I appreciate your kind words…you are a great encourager. About sadness: As we grow in Christ and combine that with years lived, we come to the stark reality that earthly life is fragile and fading. This knowledge that everything around us is passing can build fear into areas of our lives we never thought fear would touch. As we learn to truly love others we also are confronted with the truth that we will one day lose them…friends, children, parents, etc. This awareness can often place us in denial, hopelessness, despair….you name it. Certainly in the context of ministry we often deal with people during stressful times in their lives, finding ourselves being emotionally, physically and spiritually drained as we try to encourage, teach, rebuke, or comfort them in their pain, loss or confusion. I believe that is why Paul stated clearly to the church that he could be content in all things…palaces or dungeons…riches or poverty…it did not make a real difference to him because he knew beyond all else that this was not his Home. I believe this is the key to living a holy, fruitful life…this understanding that we are passing through and that for brief moments we get the priviledge of sharing eternal truth and love with those we journey with. Allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us as we touch real lives in practical, mysterious and profound ways. Having an eternal perspective is key to a successful, fruitful ministry. In turn, my weakness and weariness wakes me up to the fact that I can be content because Jesus has already been to that place of weakness. I also know that He gave Himself for me…bled for me, ensuring me a place at a banquet someday that words cannot express. Any loneliness, heartache, frustration or depression I face here is only bringing me closer to the Cross. As I get closer to His pain (pain produced by unfathomable love) I get closer to His heart. Jesus is the One who stands with arms open wide beckoning All to come…He is the One who is daily rejected and shunned…He is the One who stands between Heaven and Hell and lays His life down…He is the One that hears the cries of His people and enters into their sorrow speaking life and blessing…moving mountains…the ultimate mountain moved being Death. Will we sometimes feel crushed and breathless? Of course. All it takes is a betrayal, an unrealized dream, or standing over the grave of a loved one. Can we stand in the pain and move toward light? Yes…YES! This is the point where you must put the enemy of your soul in his proper place…you rebuke him in the name of Jesus, standing on the verity of God’s Word and you claim the victory of the Risen Lord and proclaim the mercy, grace and love of your Sovereign Savior! Jesus is King…He is Lord and He is your deepest friend…you run to Him in this darkness…you cry out to Him and He will be there. Jesus knows darkness, He knows betrayal and fragility…He also knows your name…and you are most precious to Him.  When we go through these valleys and twists and turns we must ask God what He wants us to learn about His nature…He will bring ALL things to our good if we love Him and seek His will…part of that good is that we know Him better than we once did before the trial…we understand His faithfulness more clearly now and we trust His Word more honestly and dearly. Guess what? You are not going nuts. But you are being shaken for a reason….is there hidden sin in your life? Be honest before Him tonight, repent and be cleansed. Earthly desires running the show? Put them in their place and throw out the idols. Give satan no place to rest…keep him on the run. Eph. 6. You are the real deal and I wish I had more people in my life with your desire to serve Christ and simply know Him. All I seem to do lately is counsel fallen, wounded Christians who seem to have no grip on holiness or maturity. It is frustrating, but we must walk with our brothers and sisters even when the load gets very heavy. Hang in there…keep your eyes on the prize!    I am truly blessed by your ministry…I know God is pleased….You are the best!  much love,D           Psalm 84               

  “I BRING MY VOID HERE FOR FILLING; IT IS MY POVERTY GOD NEEDS. WITH MY WANT THE LORD BUILDS PALACES.”      -KILLIAN MCDONNELL

My view was that we have been in the apathy stage, and certainly for the past generation, have begun to slip head first into the dependency stage.

I am not a pessimist, but I also have a brain. We are in a fragile state as a nation today. My prayer is that we will wake up soon and realize freedom is never free and that personal responsibility, faith, and sacrifice are hallmarks of free, prosperous and innovative people.

I have posted below the Cycle of Nations:

The average age of a democratic nation is 200 years. From their rise and fall they follow this sequence…

The Cycle of Nations

By Sir Alex Fraser Tytler (17747-1813) Scottish born, British attorney.

1. People are in Bondage.

2. They awaken to Spiritual Faith.

3. This faith provides Courage.

4. Courage provides strength to fight for their Liberty.

5. As Free People they enjoy Abundance.

6. Abundance then gives way to Selfishness.

7. The People then become Complacent in their wealth.

8. Complacency produces national Apathy.

9. An Apathetic people look to government to provide and become Dependent on the State.

10. The People are led back into Bondage.

Tytler’s research saw this common sequence repeated throughout history. He said that democracy exists until the nation’s people realize they can vote themselves generous gifts from the National Treasury. Voters will then only vote for candidates that promise the most personal benefits. Loose fiscal (financial) policies follow and bring collapse which is then followed by a dictatorship.

