Last summer an interesting opportunity presented itself in the church I serve, Elim Lutheran Brethren of Malta, Montana. A young man, between his sophomore and junior years of high school, suddenly took over the evening devotions at the Wednesday youth program. Our youth leader was busy with pre-convention details after the ice breaker game, and the youth - fifteen of them - were waiting for devotions. Without any suggestion or encouragement this student stood up and asked everyone to turn to the story of the Prodigal Son. He read the story, asked a couple of questions for discussion, collected prayer requests, said a prayer and headed for the snacks.

The returning youth leader walked into the middle of a youth-led youth group. No one was in shock. They all seemed normal. They were listening, discussing, and praying. Without missing a beat the youth leader asked, "Who would like to lead next week?" There was an immediate volunteer. The entire group grew in maturity in this one session.

I like to hang around the church to watch what happens on Wednesday evenings, partly because I like the snacks and partly because I love young spiritual energy. As the meeting dissolved for the evening the youth leader told me what happened. Like any pastor, I was thrilled. We are experiencing a youth population wave in our small town. Our youth group can vary in size from just a few some years to 15 or 20 as it is now. This is not an opportunity to lose.

God was choosing young people before time began. His Son's sacrifice for them is timeless. His Spirit now enlightens, calls, gathers and sanctifies youth for ministry. Forgiveness, eternal life and service are available to all upon repentance. Our theology teaches us to celebrate baptism in families, recognizing the work of God to wash away our sins. As parents, leaders and pastors, our role in relation to baptism is to commit ourselves to washing children and youth with this Word. We do this daily in the home and weekly in the Church. This washing with the Word is called discipleship. Our children make mistakes. But we do not punish, rather we disciple them. We show them their sin and the consequences in a loving environment. We teach Law/Gospel thinking and action by faith. And when they do the right thing, we exalt God for encouraging and empowering these disciples.

Our church constitution mandates discipleship for those we baptize and their friends, with the goal of maturity in Christ. We are not raising children and teens; we are raising adults. We do not have Sunday School/Youth Group for the sake of Sunday School/Youth Group. We practice discipleship programs for the adult fulfillment of the Kingdom. Our parish education vision is: "We see Jesus loving children, training adolescents and releasing adults to live by faith in God's grace."

After everyone was gone, I sat at my work station in prayer. What had just happened? What was the next step? I was so excited. Should I ask the youth leader if I could host youth leadership training? I had the Serendipity small group training. I was the expert. I could tell them how to do it, if they would just do what I told them.

But the small voice of the Spirit said, "You gave these kids to me. You baptized them in my name. Just give them my Word." My eyes fell on my Serendipity Bible. Within just a few minutes I had ordered 15 Serendipity Small Group Bibles. The youth leader has put them to use. Kids are becoming adult small group leaders. The opportunity has begun.

Steve Heppner serves as pastor of Elim LBC in Malta, Montana.