Prayer for a youth group

Hi all,

I would really appreciate it if you would be in prayer for the youth group at my church. It is all girls (usually 7 of them) except for a couple young boys once in a while. I teach Sunday school and this last Sunday I taught on Matthew 7, the tree and its fruit passage. Sort of a "Modern American Christianity" Paul Washer type message.
Well, 3 of them responded and I counseled them instead of going to service. This was incredible. None of them have really ever responded before. And even more incredible, one of the more worldly (chases after sports) seeming girls came to me. She said, "I pray a lot, but I thought if you can't see that in my life then something is wrong." Praise God! I don't know if she took my counsel or not (she's very reserved so sometimes it's hard to read her) but there was a crack in her foundation and I am soooo happy! Her name is Loren, if you would please pray for her. She is the one that worries me the most because she seems so hard hearted.

So I just ask that you would pray for the girls (and occasional boys) that they would truly be saved. That God would work in their life. Also wisdom for me and the other leaders. Also, please, there is no male leader in our youth group because none of the men in our church will step up and do it. So I would also ask you to ask God to send us a godly man to lead this youth group. It doesn't matter if they're all girls, they need a male influence too!

Also a praise! My little sister is in the youth group (she's 15) and I saw her crying while I was teaching, but she wouldn't come to me. So I went to talk to her last night about it. We were able to work some things out and her and I are going to study God's attributes together. I am so excited to see how God is going to work in her life! I really hope He brings her to true salvation!

Thank you all for your prayers! I appreciate them sooooo much! God bless you all!
In Christ,
Veronica

Please keep praying for our youth group and myself. Yesterday (Sunday 5/22/11) I got raked over the coals by the youth because of the message I taught the last Sunday. (The "Modern American Christianity" type one.) They were very angry and told me I had no right to question their salvation. It was weird, because on Wednesday at youth group they were all fine with me and talked with me and stuff. We talked about spiritual warfare and things seemed fine. And then Sunday they were blazing mad. I feel it was an attack of the enemy. Things are beginning to break in the youth group and he doesn't like that.

I am still shaky from yesterday and don't know where to go from here. Please pray that I would have wisdom and patience and grace, but also boldness. Thank you!

Even being saved we should be willing to hear hard messages that even question our very salvation. Is it not better to be safe and take the medicine, even if it will not profit one, than to take the chance and miss its possible healing remedy? A walk through the parables that speak to the few who will enter the kingdom of God should rouse one to fear and not to anger.

Regarding men not taking their position. Is it possible you could be misjudging the men in the congregation? Might they already be teaching their children and as a result not concerning themselves with Sunday School or Wednesday night bible study since these pale in comparrison to a father's teaching at home?

Bless you sister, this is a sweet testimony. Bear the reproach with patience. May God will lift you up and grant your request for godly men to take their stand with you.

lylewise,

Is it not better to be safe and take the medicine, even if it will not profit one, than to take the chance and miss its possible healing remedy? A walk through the parables that speak to the few who will enter the kingdom of God should rouse one to fear and not to anger.

Regarding men not taking their position. Is it possible you could be misjudging the men in the congregation? Might they already be teaching their children and as a result not concerning themselves with Sunday School or Wednesday night bible study since these pale in comparrison to a father's teaching at home?

Oh how I hope that is true! But it does not seem so. Most of the men in our congregation are 60 or older. Most of them do not have children in house any more. Does this excuse them from ministry of some kind? I can see it (especially youth ministry) with some of the elderly men, because even at 24 I get exhausted doing this ministry. But I know there is much wisdom to be gained from an older man. And even if they just came and sat in on Sunday school and youth group it would help. The few times that has happened it has helped the boys in the group.
(And at least 3/4 of our church is women anyway. And I know of several middle aged men who come only because their wife "makes" them.)
The ones who do have children are already involved in some ministry and I would never ask them to help with this. And I would not ever want to pull a father away from that responsibility anyway!
There are a 3 young men in the congregation (in their 20s) but 2 are unbeleivers and the other only shows up for church once a month and has openly said he has an addiction to porn.
Our church is, well, it has a lot of issues. Please don't get me wrong, I love the men in my church. I have learned much from them, especially the elderly ones! I guess I just wish there was more of a meshing of the age groups. Our church is very, very segragated by age. Even during the sermon on the right side are all the folks over 65, in the middle are most of the middle aged and on the left are the younger people and few odd balls.

So no, I don't see anyone and I see no one stepping up. But I will be over joyed if I am proven wrong! And I am praying that the Lord either raises someone up from the congregation or brings in someone new.

I am sorry for the long reply! I do not want to justify myself I just wanted to explain the situation. If it seems as if I am, please tell me! I know I do not know all of the men very well, but I also know many are elderly and I am not sure they are physically able to do youth ministry. I do not know.

Thank you both for your replies and prayers! I appreciate them. God bless you!
In Christ,
Veronica