Intern

Ron Writes

We were blessed by another summer preaching intern. Hunter did a marvelous job! There is something so magnetic about the vigor and enthusiasm of youth! Add to that the sweetness and charm of a southern gentleman and there’s no telling of the great things that can be done for the kingdom.

Some wit once famously declared, “the trouble with youth is they waste it on young people.”  I can confidently say that nothing is being wasted here. These young men (there were 5 young men who were part of this year’s intern program), used their youthful zeal to the glory of God.

Potential. Sometime after you turn 50 people stop talking about your potential. However, these young men have potential. They are in the best years of their lives and they want to use them for God. Years ago, I spoke with a man who after years of farming and making a living told me that now that he’d reached retirement age, he was going to start preaching. As far as I know, it never happened. Did he think that little of preaching and the commitment that it takes to think he could give his left-overs to God? Over the years, I’ve seen this same kind of disrespect toward preaching, no wonder we have a preacher shortage. These young men are giving their best. They have many options but want to give all that they have to God.

Maturity. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness” (1 Tim. 4:12).   One of my favorite movie scenes has the line, “you’re fixin’ to let those teenage hormones get you into a world of trouble” (Secondhand Lions). Too often young men are thought of in this way. Someone once flippantly said that the reason that Mark left the first missionary journey was to see his girlfriend back in Jerusalem. We want 20 year-olds with 40 years of experience. It might take these young men a few years to receive the respect they want and deserve, but no one will look down on their youthfulness because in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity they have shown themselves to an example of those who believe (1 Tim.4:12).

May God bless us with many more productive summers with these preacher interns!