The Students’ Bill of Rights was produced by the American Family Association Law Center. This document may be freely copied and distributed.

Students’ Bill of Rights

1. You have the right to meet with other Christian students on campus for prayer, Bible study, and Worship. The First Amendment guarantees the right of freedom of association with others.

2. You have the right to form and meet with Bible clubs and prayer groups on campus. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the federal Equal Access Act gives students the right to organize and participate in Bible clubs and prayer groups, just like any other club that is not related to curriculum.

3. You have the right to share your Christian faith on campus. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech, which can not be prohibited on school grounds without significant justification.

4. You have the right to wear Christian t-shirts or symbols to express your beliefs through your clothing, jewelry, buttons, etc.

5. You have the right to carry your Bible, and read it during unassigned reading time on campus.

6. You have the right to publicize the gospel or hand out tracts on campus. First Amendment free speech rights include the right to hand out literature, use school bulletin boards, school news- papers or other methods of communication available to students.

7. You have the right to include religious themes or points of view relevant to school projects. Nothing in the Constitution prevents the mention of religion or religious beliefs in school. In fact, religion can be legitimately studied, if the school does not try to advocate a particular faith.

8. You have the right to study and to observe Christmas and Easter holidays on campus. These have been held to be part of the culture and heritage of our country.

9. You have the right to voluntarily participate in prayer at school. The only prayers which have been held unconstitutional are those which are mandatory and initiated by the school administration. Student-led initiated prayers are allowed.

10. You have the right not to participate in activities (or possibly classes) that conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs.

This is a question and response that took place during a counseling session with a local pastor who came to me in 2008. I was later asked by him to put my response down on paper (best I could) so he could share it with other ministers and his church family. Please understand that I was trying to make a simple point…I know there are awesome young men and women doing great things for Christ at this very moment…I have had the privilege of working with many…but the frustration of many ministers and churches is very real also…they are scared when they envision the future of their churches and ministries/missions. I just wanted him to look at things from another perspective and know that the answer lies within the Church and the capable hands of God.

Pastor:

“Darryl, do you think God wants my church to grow? To see people saved, discipled, and baptized? I have been praying and working to grow my church for almost ten years and all it does is go from 50 people to 120, back to 75 to 50 and so on. Why will God not bring me a passionate, anointed, gifted worship leader to lead my church in worship? Why can’t I find a dedicated, soul-winning youth pastor to help me grow this ministry? I don’t get it…what am I doing wrong? You would think that God would send these guys to me…I have been praying, begging God for years. I am so frustrated and at times just plain angry about it.  Maybe I missed God somewhere. I just don’t understand.”

My response:

I would like for you to look at this problem from another angle. Possibly the simplest answer is that you will not find these two men because they do not exist in the form you desire. Let me explain my reasoning.

Most modern day Christians in America hold the belief that the church is for, and about, them. “What is in this for me?” You know the drill. Lots of unhappy campers trying to push their agendas until they disappear or push others out the back door of the church. The reality is that Christians are the Church. The Church is here for a variety of reasons but the main one is to proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ is alive, that He is God, and that He is the risen Savior and Lord. It is the Church that is called to worship Him in Spirit and Truth, to love Him above all. We are light and salt. We are the Body of Christ holding out the Word of Life, bringing His love, mercy, grace and salvation to a hopeless and dying world.

As 21^st century Christians we have turned our focus from Christ to ourselves. We think church is buildings, programs, coolest praise band, best speaker, biggest crowd, nicest light show, or a children’s carnival with dancing monkeys. Tons of fellowship, stunts, public relations, and rituals, but very little substance. Not much of Jesus.

We have left our first love. We are adulterers. The Bride is cheating on the Groom with other lovers. We are also liars, gossips, thieves and murderers (and, yes sir, I have been all of those…you too, if your honest: check out Matthew chapter 5).  Many Christians have become superstitious idolaters (I better go to church today or God will do something bad to me) and in return God has quietly left us to ourselves. He can’t compete with our busyness, whining, bitterness and pride. Jesus will not be second place. Not in our churches, homes or our individual lives. He is pre-imminent. He is God.

            Pastor, may I remind you that the largest nationwide confidential pastoral poll in history (taken in 2003 I believe) revealed that 96% of pastors in American churches do not believe the Bible is fully reliable or fully inspired. It also revealed that 35% of them were having an affair, (it was a confidential poll, no names had to be given, to insure honest reporting), or had an affair with a member of their church. 40% struggle with pornography addictions. There seems to be no fear of God and little remorse for our sin in this age. As you know it is getting difficult to find young people and adults who will stay sexually pure. This lust of the flesh is killing the soul of our churches. It is amazing how arrogant we have become to think we are entitled to do whatever we want no matter the cost. The day of sacrificing for the greater good is pretty much over. We are intimately connecting ourselves with evil through our illicit sexual behavior. Satan throws out the bait and we bite. The destruction is overwhelming. Our reputation’s as Christians is damaged deeply but we still insist on trampling the blood of Christ. Our sin is finding us out in the American church. It is time to wake up and repent.

