Arizona Horizon for April

On occasion, I have been blessed with the opportunity to sit and talk to various business leaders, Pastors and other Youth Leaders to ask them, "What does it take to become successful in a field of study, career or ministry?"

The majority of the responses involved two important values, "time" and "passion".

Most of us understand that to be successful it takes an investment of "time" dedicated to learning our field of study or ministry. The more time invested, the more we learn, the more we practice our craft and so the more experienced we become.

But more imperative than time or even experience, all of the respondents agreed, without a "passion" for what you want to accomplish you will eventually become discouraged and fail. It was once said by Arthur Buddhold "Follow your passion, and success will follow you." It must be passion that drives you to complete what you desire no matter the circumstances or obstacles that may arise.

What is passion?

Passion can be expressed as a feeling of unusual excitement, enthusiasm or compelling emotion towards a subject, idea, person, or object. A person is said to have a passion for something when they have a strong positive affinity for it. A love for something and a passion for something are very similar feelings.
Without passion one cannot realize the end goal or desire they have set. It must be passion that drives you to complete that desired result.

Why is passion important?

In the context of this discussion, having a passion for the desired end result, you will be driven to complete the extraordinary when normally you would give up. Passion will compel you to continue praying for that young person that appears to not care. Having a passion for others salvation will pull you out on the streets to spread the word of God when no one else is there.

Passion will require you to overcome the unthinkable, the radical!

In this day we are living in, youth leaders must have a sincere passion and desire to see young people saved.
Our church leaders have tried to instill in us, the youth of today will be the church of tomorrow, however I ask you "Who will reach out for those that will be "the future church?"

If we as Youth Leaders do not feel the passion to see others saved; if we do not encourage and empower others; if we do not guide them then who will? God is searching for people with passion that desire to see young people come unto him. God's passion and desire must be in us. He wants to empower you to see an outpouring of revival within your city.

I sincerely feel Arizona is directly in the funnel of the perfect will of God and is about to see an explosion of revival in our churches directly affecting our young people. God is challenging us and asking "Who is ready?" If there were ever a time to be ready for an explosion, now is the time.

NOW is the time to set aside petty distractions and give this outpouring our undivided attention, desire and passion. I also feel we have Pastors and Youth Leaders that are ready for this challenge and outpouring that God has prepared for us, but let me offer a word of encouragement to you, through adversity and disappointment. BE PASSIONATE!

When you fast and pray for young people and they give up, keep your passion for young people. When the young people are shouting one Sunday and defeated the next, keep your passion because they are depending on you and I to keep that connection, desire and passion.
The outpour funnel is here, are you ready for the challenge?