Negative observation

I just returned from Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) 2009. I have attended many events like YEC across my 20-plus years as a youth pastor.

This year’s YEC was wonderful with incredible speakers and Rush of Fools as the worship band and concert performers.

It was obvious that many decisions were made. I was very glad that we attended the event. It was good for our group and for me personally.

However, at the very end of the event, I was quite disturbed by something. We were right at the end, and the lead singer for Rush of Fools was speaking before the last song to end the event when about a quarter of the crowd got up and left as he was speaking. You know, the Bible says that love is not rude. Yet about a quarter of the audience was rude to a band that had led us in worship and performed for us at the event.

What is really disturbing is that the groups leaving while he was speaking were being led out by their youth leaders. Hey youth leaders, you are always teaching. You taught your youth a final lesson at YEC about being rude and about how it is more important to get out ahead of the crowd than it is to listen to what the Lord may have for you in the final moments of an event.

Some repentance is in order, and it should be public and in front of your youth group.

William Lester
Anniston, Ala.