I haven’t always been faithful to share the Gospel. That’s true of my personal life as well as my ministry life.
Maybe you can relate. Maybe you can’t.
For anyone who wrestles with whether you should share the Gospel—or when or how often—consider my journey as both encouragement and a challenge.
From big dreams to barely surviving
When I started out in youth ministry, I had ambitions to change the world. Or at least my corner of the world in the suburbs of northern Virginia. I expected momentum, breakthrough, impact.
But that didn’t happen.
Instead, I drifted into becoming exactly what I promised myself I never would be: a weekly program director at best, a glorified babysitter at worst. I lived in a frantic cycle of Wednesday-night prep without any real vision. I was busy, but not fruitful.
The turning point I didn’t see coming
Thank God that in His kindness and mercy, He set me on a new trajectory through a life-changing encounter with Dare 2 Share and Gospel Advancing. The turning point wasn’t complicated. It came down to one decisive shift I (and my students) desperately needed: to share the Gospel every week at youth group.
I’ll be honest: I doubted it would change much. But I didn’t have anything to lose, so I went all-in with sharing the Gospel every single week.
For the first few weeks, it didn’t seem like anything significant would come of it. But around week four or five, something extraordinary happened.
Six of my 30 students—20% of my youth group—made first-time decisions to trust in Jesus Christ.
These were kids raised in the church, kids who were at youth group meetings several times a week, kids I had assumed already believed. And yet, for the first time, they understood and trusted in Jesus.
I was blown away, overjoyed, elated, awestruck—and ashamed.
I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the power of the Gospel. But how had I gone so long missing so many opportunities to point students to Jesus?
Maybe you know that mix of emotions too.
Conviction that leads to mission
That conviction was a gift. It steeled and sealed my desire to share the Gospel every time we gathered. Over the coming months and years, we continued to see God call students “out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It was amazing.
I’ll never forget the shift that happened when I started sharing the Gospel weekly. And I want every youth leader out there to experience the same move of God.
And you can!
Share the Gospel every week.
Taking on Paul’s challenge
Listen to Paul’s words to the church in Rome:
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:14–15
- Teenagers can’t call on Jesus if they haven’t believed in Him.
- Teenagers can’t believe in Jesus if they haven’t heard about Him.
- Teenagers can’t hear if someone doesn’t preach Jesus to them.
Share the Gospel every week. If for no other reason than this: You have been sent.
Why you are where you are
God has placed you in your corner of the world for a reason. Whether you serve in a tiny rural church, a midsize suburban congregation, or a megachurch in a major city, you ’ve been sent to be a faithful minister of the Gospel.
One simple rhythm could reshape your ministry the same way it reshaped mine:
Share. The Gospel. Every. Week.
Ready to take the challenge?
If you’re ready to take this step, I want to encourage you to download the report A Generation in Reach. You’ll hear more stories of transformation and discover practical ways to unleash the power of the Gospel and the potential of your teenagers.
