I saw an article today in Epoch Times that was a great reminder of why we need to all be actively involved in sharing Christ with those in our world around us. Here is an excerpt from the article:
More than four in ten U.S. high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, according to a CDC field survey released late last week.
The number of high school students with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness has grown steadily from 26.1 percent in 2009, to 36.7 percent in 2019, according to CDC data. The results of the new CDC survey (pdf) taken between January and June 2021 show the trend continuing, with 44 percent of the students reporting feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
The second paragraph tells us that this phenomenon is not simply a covid-19 thing. The numbers of teens feeling sad or hopeless was increasing even before the pandemic exasperated some of the very real problems out there. I suspect similar trends are happening not only among teens, but across all demographics. The world seems sad, frustrating, lonely, and scary to many people. Many have tried to diagnose the problem as being linked to internet use, social media, video games, movies and other media, and other causes. These play a part in how people around us are processing the things happening in our world.
While I certainly agree that these distracting and addicting types of electronic media have a role in the sadness and hopelessness of teens today, the real root of the problem are found in scripture. The reason the world is sad and without hope is because the real root problem is sin. Sin is the disease of all humanity (Romans 5:12). All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23). In the fallen state of humanity, there is no hope for the one who has been born into sin and remained a slave to it.
I shared the article above with Leland this morning and he replied: “We Offer the ONE & Only Hope!” And every week, Leland works tirelessly in his mission to bring this hope to middle and high school kids in Palm Beach County. Right now, our Sunday Night Youth Group (SNYG) has a challenge. Leland and Will Herring have faithfully served the youth in partnership with Pastor Ryan and Melanie Borkan of Calvary Chapel each Sunday night. Now, the Borkans are moving to TN, so their presence at the youth group will be missed.
Please pray with us that we will find new leaders to come and help us with the youth program. We are especially in need of adult females who can come, not only to be there as a chaperone, but truly engaging with the youth, learning about them, encouraging them to follow Jesus, and being someone they can see first-hand as a living witness to the life-changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Leland said, “We Offer the ONE & Only Hope!” We have the solution to the problem of sadness and hopelessness in our world today. And our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ charges each of us to be on mission with Him by bringing glory to Him through obedience to His commands. Let us each strive to keep all of His commands, but especially the Great Commission.
I am blessed that so many at Oasis Church are sharing a love for the church and an intensity and excitement for what God is doing. Let’s take that energy and be wise with it, and put to good use the valuable resources He has given us. The most valuable resource our church has is not the church buildings, nor the pastor. Our most valuable resource, other than the Gospel itself, is the people of God who serve faithfully in our community and beyond.
Resurrection Sunday is coming soon! Please be on the lookout for friends, family, and coworkers you can invite to church on Palm Sunday (April 10), Good Friday, (April 15), and Resurrection Sunday (April 17). Look for an upcoming announcement about our Good Friday Stations of the Cross and Resurrection Sunday pancake breakfast and special Sunday Worship Service. I hope you will all be present to celebrate together the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you are interested in supporting the youth group with your time or otherwise, contact Leland.
If you would like to listen to Sunday’s sermon, click here.
Please share our church website on your social media with this link: oasisfl.org
For the Epoch Times article I referenced click here.
The Cure for Sadness and Hopelessness
I saw an article today in Epoch Times that was a great reminder of why we need to all be actively involved in sharing Christ with those in our world around us. Here is an excerpt from the article:
More than four in ten U.S. high school students felt persistently sad or hopeless in 2021, according to a CDC field survey released late last week.
The number of high school students with persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness has grown steadily from 26.1 percent in 2009, to 36.7 percent in 2019, according to CDC data. The results of the new CDC survey (pdf) taken between January and June 2021 show the trend continuing, with 44 percent of the students reporting feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
The second paragraph tells us that this phenomenon is not simply a covid-19 thing. The numbers of teens feeling sad or hopeless was increasing even before the pandemic exasperated some of the very real problems out there. I suspect similar trends are happening not only among teens, but across all demographics. The world seems sad, frustrating, lonely, and scary to many people. Many have tried to diagnose the problem as being linked to internet use, social media, video games, movies and other media, and other causes. These play a part in how people around us are processing the things happening in our world.
While I certainly agree that these distracting and addicting types of electronic media have a role in the sadness and hopelessness of teens today, the real root of the problem are found in scripture. The reason the world is sad and without hope is because the real root problem is sin. Sin is the disease of all humanity (Romans 5:12). All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. (Romans 3:23). In the fallen state of humanity, there is no hope for the one who has been born into sin and remained a slave to it.
I shared the article above with Leland this morning and he replied: “We Offer the ONE & Only Hope!” And every week, Leland works tirelessly in his mission to bring this hope to middle and high school kids in Palm Beach County. Right now, our Sunday Night Youth Group (SNYG) has a challenge. Leland and Will Herring have faithfully served the youth in partnership with Pastor Ryan and Melanie Borkan of Calvary Chapel each Sunday night. Now, the Borkans are moving to TN, so their presence at the youth group will be missed.
Please pray with us that we will find new leaders to come and help us with the youth program. We are especially in need of adult females who can come, not only to be there as a chaperone, but truly engaging with the youth, learning about them, encouraging them to follow Jesus, and being someone they can see first-hand as a living witness to the life-changing power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Leland said, “We Offer the ONE & Only Hope!” We have the solution to the problem of sadness and hopelessness in our world today. And our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ charges each of us to be on mission with Him by bringing glory to Him through obedience to His commands. Let us each strive to keep all of His commands, but especially the Great Commission.
I am blessed that so many at Oasis Church are sharing a love for the church and an intensity and excitement for what God is doing. Let’s take that energy and be wise with it, and put to good use the valuable resources He has given us. The most valuable resource our church has is not the church buildings, nor the pastor. Our most valuable resource, other than the Gospel itself, is the people of God who serve faithfully in our community and beyond.
Resurrection Sunday is coming soon! Please be on the lookout for friends, family, and coworkers you can invite to church on Palm Sunday (April 10), Good Friday, (April 15), and Resurrection Sunday (April 17). Look for an upcoming announcement about our Good Friday Stations of the Cross and Resurrection Sunday pancake breakfast and special Sunday Worship Service. I hope you will all be present to celebrate together the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you are interested in supporting the youth group with your time or otherwise, contact Leland.
If you would like to listen to Sunday’s sermon, click here.
Please share our church website on your social media with this link: oasisfl.org
For the Epoch Times article I referenced click here.