Blog

Sami Gutierrez here. As many of you know, I am a leader with MCC’s Fire and Ice middle school youth group. This spring, we feel God has called us to endeavor to grow our little group of students in leadership, discipleship, and in love of the church. We have a few strategies in place that have been extensively planned and prayed over.

One area I know we’d like to grow in is church engagement.  At MCC we have this incredible body of Christians, each of whom God is at work in, equipping and growing in ways only He understands. He promises to complete the good work He has started in us. I believe this promise holds true for each of us, no matter our age or spiritual maturity level. I believe it holds true for the middle-schoolers of our church. But I also believe it’s our duty as a church to intercede daily and beg God to complete this work in them. I don’t know about you, but there has been few times in my life I needed spiritual protection more than when I was in middle school. Thus the idea of prayer partners was born. Or reincarnated, more accurately, as there have been several attempts to initiate them in the past.

Basically, the idea is for the adults of the church to commit to regular prayer on behalf of a student. Cover them as they go forth into the world. Ask Christ to reveal himself to them, to give them courage and peace as they deal with the craziness that is adolescence. Ask that God would fill them with His spirit, challenge them, commission them for His service. Let the student know that no matter where life takes them in the next year, you will be in their corner praying for them.

Imagine a group of students, equipped with God’s truth and ready to unleash it on the world. Imagine the boldness they could have in confronting all the spiritual warfare that’s out there, knowing that they are backed by a congregation that prays for them. It’s like walking into a gunfight knowing somebody’s got your back. We can’t miss an opportunity like that to equip our church for the future.

I’ve started the process of matching willing prayers with students from youth group. I’m incredibly excited about how God is going to use this in our body. If you’re interested in participating, or would just like some more information, please feel free to contact me, Sami Gutierrez. Thanks for prayerfully considering this opportunity. Thank you for all the support MCC already gives our youth ministry!