As we enter the weekend I want to ask you to do something for me and with me. If you are a praying person, I ask that you place in your prayer book or on your prayer schedule a regular time to pray for a revival of baptisms among 15-25 year olds. Pray for Eric Miracle and Jeremy Lloyd as they lead Olive’s high school and middle school ministries. These are vital areas for evangelism and discipleship.    

You do not have to read reports to know that college-age church members are dropping away from the church in alarming rates. We must do a better job of grounding students in the Word and reaching them in a relevant ministry atmosphere after they turn 20.    

One of the keys to all of this is DADS. Fathers make a difference in the lives of young people when it comes to faith building. Earlier this morning I listened to a man share his testimony at our Friday morning Men’s Bible Study. It was a powerful word regarding the impact of a father. Jack O ‘Brian, a military leader during the Vietnam War and community leader, told us the story of the negative impact of his dad for years in his life. He lived to please his father but could not. He needed the blessing of his dad but did not receive it. 

Dads, I encourage you to affirm your children often. Pray for them daily. Have fun with them regularly. Work with others in the youth ministry at your church. Here at Olive we need dads that actively support Eric and Jeremy in the work. View the church ministry as a supplement to your own home life of faith. Olive can never supply the front line of faith for your kids. It can, however, be a huge help to you in raising great Christian champions that will live a strong faith walk forever.   

My parents are visiting with us for the weekend. They plan to be with us Sunday at Olive. These are my heroes. They taught me and lived the faith in front of me. I am a blessed and grateful man. 

Pastor Ted Traylor       

Posted on Friday, September 7th, 2007 at 10:49 am.
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