OP-ED: WILL THERE BE A NEXT GENERATION?

Matthew 28: 18b-20 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” 

By Van Yandell

There’s a country music song “Who’s Going to Fill Their Shoes?” The lyrics are words that strike the heart of not only country music lovers but also of those that proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The chorus of that song, written by Troy Seals and Max D. Barnes, can apply to Christian workers as well as musicians.

“Who’s gonna fill their shoes? Who’s gonna stand that tall? Who’s gonna play the Opry and the Wabash Cannonball? Who’s gonna give their heart and soul to get to me and you? Lord, I wonder, who’s gonna fill their shoes?”

Will there be a future generation of evangelists, missionaries and pastors? Many churches have few if any children and very few young people.

Many remember Billy Graham, Adrian Rogers and Charles Stanley. In Christian history there were such great evangelists as Billy Sunday, Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody and Hudson Taylor.

Missionaries such as Lottie Moon (China), Amy Carmichael (India), and Mary Slessor (Nigeria) faced hardships and dangers not considered by congregations in their home country.

Those men and women led countless thousands to Jesus Christ. The thousands of missionaries that have served in-country and in foreign lands have taken the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.

Church pastors of every denomination have led many others to our glorious Savior, shepherded thousands and discipled tens of thousands. Praise God for them!

The pulpit and mission field age and die just like the rest of our society. We’re getting older; we’re not going to last forever.

It also appears, in many cases, other church workers are in short supply. Bible study teachers, music leaders, and the many others that make a functional outreach church a reality are becoming fewer.

Will those ever be replaced? Will the church as it exists in today’s world supply the needs? To expect someone to be called into such a vocation without a Christian background is asking perhaps not the impossible but it is very unlikely.

I have several “children’s sermons” for use prior to the main sermon. I’ve been told several times “We have no children.”

In one area of which we are aware, of thirty-nine churches in an association, thirteen have no pastor and no resumes.

In such a case, where are the future preachers/pastors, missionaries and evangelists going to come from?

To be raised up in a church and taught the fundamentals of the Gospel is a privilege few have in the

twenty-first century church.

For young people to understand and realize the significance of the Great Commission is unusual in today’s church. Mainly, they have to be there and second, teachers must be teaching Jesus’ last commandment before ascending which is telling the world about Him.

A mission’s lesson is to study the work of missionaries, pray for missionaries and learn methods of telling others the Gospel (Good News) of our Jesus.

A line in the chorus of “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?” is “Who’s gonna give their heart and soul to get to me and you?”

When one surrenders to God and His ministry, one commitment to God is the “heart and soul.” The meaning of that line is taken to be a level of complete and sincere dedication.

One will face the hatred of the world in his dedication and yielding to Christ. Matthew 24: 9 “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.”

Of course in this verse Jesus was talking directly to His twelve disciples who were all Jews. Christianity and the New Testament being based on Old Testament concepts (e.g. blood, sacrifice, spiritual, prophesy) the statement of Matthew 24: 9 also applies to today’s Christian.

Perhaps a thought in the mind of the Christian parent of the 21st century is “Not my kid!” It’s well and good for the child of another to be called into the mission field, especially foreign, but not my child!

In such a case, there probably is a lack of encouragement on the part of parents to motivate their children into Christian ministry.

In a society in which “success” is measured in dollars, to become a Christian worker is not at the top of most parents list of careers for their child.

And, of course we have to understand Christianity and church attendance have a lot of competition in today’s world. Capitalists (entrepreneurs) have no reluctance to have their businesses open or schedule a ballgame on Sunday mornings.

Regardless of the situation we observe, the question of “Who’s gonna fill their shoes?” is an open-ended question but one we must address and be aware of and take very seriously.

The compelling evidence in the Holy Bible indicates with great evidence and assurance that the beliefs of Christianity are real and true. John 8: 32 “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Bible teaches there is only one eternal salvation. That is by a faith based belief (Ephesians 2: 8) that Christ Jesus was crucified (Matthew 27: 35) for the remission of sin (Romans 4: 25), resurrected (Matthew 28: 6) and ascended alive into Heaven (Acts 1: 9).

Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and missionary. His email is vmy3451@gmail.com