Awake
Relationships are a vital part of our humanity. Fellowship, connection, encouragement, and correction are all key components of spiritual growth. During the isolation of Covid, we all felt the lack of these things. Coming out of those intense years, Chelsea van Schothorst has observed that the youth in Lethbridge have responded by diving headfirst into community. It was with this in mind that the Evangelical Free Church of Lethbridge decided to host their youth conference once again after a five-year hiatus, creating a space that was not only fun and safe but also deeply intentional in fostering meaningful encounters with Christ.
The conference exceeded their expectations. There were 300 students in attendance from 22 churches across Southern Alberta and parts of BC. The theme of the conference, “Awake,” was designed to awaken a hunger for truth as these teens encountered the profound reality of God’s love. From the very first night, God moved powerfully. In a room filled with hundreds of teens, a call to commitment was made—not with heads bowed and eyes closed, instead the prompt was that it would be with “eyes open and heads up… in a room that is cheering you on.” 20 first-time commitments happened that night. One teen who stood up was heard telling his friend that he needed to stand up as well. A disciple, already making disciples.
Throughout the weekend, they had many full breakout sessions. In a session with Compassion Canada, a 12-year-old girl was stirred to sponsor a child. This 12-year-old had come from a war-torn country herself, she had benefited from others investing in her and wanted to be a blessing as she had been blessed. When Chelsea talked to us about this she was once again reminded “There is no Jr. Holy Spirit… the same Holy Spirit is working in the lives of 12-year-olds who are living out profound faith that is living in the people who have been in the faith for 50 years..”
When students experience something that profound, it’s important to remember that, having experienced the joy of belonging, they long for that connection to continue. They need the ongoing fellowship of believers, but seeking this in their local church can be challenging when the gap between generations feels ever widening. Yet, it is essential that we bridge this divide, ensuring the church remains rooted in its history while embracing new ways to grow and reach people. Each generation offers something unique, and when united, the church becomes stronger, more dynamic, and more effective in fulfilling its mission. A vital part of this unity is engaging with young people, as seen at the recent conference where volunteers ranged in age from 18 to 80. Youth ministry isn’t bound by age; intentional involvement can profoundly impact a young person’s life. This is why, just as the youth were encouraged to ‘Awake’ to the hunger for truth and encounter the profound reality of God’s love, I pray that your church would also awaken to the call of unity.
May it become a body where all generations—united in purpose—reflect the transformative power of God’s love in every interaction and in every ministry.
