Just a couple of weeks ago, we hosted our 13th annual Spokane Youth Rally here at Sunrise! We addressed the theme, "It's Not All About Me," with the help of our special guest speaker Gary Zustiak ("Zus"), from Ozark Christian College. Part of what Zus shared was the fact that young people can, and should, do hard things for God; youths are just as capable as adults of serving and meeting the needs of others. To this end, he related a story that I want to share with all of you:

Just this past week I learned about a great illustration of youths who did something great! This takes place in a little nowhere town called Vinita, OK. The youth minister had to take over the responsibilities of the minister also, because the minister was fired. One day he was meeting with a woman who needed money for a prescription that she couldn't afford. She was a single mother, out of work, and just couldn't afford to pay for her needed prescription. So, the youth minister paid for it out of his own pocket.

When he made his board report, he mentioned this need and told the elders what he had done. They informed him that a lady in the community had died and had left $50,000 to the church to be used to help people in the community. He could just use some of that fund.

He was glad to learn that and so the next month he spent $200 helping people who had needs in the community, taking money from that fund. When the next board meeting was held he told them what he had done. The board got upset that he was spending that much money. The youth minister told the board that the community people needed that kind of help. They were firm. You cannot use that money—we need to save it in case a tornado or flood comes through. He told them that he was going to spend $200 next month and that they should prepare to be amazed. They told him if he took the money from that fund, he would be fired.

The youth minister went to the youth group and shared the need with them. This youth group had only about 30 kids. They decided to take up an offering to help with this need. They pledged to give $200 every month. And they raised it! So when the next board meeting was held the youth minister told them he had spent $200 helping people in the community. The board was angry! They started to dress him down and were ready to fire him when he said, "Wait. I told you that you were going to be amazed. I didn't take the money from your fund. I challenged the youth group and those 30 kids not only raised that much money, but have pledged to give that much every month.

The board got real quiet! Most of the guys were pleased and they were saying, Oh, well. Great! Finally one man said, "Guys. I don't know about you. But I don't feel good about that. I feel guilty. Those teens have shown a better example of Jesus than we have. I move that we give $200 a month from the fund for this need.