joy El’s 4.12 Leadership Training Program, plus I mentor two 4.12 students: Kaleb and Colin.
Kaleb and Colin are not the only 4.12 students who have mentors; in fact, each student in the 4.12 program is required to find a mentor. In addition to a program mentor, one of our year-round staff members serves as an SGU reader, which allows the students to have another godly adult contributing counsel as the students pursue intimacy with Christ.
This past weekend most of the guys for whom I read SGUs (except Isaiah and Matt) attended the 4.12 Leadership Training Summit at Joy El.
Each month they share with me in the update how they are growing spiritually. The typical report includes insights from the Scriptures they have read in their personal quiet times, as well as the verses that they are memorizing and what they’re learning from them. They share how they have served others and shared the Gospel, as well as insights from their meeting with their mentors.
I compile all of the prayer requests and send them out to each other so they can pray for each other throughout the month.
We all thoroughly enjoy when we can gather, share and pray with each other in person. The Lord gave me that idea this past summer. I will never forget the first time that we gathered in my office. It really was a sacred moment, with deep requests shared. The authenticity and transparency of these young men significantly impacted all of us.
To know that they have similar struggles and that they are joining together in their pursuit of Jesus Christ has been a significant encouragement to each of them. God’s Word encourages us to do this: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25)
This is one of the things that excites me about what God is doing at Joy El. He is igniting a generation that is seeking Him. (Psalm 24:6).
Please pray that all of the students in the 4.12 program will have honest, transparent relationships that will encourage them in their pursuit of Jesus Christ.
