405: Never Too Young

I have been writing to parents the last few weeks talking about what it takes to be a PurposeParent. Having taught thousands of people all around the world about purpose, I have come to a simple, but profound conclusion:  there are no age restrictions when it comes to clarifying and fulfilling your purpose. 

In some cases, I’ve found children, teenagers and young adults to be much more “in tune” with my purpose teaching then their adult counterparts.  In fact, this young generation wants their purpose and they want it now.  They are not willing, as their seniors were, to spend years paying their dues in a company or ministry in the hopes that eventually they will do something they enjoy that is related to their purpose.  They want to know and fulfill their purpose as quickly as possible. Anything less is unacceptable for them.

I have an article on my website entitled Never Too Young For Purpose that runs through a list of young people in the Bible who were purpose driven. You can go to my site and read this article about Joseph, Moses, Samuel, David, Esther and many others.  In each case, the Lord didn’t speak to these young people about a career; He spoke to them about fulfilling their purpose—His will for their life.  And all of them made a significant impact on the history not only of the church but also of the world.  

Below are seven conclusions I came to that will help you fulfill your role as a PurposeParent or PurposeCoach.

1. Parents may play a key role. 
2. Parents may not play a key role.
3. Purpose doesn't only apply to church work. 
4. It’s never too early to start a PurposeQuest.
5. Young people can and do hear God’s voice. 
6. Young people need to be prepared for the road ahead. 
7. Young people need to see Jesus as a man of purpose. 

I hope you find this helpful whether you are seeking purpose or helping others find theirs.  In the meantime, if you have any other insights into being a PurposeParent, please don't hesitate to add them to this entry on the site where it is posted.  Have a great week!

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1. THE SOPHIA FUND UPDATE: $393 came in last week for The Fund, which is just super! As you know, I am using the money to feed AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

I wrote an update and a thank you for those who have given to the Fund four weeks ago and you can read it here. You can also read about my rationale for The Fund here (named after my late mother).

Please consider a contribution of at least $5 toward the fund and hopefully more. You can use the "Chipin" widget on the Monday Memo site to contribute, or go directly to my website to contribute there through PayPal, or send a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Make sure you let me know it is for The Sophia Fund. Don't delay; give today and make a difference in the world.

If you give a gift of $25 or more during the month of June, I will send you a free copy of my book, Strictly Business, while supplies last (I sent out nine so far). Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you play a part in addressing the issues of HIV/AIDS and world hunger.

2. REVELATION: I still need your help, although I had two good leads for publishing last week but no money. I have finished a devotional focusing on the book of Revelation and I feel an urgent need to self-publish this work, which will cost about $2,500. I wrote about this project in my blog a few months ago and encourage you to read what I wrote there. You can also read some sample excerpts of the book here.

In that post, I explain my urgency in wanting to get it out for people to read. Once you read my rationale, please consider if the Lord wants you to help me to restore an important book of the Bible that has been distorted by so many weird interpretations. I know there is someone out there who is going to help me with this project.  Maybe it is you.

3. DAILY PROVERB: I am now posting a short daily devotional focusing on one verse every day on my blog site. If you would like to read it or subscribe to receive it, just go to my site and register there. I promise to have it updated every day.

4. FACEBOOK: I update my status on Facebook (you can find me by searching my email, johnstanko@att.net) every morning to include a daily verse from Proverbs and an inspirational quote. I do the same on Twitter @johnstanko. Go there to sign up and follow along.

5. UK AND KENYA: I am scheduled to be in the UK from September 18-September 27 and then in Kenya from September 29-October 4.  If you can use my services while I am there to speak, consult or conduct a purpose seminar for your company or church, please let me know as soon as possible.

Comments

[Paul]

Dr John:

Once again you have prodded a fantastic subject.

I have looked back at my own role as a parent with my success and failures and I have come to a a couple of conclusions. You are so right on about parents playing a key role and yes children can and do hear the voice of God.

I think the most important thing a parent can do is to EXPOSE a child to a possible purpose in their life. If it is a purpose, sent from God, the child will navigate toward it. The more defined the navigation, the closer the child gets and the more assistance you can lend in helping them stay on a proper course.

I think parents have, generally, messed up in 2 extremes.

1. They decide the course, the purpose; they steer and make all the turns themselves just to have their child watch and ponder another direction.

I have really, really, seen this a lot when it comes to Senior Pastors wanting to pass (or shove) the mantle of the church to their sons. (It rarely works)

2. There is no course or purpose to ponder because the parents have not left the port with their children and have taken a complete hands off approach.

As extremes usually go, both approaches are wrong and the next generation of children needing purpose to their lives are lost.

Current statistics reveal that 75-80% of all teenageres will leave their church between the ages of 18-21. Someway, somehow, we have to get it right.

Paul