IHOP Day 1

Sitting in a room filled with 500 hundred+ teenage guys and gals today was more than just a thing to drag some kids to so we could cross one thing off the Youth Group list. I think part of the reason that I feel called to youth ministry is the energy that they have inside. If you put a group of like minded young adults in a room and get them excited about what unites them, it is interesting to see the emotions, commotion, and even the physical changes I was able to witness.
The music was loud and people were singing along, some dancing, coupled with a lot of praying. Grins from ear to ear, holding onto each other as they walked through a space that reminded me of an old hockey arena turned church building. The staff at the International House Of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, MO. go to extensive lengths to put on an event. From the lighting, professional singers and musicians, a camera crew, sound technicians and countless volunteers all working in concert to minister to the best of their ability. The effort put forth shows that what they are doing is not just some hobby or time killer. The people involved are active because they have felt a call from God.

During the last session of the night the speaker got up and talked about how sins can carry down from one generation to another. If a Father is not there for his children, the children often times follow in the same pattern. He spoke quite eloquently and got his message across very well. I was impressed with the passion that he put forth as he spoke on something obviously close to his heart.

I did have an unexpected moment at which I wanted to scream, cry, vomit as I watched teen after teen approaching the stage during an alter call. I saw tears pouring down their faces, and some even wailing while asking for the blessing of their Heavenly Father as opposed to their non-existent earthly one. One young woman in particular stuck out to me. A small physical stature yet walking tall at the start of the lesson, well dressed, well groomed, she was a picture of what a “good Christian girl” should be. As the speaker was delivering the message however this young woman sank lower and lower in her seat. Every time she heard a specific act i.e., molestation, emotional abuse, neglect I saw what I can only describe as a hammer coming down on her spirit as it was beaten to a pulp. By the end of the session she was reduced to a crying and shaking child leaning into the arms of a trusted friend. Praise God she had a friend sitting with her because I can only imagine what it would have been like to go through that without a shoulder to lean on. The Spirit was working on pulling this refined gold/young woman from the fire. Praise God for his mercy that endures forever and for restoration during the times that the world has dropped the ball. While she had been suffering on the inside God had his arm around her waiting for such a time as this.

What has happened to us as a nation that would allow us to neglect our children, to abuse them, to treat them as a nuisance? What happened that is letting a generation of youth suffer so much so needlessly? Don’t we as a nation care anymore? Why is the body of Christ sitting by the wayside instead of screaming at the top of our lungs STOP!!! A normal person that saw a child walking into a busy street, or stepping into an open flame would run at them, yell, pull them back. Why is this any different? Our children are suffering from a disease of mistreatment that is killing them from the inside out. There is a familiar phrase that comes to me, although I forget who coined it, that goes something like this; “All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing”. What I saw today was the result of good people doing nothing and our kids are paying the price.

Certainly the world is our mission field and we need to concentrate on witnessing to those around us, but if we are not doing anything for the children that are under our own roofs then I suggest staying home.