Be Bold

This past Thursday our BBYM staff/band had the awesome pleasure of attending the Chesapeake Middle School Bleacher Creatures. First I would like to give a shout out to Chesapeake Middle School and the 160 5th-8th graders who allowed us to come share Jesus with them, and a shout out to the BBYM Band and Pastor Michael for the awesome service we had. It is truly a blessing to get to work alongside the BBYM band and staff and to be apart of a community that cares for their kids.

Now for my actual post… At Bleacher Creatures I found myself standing in the back of the cafeteria listening to the way the band sounded for little changes. I was standing roughly where I sat and ate lunch everyday of my 8th grade year of school. As I was watching the kids around the cafeteria worshipping Jesus I began to notice the boldness of some of the kids and I immediately remembered those days at lunch wondering who was going to be watching if I bowed my head to pray or told anyone I was a Christian.

As a 26-year-old standing with those preteens I had no problem closing my eyes and praising Jesus, but 12 years ago (how can that be true) I would have had a hard time being so free. After the music, Michael got up to speak and wouldn’t you know he began talking about having God in our box and not letting Him out to shine in our lives. The 26-year-old me was ashamed of how scared my 14-year-old self was.

It takes life experience to learn lessons and at 26 I still have a lot of lessons to learn, but if I could give you 13-18 year olds one piece of advice it would be “BE BOLD!!!” It is hard to tell someone to do something they think will make them unpopular or get them made fun of, but the same people who might not want to be your friend or may make fun of you NEED to hear about Jesus! God surrounded you with the people in your life so you could share Him with them. Please, please, please don’t be the 26-year-old feeling guilty for not being bold. You can do it… Jesus will be right there with you and He is what matters and your friends will thank you one day for saving their lives!

Sarah

Teen Leader