Over the past month I have spent a lot of time reading through 8 years worth of content that had been posted on 17 different websites in the Teens4Jesus Ministries family. It has been an amazing experience as I have laughed at things I had forgotten and have been reminded what an impact we were making in the lives of not only our website visitors but also in the volunteers who provided the content. I did not see it at the time, but the spiritual growth of the regular volunteers over their time serving was absolutely astounding. Looking back at their first submissions compared to later ones was an inspiring experience for me.
I believe I have finally reached a point in digging through the content and slowly getting it back online, and honestly there is so much more I could add, but I was floored at how much I had added. I stopped adding old content when I realized I had already converted over one thousand posts! God truly blessed me through this process, showing me how amazing and inspiring a message these volunteers had to share, knowing that even though they were high schoolers at the time, God had something to share through each individual soul.
It has now been 16 years since T4J closed its doors. I have gone through divorce, remarried, stopped working as a teacher and became a stay at home mom, served as a foster parent, adopted our daughter, and now have teens of my own graduating high school. I work with sixth grade girls in our church’s youth group and lead a few small groups. My life has changed drastically in 16 years. God has been my strength, my ever present guide in the ministry of the home, as I worked daily as a wife and mother. I wouldn’t trade it for anything but admit that I have missed those experiences online. It is crazy to think how much has changed since those early days. Can you believe T4J existed before social media really got going? How wild is that thought???
One thing remains true for me. I still feel the pull to work with youth online, helping them find Jesus, encouraging them in their walk, and teaching and mentoring them in using their voice to be leaders. I still believe that the youth of our world have something special to say and I want to empower them with the tools and support they need, reminding them that 1 Timothy 4:12 says “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
With that in mind and after spending time praying over what I could do, I am excited to see Teens4Jesus online once again. I praise God for the work He did through past volunteers and I pray He will guide the next generation of believers to the new T4J, whether they come for information, learning, or the desire to serve. I pray that hearts would be softened, preparing them to receive His grace and mercy. And I ask everyone to join me in praying for the youth of our world and the souls that will be touched through the words shared on this website. I pray for the next generation of leaders, that God would touch them and fill them with the burning desire to share, to influence and to impact the world they live in. Lord, guide these precious souls to T4J and show them how they can make a difference. Let the lies from the enemy be destroyed. They may be young but they have a voice and my desire is to provide the platform they can stand upon to boldly proclaim the Truth.
Welcome to all – visitors who learned T4J is back, previous volunteers who have their work published once more, and all of the new visitors. May your lives be changed, your hearts encouraged, and your message proclaimed.
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