Psalm 145:4
Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. (NLT)

I’m convinced that one of the hardest jobs in the world is being a parent. When my kids were little, I spent every waking moment just trying to keep them content (and alive). When they got a little bigger, I spent that same time trying to get them to follow the rules (and keep them alive). And now that they are both teenagers, I’m spending all of my time trying to help them understand what it means to truly follow Jesus (and help keep them alive).

There’s a saying that “it takes a village” to raise a child. I can confirm that this is 100% true. My kids have both had adults in their lives who were there during the good times and the bad times. One of those “villagers” is Daniel Lycan. If you’ve been around the Georgetown or Lexington campuses, you might recognize him. On Sundays, you’ll see him at the Lexington Campus either sitting in the production booth or playing guitar on stage. You might also see him chatting with my son.

Back in the spring, my son began serving on the Production Team. It’s by far his favorite Sunday of the month. He’ll tell you that the team he serves alongside are “his people.” After a few months of serving, Daniel invited him to come to church once a week on a weekday to help him set up and program lights for Sunday services. Soon, my son had developed incredible respect and admiration for Daniel—so much so that he is now considering going to school for live production and serving in the church. And more importantly, Daniel is able to speak into my son’s spiritual life in ways I can’t. You might ask if I’m jealous that Daniel has developed this relationship with my son, and the answer is an emphatic NO!! 

Satan has his targets set on the next generation of leaders. You see that strategy everywhere you look. I’m thankful for Daniel and the other adults who love, mentor, and help me disciple my son. And it challenges me as I look to serve the next generation, too.

If you have a son or daughter (or grandchild), I encourage you to lean into the amazing leaders we have here at Southland. And whether you have kids or not, consider serving in our children’s or student ministries and making an eternal difference in a kid’s life. I can only speak for one child—but Riley’s entire life has been changed because of Daniel.

Thursday’s Reflection

What is God asking you to do today? Is He asking you to be a mentor or to volunteer in some other area? Are you willing to invest in the next generation of church leaders?