1 Timothy 4:12 is the inspiration for our Student Ministry. “NEOTHTOS” is the greek word for “Youth.” This verse stands as a challenge to each generation to raise the bar of faithfulness setting the mark even higher then the previous generation. Many times the stereotype of youth culture is negative and unreliable, immature, disrespectful to authority, and unfortunately the squeaky wheel always gets the most attention.

But a closer look at history reveals that it is  the “Youth” of many cultures who have brought change throughout history. The word “Youth” has no real age attached to it. I does not exclusively mean teenager, college student or any other age group for that matter. The term “Youth” means younger than “OLD.” In fairness to the context of their verse it does refer to Timothy as a “Young” pastor. Somewhere between a child and finally got it all together “OLD.”

God has many times used “Youth” to radically change societies or culture for His glory. I think of both Joseph’s in the Bible one found in the Old Testament the son of Jacob and the one found in the New Testament who married Mary the mother of Jesus. Both young men deeply devoted to their God and willing to serve god even at the cost of personal shame, embarrassment, and physical harm. The young King Josiah, a youthful King finding the Book of the Law and turning his entire kingdom back to the Lord. Many of the Prophets of Old; Jeremiah was a teenager, ultimately turning a nation back to the Lord, Esther, Ruth, Mary Timothy, Titus. All these individuals very young, “Youth,” raising the bar even higher than the generation before them for God’s namesake and His glory.