A couple weeks ago ESPN ran a story about a 7-year-old Argentine kid
signing with football giants Real Madrid. Apparently young Leonel Angel Coira (pictured left) displayed proficient enough skills to warrant serious interest from Los Blancos as well as cross-town rivals Atletico. Many Westerners may find themselves tempted to make knee-jerk judgments about the matter, so I’m quite interested in beginning a conversation revolving around one of the main themes emanating for this story: the value of young people.
This move highlights the lengths to which people will go to secure the services of quality individuals who will add value to their team, in this case, a professional football team. Now, there is a certain degree of assumption one must permit when speculating on the value of athletes of any age. For example, one could easily suggest Leonel might lose his right leg next summer in a freak skiing accident and we’ll never see him carry on the banner of European footballing domination. Please, for the sake of healthy discussion, lets set these sorts of thoughts to one side.
I submit the club isn’t informed as much by their assumptions as they are by honest assessment. Obviously Real saw great potential in this kid; enough to offer a legitimate contract. I think they actually recognize true value and potential right now. Why else go through the process? Any knowledgeable sport enthusiast can tell you this is no publicity stunt: Real Madrid are considered the most successful football club of the 20th century. Therefore, can we then assume Real might know something we don’t? If they can see the value of a 7-year old boy, what value might your church attribute to a student twice his age?
Let’s forget about the story for just a second and ask ourselves honestly, ‘When was the last time we believed in a young person enough to invest an exorbitant amount of time and resources to ensure their development?’ Parents who read this might suggest they’re about this business every day of their lives and good on you if you are. How about your local church? Or perhaps your church’s missions committee? I’m not talking about providing youth ministry programs or a little extra room in the budget. I’m talking about personal investment, an all-out concentrated effort on coming alongside youth in order to bring them into the abundant life Jesus brings; the sort of life changing attention young people might best benefit from.
I’ve had the privilege of advocating on YouthHOPE’s behalf on numerous occasions and I couldn’t come close to counting the number of times I’ve heard my brothers and sisters suggest that young people are “The Church of Tomorrow.” Is that some new denomination? “The Future”, they call them, as if they’re some high-tech, from-outer-space commodities. What if God has a plan for using them now and not just in the future?
Now, before you go condemning me to the likes of militant Muslims who apparently bring in youth in order to raise them up in their extremist beliefs, ask yourself this: Is there room in the strategic mission of the Church for enabling and equipping young people now? And if so, when should it start? I’m not just talking about letting some young people lead the Sunday morning service. I mean considering them as strategic partners in your local church’s plans for being The Church in your towns and cities. Is there something to be said for assessing and identifying the gifts and talents of youth in order to mobilize them immediately for action? And perhaps even more pertinent, what obstacles stand in the way of this becoming a present reality for you and the ministries you care most deeply about? Lastly, what might this different approach to youth ministry actually look like? Just some things to consider… After all, the Church’s goals are a bit more complex and significant than banging a ball in the back of a net.
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