Life Promotions

I suspect that every parent can remember the moment and knows the emotion of being in a crowded area, suddenly realizing that you don’t know where your child is.  Ours was at Disneyland when our kids were small. My son, David, disappeared. It was only five minutes, but it was among the most agonizing five minutes of my life, filled with fear, panic and despair.

My mind raced with irrational thoughts of my son wandering away and falling into the moat surrounding Sleeping Beauty’s castle, or worse, a sinister predator lurking in the shadows, waiting to lure him away.  We desperately asked passers-by, “Have you seen a little boy with curly hair?” We frantically searched everywhere, calling out his name, “David! David!”

Finally, we found him, and our hearts were overwhelmed with gratitude as tears streamed down our faces and we held him, never wanting to let go again.

I can’t imagine the agony of parents who never find their child again.  Have you, like me, seen the photos of lost children displayed at Walmart, or others pictured on the backs of milk cartons? I can’t even allow my mind to think what it would be like if those photos were of one of my own children.

During those five minutes of panic and fear, I was willing to do anything, talk to anyone and get anyone’s attention, because I feared my son was gone.

It makes me wonder: do we really believe that a student without Christ is lost?  If so, where is the panic? Where is the emotion? Where is the urgency to find them? Do we believe their life is in danger, that their very soul is at stake, and that their only hope of being found is in jeopardy?

If we really believed they were falling into the hands of the enemy, wouldn’t we do anything? Wouldn’t we do whatever it takes to find them?

The reality is we are losing kids every day. Statistics tell us that less than 2% of our nation’s youth are in the safety of a church family, and if we don’t reach them before the age of 18, their chances of coming to faith in Christ are significantly less. In fact, the latest research indicates that our best chance of reaching them is before the age of 14. Yes, 14. That’s junior high.

I just returned from Kansas where I spoke at our first school assembly program of the year. Bethany, a junior in high school, heard me at a conference, and she wanted her friends to hear me too. Something stirred her heart and awakened the realization that she was surrounded by a mission field ready for the harvest.  She wanted her friends who were lost to be found; to know Jesus. So, she arranged to have me come to her community.

I spoke at Bethany’s school last week, and we worked with her to host a rally the same evening where I could share the gospel. Many of the junior and senior high students who heard me during the day returned for the evening program, and because of Bethany’s diligence, 50 kids responded to the gospel and were taken back from the enemy. Their photos are no longer displayed on the enemy’s bulletin board; instead, their names are written in the Book of Life.  Bethany felt the overwhelming need to reach her friends, and was willing to do whatever it took. Her overwhelming desperation to reach her friends was replaced with overwhelming joy at seeing so many of them come to Christ.

Last January while on my sabbatical, God made it clear to me that I was not done.  There are many more who need the hope of Christ. I’ve been in ministry now for 28 years, but I feel God has made it clear that the greatest years are still ahead of us.  I decided that if I have a lot of years to go, then I’m going to have to take better care of myself, so I began exercising and watching my diet. I’ve now lost 75 pounds, which is ironically the total weight of some of the junior high kids I just spoke to. I’ll gladly lose more weight, but I never want to lose another junior high kid.

I believe our ministry is poised to reach more young people than ever.  Everything we’ve done throughout the last 28 years is part of a learning process, and part of God’s greater plan. God has many more opportunities for us as a ministry, and for me as a speaker, to reach out to this generation and call their hearts back to Christ, back to their parents, and to the Creator of their souls.

Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost. He left a lot. He gave a lot. He sacrificed all. Why? To see one lost sheep saved.  Thank you for coming along side us through prayer and financial support, for being a part of seeking those who are lost, and bringing them back to their loving Father.

For the Kingdom,

Bob Lenz

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc

<18>

Please support Life Promotions mission to reach youth with the gospel before the age of <18>

WAYS TO GIVE
Web:       CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
Phone:   800-955-5433
Email:     Dave Romenesko daver@lifepromotions.com
Mail:       Life Promotions | 4 N Systems Dr | Appleton, WI 54914

.