My older 2 kids returned to school last month.  For me the start of September is just organisational chaos.  There seems to be a never ending pile of notes that come home with them every night – teachers – my brain and disorganisational side are having a melt down, you need to go easy on us parents.

Alongside the usual school notes is an ever growing pile of extra curricular activity options.

We’ve had tennis, football, judo and orchestra so far.  The notes are inspiring, so inspiring that my kids want to do it all!!!

Who knows – perhaps inside them is a football extraordinaire who can fight their way through the pitch whilst holding a racket and provide musical interludes at half time.

Whilst humour is sustaining this thought so far, the whole thing really has me thinking about time investment.

I can fill up my kids week no hassle – in fact we already have dancing, an interest in starting gymnastics and midweek church programmes.

The reality is that they can’t do it all.

So what gives??

I am a youth leader. I love young people – probably because I still feel that I am the same age as them and they keep me living that fading illusion.  I’ve realised that youth ministry has competition – it always has I guess but the competition has changed a little I think.

If you are a parent of a teenager – I genuinely admire you. I’m not there just yet, but I am watching you with intention, to learn and see how this all works.  Kids are hard work.

I need you to be aware of this competiton that is occurring – because I genuinely believe it is robbing our young people from their spiritual destination. I, like you, love them too much to sit back and simply watch it happen.

40 v 4

I did a little calculation and reckon that most kids spend 30 hours in school education a week. Add in homework and that easily bumps it up to 35 if they do 1 hour a day which is minimal. Add in sports or their other disciplines and I think you hit around the 40 hours a week mark.

If your church is anything like ours – your child will have around 4 hours to engage with a youth programme.

4 hours.

That seems so small in comparison with 40.

I know that I want to influence a generation to become the kingdom builders and world changers that I know they are.

I have 4 hours in their week to influence and engage that part of them.

Those 4 hours are golden.

But even those 4 hours are in danger as we enter the space where your teenager gets to “choose” if they turn up to church activities or not.

But this generation coming up are exhausted.  They are busy.

More than ever we need to circle those 4 hours as precious moments. 4 hours where a space is created for their spiritual growth.  I know the spiritual dreams I have for my kids – but I’m equally aware that like anything, if I desire a certain output then I have to be so aware of what is going in.

What are we sowing?  That’s what we are going to reap.

So let’s face it – if our desire is to raise spiritual Giants in the faith then these 4 hours need to become a priority. Ring fence that time. Guard it with everything you have. Make it an appointment that becomes a faithful commitment.

This is the stuff that really matters.

I’m speaking to myself. I want to push and encourage my kids in the things that matter. Education matters. Their physical development matters but this should never be at the expense of their spiritual encounters and the opportunities they have to engage with God.

I want to be the champion, cheerleader and guardian of those 4 hours.