1 Timothy 4:12

His name is David Budd, and he was one of the most influential people in my life. When I was in Jr. High, David Budd was my youth leader and he invested his time in me so that I could have a better relationship with God. To taking me to Sampo concerts or simply taking me with him when he had errands to run really meant a lot to me. The most impact he had on me is when he would take me out almost every Friday to Dell Taco for some lunch and we would go over a study that he made for me (I still have it!). Even though I was a thirteen year old boy he was disciplining me. David saw me as a young boy but that didn't keep him from letting God use him to transform my life. What David did was help equip me to be a warrior for Christ!

The best verse in my mind that describes this is 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith and your purity." This is a verse I lived by when I was young because God used David to teach me how to be a disciple. I was blessed at the age to have such a friend when looking back with all the time he put into my life.

Today, I am a youth leader at my church working with teenagers. I take take them to concerts, to events and I disciple them in order that they too may have a strong relationship with God like I did at that age. This is such important part of the Christian walk to do with young believers. Teenagers are constantly bombarded with the temptations of this world and unfortunately they fail when it comes to the way the they live, love, their faith and purity. They need Christ love now not just when they grow up.