We neared the coliseum, passing dozens of church vans filled with adolescent young ladies anticipating the experience of a lifetime. Myself, like many of them had no idea what to expect. The next 22 hours proved to be quite an array of energy, music and Biblical instruction for life.

So what’s a guy like me doing in a place like this? Good question. That’s what I was wondering. It was in the words of one of the speakers of the evening that I found the wisdom to take from the weekend. For her, the investment of her time and talents into the lives of young people finds its’ base in the instruction of Paul from I Timothy 4:12: Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Do we look at the lives at the teens we know as examples of faith, love and purity? Why not? What impact do the lives of these young people have in our society?

As one of a handful of men in the midst of 7,000 screaming girls, I realized that from this group would come a number of missionaries, teachers, nurses and many others that God would use to change the world one life at a time. The hands that waived 6,900 cell phones in syncopated rhythm would be used by God to touch lives for His glory. The feet that jumped to the beat of the band would lead a generation to follow. These voices will indeed: “…sing of His love forever.”

Teenage girls that change the world? The girls in our churches? Our schools? Our homes? It’s believable! And highly likely seeing that this is a season where we celebrate a teenage girl who changed the world forever – not with her ability, but with her availability.

Thanks Mary…oh, and Merry Christmas!