If our church leaders and members are unwilling to submit to the ultimate authority of the Word, why then should we be surprised that so many young Christians will not submit to any kind of authority? No authority, no discipline. No discipline, no spiritual fruit.

We have come to believe that every aspect of a church service has to be entertaining and comfortable for the attendees. So now we have produced a youth culture that sees church as irrelevant because they are more entertained and comfortable at home. Not many preachers can compete with an Xbox. So here we go down a familiar path…  “I will do whatever I want to do. Please do not engage me fully, please respect my space…thanks for the pastry and de-caf latte, though…see you in a month or two.”

We have left our first love. Here is some proof: Jesus said that the gates of Hell would not prevail against the church. Let’s be honest, we have more “Christian” TV, radio, mission trips, internet, books, bookstores, churches, conferences, youth workers, pastors, teachers, evangelists, sports programs, entertainment, seminaries, bible colleges, music groups, record companies, publishing companies, church plants, coffee houses, and para-church organizations than ever before in history…but the church is declining and  dying in our nation. Only 4 % of our young people truly believe in Christ as Savior. No great surprise when only 4% of Pastors are proclaiming the truth week to week. If you were a salesman and you had a 4% sales record you would be fired. Bottom line, millions of young people are lost without Christ in our nation. “Big deal”…yes it is, because 90% of all people who come to Jesus do so before the age of 19.

We need pulpits that are alive and on fire again with the uncompromised preaching of the Word of God. Why? Because this is the primary transforming agent in all of human history. Want faithful, passionate young ministers? We better get them under the Word now. That means in this day we have to go where they are because they are not coming through the doors of the traditional church. Seen a twenty- something in your church lately? Might need to leave the walls of the church building and go find them. What a great opportunity for the church to come alive and impact this generation…but will we?

Pastor, you and I both know that few churches nation wide really reach out to our youth. Most have their little group of 10 to 15 young people that play games, eat pizza and have a devotion and call it youth church. If a church has 30 students they are seen as a large youth group in America. The fact is that most churches seemingly do not care about lost people. Most do not care about young people specifically. Maybe that is why 70% of church youth drop out of church when they hit college age. Place on top of that the avalanche of fallen, disgraced church members and it is little wonder why they see the church as a non-issue.

“We do not have a student ministry or child evangelism in our church programs. We concentrate in other areas.”   My advice to these churches that are within reach of young people in their community, but choose to ignore them, is to put up a big sign in the front yard of their church that says, “Go to Hell…we really just don’t care.”

It is staggering that only 5% of Christians ever lead anyone to Christ in their lifetime. The other 95% must be totally distracted by the shiny things of the world…or just numb. Something is off balance. A Christian who is not concerned with soul winning is not right with God. A Christian that does not witness is a contradiction in terms. Could it also be that this same 5% of soulwinners are having to carry the duty of discipling new converts too? Throw on top of that scenario the reality that only 6% of all Christians actually tithe to their local church. Looks like a perfect storm brewing. Even if your two ministers are out there your church will pass them by because there is no legitimate funding for those positions.

Let me mention this: Every day in America 3,000 kids watch their parents divorce and break up their family. Parents saying to their children with deafening clarity, “Kids, I don’t love you enough to work on this marriage, or to have said “no” to the affair. I don’t care about you enough to stay with you full-time. I love my sin more than I love Jesus. I refuse to do the hard thing. My happiness is all that really matters.” Ah, divorce…the gift that keeps on giving and echoing in the hearts of our children. We are strolling through the wreckage of devastated marriages and displaced, fractured children and trying to act like it is just another walk in the park. We have taught a whole generation how to cop out and never be accountable. We have taught ourselves to be perpetual victims, never taking any blame or any responsibility for our sin. No wonder this generation coming up marries 40% less than the previous one. “Why commit? You know it won’t work out….just look at our parents. Let’s just use each other until we are tired of the dance…then dispose of accordingly…Next…”

Pastor, let’s also take a look at another heartbreaking reality: The church has stood by and allowed a  modern day holocaust called legalized abortion to destroy 50 million of our citizens over the past 36 years. Here is a sobering thought…maybe your youth minister and worship leader were lost to abortion. Who knows? Only God knows their names and what their earthly ministries could have produced if given the chance to live. Three decades later we are scratching our collective heads and wondering how a “throwaway” philosophy captured, and enmeshed itself into the consciousness of a whole generation.

