So many times we hear stories of great exploits that students are doing in raising hundreds and thousands of dollars for missions.  This is truly amazing, and it is admirable.  However, along with that, we do want to teach the spritial discipline of giving to missions on a consistent basis.  The reason is that while it isn't realistic for a student (or most of us, really!) to give hundreds of dollars each month to missions, it is realistic to give something.  It is our desire that 100% of Assemblies of God youth someday participate in giving to Speed the Light.  How can this happen?  Ask yourself, "How possible is it for me to give $10 over a four week period?"  Come on, you know the answer that not only is it possible, it's quite easy in fact. American teenagers spend over $50 billion on discretionary, or non-essential items.  So ask yourself, "Could I, would I give up $10 per month to invest in the work of our Assemblies of God missionaries & humanitarian ministries such as Convoy of Hope?"  I would hope we would all answer "Yes!" If every Assemblies of God teenager in Montana joined this effort, do you realize we would raise $260,000 for Speed the Light each year?  We would be able to do so much for the cause of Christ!

So how this be accomplished?

SPEED THE LIGHT 1-2-3

1: One committed leader who is willing to lead by passionate, sacrificial giving as an example on a regular basis. This leader should set a goal and model cheerful giving in the weekly or monthly STL $10 offering.

2: Two well-prepared minutes each week to teach and inspire teenagers through intentional Offering Sermons on making money, managing resources, meeting missionaries, and maximizing opportunities.

3: Power of 10. While 12 month goals are OK, usually multiple shorter goals help the students focus their energies, celebrate victories, and inspire one another. This results in creating a habit of regular giving. The challenge then is for every leader & every student to commit to giving just $10 per month.  The possibilities are astounding!  For example, a youth ministry with 20 students and 4 leaders over the next 10 months has the potential of giving $2,400!

When you have these three components in place, giving contests, group fundraisers, and church offerings will become icing on the cake to help meet critical needs.

Purpose of 2 Minute Messages

Offering sermons are designed to provide a launching point for the two-minute focused inspiration and teaching. These can be done weekly by the youth leader, students in the ministry, or other volunteers. Most will take very little preparation and, if done in sequence will give a steady diet of ¹Making Money,1 Managing Resources,2 Meeting Missionaries, and Maximizing Opportunity. Opportunity is given each week to respond by giving.

How to Get the 2 Minute Messages

Have the Offering Sermons delivered to your Inbox every Wednesday by subscribing to the STL 2 Minute Sermon List.  Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and request to be put on this list.  You can also go to the download page by clicking here and download those messages yourself.

Offering sermons teach about missions, but are designed to give biblical principles on the view of money and stewardship. This helps reinforce that STL is about the win, build, and send mission of Assemblies of God students.

For additional resources, I recommend using the STL Digisource

available from Gospel Publishing House (item #28TW0559).  It can be accessed for free at stl.ag.org.

Leadership

In the end, everything rises and falls on leadership.  If we are to meet the critical needs of our missionaries and compassion ministries, we as leaders must offer passionate, consistent leadership in the area of giving to missions.  My encouragement for you as the leader to make STL a priority each and every week.  For your first 2 Minute Sermon next week, talk about the Power of 10, then watch what happens!