Are You Laying A Strong Spiritual Foundation?

This blog is a transcript from Pastor Toby Cavanaugh at our July 30 weekend service.

I'm Toby Cavanaugh, and as I stand here in Richland this morning, I get really excited about missions. That's because my wife, our family, and I lived in China for about ten years, planting churches on college campuses.

I'm excited about what we're doing as a church in our radical giving, participating in impact trips, and sending our kids and young adults to the mission field.

My main role here at Radiant is as the director of the Radiant School of Ministry. This fall, we're getting ready to welcome 80 young people as we raise them to be the next-generation leaders in the church.

We're one month away from school starting, and I want to take a minute to speak to parents of teenagers and young adults in any of our locations right now.

If you're a parent of a teenager or young adult in Portage, Downtown, or Richland, please raise your hand. First, we're praying for you. Second, I want to challenge you: as your kids start reaching the age when they're making decisions about their education and career, help them prioritize laying a strong spiritual foundation before they launch out into the world.

The reality is: the world is not the same as it was when you and I were their age. They are stepping into a current that is pushing them away from Christ. And it is necessary in this hour that we invest in building the spiritual foundations to stand for everything Jesus wants to do through this generation.

Encourage your kids to lay those spiritual foundations first. Specifically, consider investing a year before they go into college or into their careers to lay their spiritual foundations. Pastor Lee and I have discussed this. For every young person that we know, we would challenge them to take that year first.

You might be a parent of a graduating senior or a young adult and realize that your child is stepping into plans for this year. You may not have done everything you wanted to lay those spiritual foundations.

Maybe as I'm talking, you're feeling a quickening in your spirit, thinking that you really need to help them lay down those spiritual foundations. If that's you, be courageous and willing to change plans if necessary to do what is right—lay a strong spiritual foundation.

Even as I'm speaking, some of you seniors are graduating, or young adults may feel a call from the Holy Spirit in your heart. You know what? You need to lay a strong spiritual foundation. If that's you, be courageous, do what it takes, and make the decision to build a strong spiritual foundation, even if that means changing plans.

So, if you're a young person like that, I challenge you. Consider this: give one year to RSM to build a strong spiritual foundation. You can check out the Radiant School of Ministry HERE. Don't let this hour of your life pass you by; it's set aside for you to build those foundations.

We're also preparing to launch Radiant School of Ministry Part-Time in September. RSM Part-Time is not just for young adults; it's for everyone. If you want to continue to grow in the Lord, to know Him more, to understand the Bible, to grow in ministry, joining RSM Part-Time here at Radiant on Monday nights is the best next step for you.

We operate in eight-week terms, and it will help lay a spiritual foundation for you too. It's one of the most powerful things happening at Radiant right now for discipling people and helping them grow.

You don't want to miss out on what's happening. Check it out - Radiant School of Ministry. Many of you in the room will launch into the next spiritual level over the next year, and this is going to be a part of your story.