HEROES WANTED

Owl City released a great new song over the weekend called Not All Heroes Wear Capes. Had they released it a month ago, it would have gone viral and been the background music for slideshows at every church in the country last Sunday. It would have had guaranteed instant commercial success. But they didn’t. Which must have made it a particularly meaningful tribute to the dad for whom it was written.

I watched another hero last weekend. He’s only 15 but he took an 11 year old and a 12 year old under his wing and he showed them a great time. Not as a babysitter or out of a sense of duty but just as friend who happens to be a full foot taller. He’s a ladies’ man and there were ladies to impress but he chose to hang-out with the guys and make them feel a full foot taller too. I’d like to think he does this instinctively because he has had so many great mentors in his life and he has watched his father be a friend to kids of all ages.

Fuller Youth Institute did a study a few years ago to try to determine what makes the difference between those who stay with their faith into adulthood and those who leave it behind. The number one factor that produced ‘sticky faith’ in young people was inter-generational relationships with people of their faith. Mentors matter. And it is as easy as being a friend. To Justin and Willie and Mike - I can’t thank you enough for being a friend my son can look up to and emulate.

Just so you know, we have openings in Awana for both men and women who have 90 minutes a week of friendship to give to help make sure a child has those inter-generational relationships that will instill a faith that lasts. No cape required.