We have a problem

We have a problem……

Last year youth from across the territory gathered at Jackson’s Point for Territorial School for Music and Gospel Arts – God showed up.

There was a lot of enthusiasm, energy, freedom in worship, confession, prayer, lives changed – the pessimist said “another youth event high…”

We have a problem….

Youth continued to network during the year through emails. Others who met throughout the year remembered and rekindled memories – accountability.

Many youth took on sponsor children.
Many youth prayed through the bible for 30 days.
Some youth raised money to build a home in another country
Some youth went on mission trips where they saw God.
A couple went to Vancouver’s east side to live and work in the slums.

We have a problem….

Recently many of these same kids returned to camp. They had grown spiritually, had consolidated some learnings, (were not perfect or had arrived) and were keen to go deeper.

God showed up again. People went deeper, thirsting for more of God.

They “danced” before God – sometimes fast and furious, sometime slowly, but with gaze fixed on Him – (a healthier alternative than “dancing with the devil”).

Skeptics intoned “emotionalism”, manipulation, idealistic hormone driven youth.

The Gamaliels in the crowd reasoned – if this is not of God, it will fail, be long forgotten.

We have a problem….

Our youth need our prayers, our conversations, our call for accountability, our wisdom, our encouragement.

We have a problem….

Some of these youth are not willing to settle for a church/Corps experience with the church as its end. They are seeking to do mission, be salt and light, be agents light in the community in the world. . They need channel their passion and have their passion informed, not doused.


We have a problem…..
You are the solution to that problem – I rejoice in this problem, oh that other parents, youth leaders, politicians, social planners would have this problem, instead of the multitudinous problems which blight our youth scene and world today. I don’t need to elaborate.

We are the people we’ve been waiting for. The next generation deserves better.

Have a conversation with someone who was at this camp.

Choose to commit to a young person, to listen and understand (you were young once) to enter into relationship, to hold someone accountable.

Some say this is revolutionary – I say it’s doing what Jesus say.

Bless you – I’m happy to receive feed-back.

“We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done…Ps. 78:4

“This is kairos time, a time to influence and inspire our land for a generation to come…May the Holy Spirit show us what may change, what must change, and what must not change.”


David Ivany
Territorial Youth Secretary

"Leading people to follow Jesus..."
2005 YEAR OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH