Raising Up Timothy

by Becca Kuest

Last month 30 high school and junior high students from Central participated in a local trip experience to learn about people groups that are often unseen in our city. The students had the opportunity to bless the homeless in Downtown Phoenix with a pastry and listen to their stories. They shared an authentic Middle Eastern meal with international students. They learned about the history of Indian boarding schools, as well as the beautiful culture and resilience of Indigenous people groups. They met a high school student who is using her passion and skills to serve the local refugee community and had dinner with our friends who were refugees to the U.S. Finally, they went through a simulation, to get a taste of what displaced families go through to gain refugee status.

During this 3-day experience, one theme kept resounding in my mind: they were made for this.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV).

I am amazed at how CSM students are engaging with the nations. How they lean in and embrace new opportunities. How they are curious to learn more. How they desire to love God and love others. But the question remains…who will walk alongside them?

When I was younger, I had the opportunity to travel to different countries on short-term mission trips. I saw the beauty of God in other cultures and His love for all people. Along with these experiences, I had mentors, friends, and leaders in my life who spoke this truth to me: God is calling you to be part of His Global Story. I would not be where I am today nor would I believe this truth without 1) the opportunities to see this truth and 2) the people to speak this truth.

Too often we intentionally or unintentionally exclude young people. We think they’re too young, they’re not in the real world yet, they’re not ___. If we don’t believe in them, will they believe in themselves? If they only hear the “not-yets” or “one-days,” imagine how that will impact their future involvement in God’s Great Commission…imagine how that’s affecting their present involvement in the Great Commission.

Imagine if Paul, one of the greatest evangelicals of our faith, shared the Gospel but didn’t continue discipling people like Timothy. Without people like Timothy, the Gospel would have died with the early church.

When I read 1 Timothy, I see how much Paul loved Timothy, believed in him, and desired to see him serve God’s Kingdom in his youth. Based on chapter 4 verse 12, my guess is that Timothy was facing a lot of discouragement and insecurity about his age. People probably doubted his ability to lead and criticized him for being too young. But what did Paul do? He affirmed God’s calling on Timothy’s life. In verse 14, Paul says “do not neglect your gift.”

God is calling young people to participate now in God’s Kingdom work for the nations, and He has uniquely gifted them to fulfill this calling. It’s our responsibility to set the example, to speak God’s truth, to help them discover their God-given gifts, and walk alongside them as they learn to boldly share the Gospel of Jesus.

Yes, share the Gospel with others, but don’t forget to raise up the Timothys and bring them along in the mission!