Last year, God opened the door for me to start a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Bible Study after school at the public middle school where I teach. It was beyond what I expected, as we averaged over 30 students per week. There was a good mix of church going students and those who have never stepped foot in one. While not all of them were coming for the right reasons, they still showed up consistently to hear the Word of God and prayed with their peers. We studied the Book of John throughout the school year and many students came up with some really good questions. You could certainly see a change in many of them as the year progressed. It was such a blessing to partake in and witness.
One of those students, in particular, happened to be a student of mine in my last math class of the day. He was constantly in detention from other teachers throughout the year and was very quick to talk back when confronted with his behavior. I had the opportunity to speak the Truth in his life in class everyday and as the year went on in FCA, he began to show more interest in the Bible and even started asking questions. You could tell he was searching. His behavior began to change and he was getting in trouble less and less. On the last day of school, he wrote a wonderful and heartfelt note on the board, thanking me for believing in him and encouraging him. I gave him a Bible as a gift and encouraged him to keep studying the Word and keep seeking God.
During the first month of school this year, when talking with one of my vice principals, she told me that she hasn’t even heard his name come up with any teachers yet. That was really nice to hear and I am continuing to pray that he is getting more serious in his faith in Christ. He stops by my room quickly each day on the way to his next class to say hi. He has been faithfully attending FCA this year so far, which now has 84 students signed up! It has been incredible to watch it grow and be talked about throughout our school. Is it challenging at times? Yes. Is it worth it to study the Word of God and watch them learn and grow each week? Absolutely!
Our memory verse this year is one that is not only applicable to students, but to all of us.
1 Timothy 4:12
12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
The Apostle Paul discovered that Ephesus became a breeding ground of false teaching and left Timothy, who he viewed as a son, in charge of the church there. He knew that Timothy had a difficult job to fulfill. Although Timothy was timid and shy, he was also eager and faithful, so Paul wrote this to encourage and equip him. Timothy ended up fulfilling his call.
It was easy back then like it is today to look down on the younger generations as not mature enough or spiritual enough to make a difference. Hopefully, we can all learn that believers in Jesus can make a difference no matter their age. From today’s youth, to the veterans in the faith, we should all be an example in how we talk, how we live, how we love, how we demonstrate our faith, and how we can show commitment to God’s moral standards. This is how the Gospel goes forth and how lives are changed!
Wayne Errig