In his book Tremendous Trifles, G.K. Chesterton wrote, 

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"The world will never starve for want of wonders; but only for want of wonder."[a]

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Teens have lost Wonder, and we’re losing them. The life of a teen is a war for identity and purpose: a conflict driving them further and further from faith and the church. What can be known about God should be plain to them, because God has shown it to them[b], but a bombardment of false truths and little gods has kidnapped their awe and left them dry and wanting.

 

Researchers (Barna, 2019), when studying the epidemic of church dropouts amongst teens and young adults have stated, “The dropout problem is, at its core, a faith-development problem; to use religious language, it’s a disciple-making problem. The church is not adequately preparing the next generation to follow Christ faithfully in a rapidly changing culture.”[c]

 

At CAMP 41 we want to see that wonder restored in teens AND their influencers. We stand on God’s promise that “when the poor and needy seek water, [He] will answer them.”[d] If we are to recapture this generation (and the next, and the next) we must first ignite their Wonder of the one, true God. The tools for that work are the same that they’ve always been, but must be used appropriately in this “rapidly changing culture.” “One generation must commend His works to another, and declare His mighty acts!”[e]

 

Teens are fighting a war; we want to stand in the trenches with them and with those who influence their decisions, to the glory - and Wonder - of our Lord Jesus.