Our generation is flaky, transient, detests hard work, is entertainment and sex driven, anxious, drunk, self absorbed, uncommitted, Biblically illiterate, and passionless about evangelism. We drown ourselves in movies and games that feature blasphemy, killing, torture, and rape. We are more interested in video games, chat rooms and blogs  than real live relationships. Our idea of communication is to have MySpace, Facebook, and text messaging blurring and blending together to create some odd alter ego in cyberspace. What can you say about a medium that worships our image and is built on self promotion, gossip and impure motives. Students actually have arguments with friends over who has the best cell phone, game system, or newest technology.

 So many of our ministry students are visionless, immature, reckless, and motivated by cash. As one local pastor gleefully counsels…“Go where the money is, God is everywhere!” So many young guns unresponsive to the real needs that surround them and the churches they go to serve. Serve? Come on…most youth ministers only last 14 months, Pastor’s only 30 months in any one church at a time. Sounds about right. As soon as real pressure, boredom, challenges, personality conflicts and spiritual unrest crank up they crumble and run. No one even knows what conflict resolution means. “I feel…I don’t feel”…that is how we do church. That is how we get direction and vision. What a waste of spiritual gifts. Church staffs have made an art out of running for the hills. Nike should look into some kind of sponsor tie-in.

Where are the preachers that will teach prophetically the Rapture, the Second Coming of Christ, the Tribulation, and the stark reality of Hell? Someone who will stand on the Word and the courage of their convictions seems rather antiquated and naïve to this generation. To make absolute statements of truth and live by them has the ring of hostility and controlled madness to these gatherings of watered down religionists, and secular society as a whole.

Need proof? Have a young person walk on any USA college campus and promote abstinence and purity as a viable sexual option. Put a megaphone in their hand and have them shout out that they are proud to be a virgin and that Christ has called them to be pure and holy, that sex is for the marriage bed alone. It will be about as close to a modern day crucifixion as you will ever experience on American soil.

 “ Sound the alarm! Those insane backwoods, uptight evangelicals are here. What an absurd, Puritanical mindset…why, it’s child abuse! Let them do what they want with their bodies…you guys are ridiculous and medieval in your views…grow up. Sex is natural…sex is the reason we live. Pre-marital sexual freedom is an American birthright. You cannot tell me what is right and wrong. You do not own the truth.”

Think it’s just young people that are being silenced? How many ministers back off or dance around moral issues and deep spiritual truths because they are scared of the backlash from their own people and the community?

A youth pastor in town used to tell his students to only have sex if they really “loved” the other person. Wow… brilliant…ok, he is a moron …and he is a disgrace. But he is simply one who is awash in the constant blithering and blathering of social liberalism and secular humanism. Tolerance is king. “Do what you want to do but keep your opinions and sermons to yourself.” God help us to get a backbone.

Our churches are hotbeds of gossip, humanism, bitterness and ego. The dirty little secret of the American church is that we rejoice when others mourn and we mourn when they rejoice. No wonder no one really hears Jesus when He whispers Truth in our church sanctuaries. No wonder 35,000 church goers leave the church every week in America and never come back. They find no power or comfort within the church anymore. Prayer is the power cell of any Christ-centered congregation. No Prayer? No power. Many church “experts” see prayer as boring and killing the flow of our services. “Keep peoples attention, for the love of Pete don’t let there be a minute of silence in the service…is the video clip ready to roll?  But Jesus said His House would be a house of prayer. “If my people humble themselves and pray…” What if we did?

Oh well…whatever…  we can’t find peace and unity in the church today because of the constant noise of running feet stampeding towards the exit as we dash to the nearest restaurant to feed our real god. 

We have ample evidence in the Word that God calls, but many times people do not answer. Maybe it is the high cost of living the Life. Maybe it is laziness. Maybe it is fear. Whatever the reason, we are walking away in mass exits. I realize we are a broken, wounded generation. There are very few spiritual giants and role models left. I get that. I know we have all these spiritually and emotionally crippled people laying in sad little piles all over our churches…some get up and some just get used to the floor, so weary, and they just stop trying.

            Maybe this is another reason you can’t find those two ministers. They have become disconnected, burned out and are now buried deep in therapy struggling to breathe. It is going to be quite the revival that can stir these dry bones. It is hard to imagine who the young men and women will be that will pick up this mantle of selfless, passionate, Christ-centered ministry. I know there are exceptions but the reality is upon us. Even though I believe this is a spiritually hungry generation they are being bombarded by cultism and false religion and so many are seeking after other gods. We are watching the rise of the “cool, detached” minister, the emergent who will play the game of purpose and self realization. Can these men and women stand in the gap for a generation? Maybe they could, but, because they cannot seem to commit to anything or anyone, we may never find out what God would do with a handful of sold-out believers.

“Who will go?”….”well, uhmm, maybe I will Lord…I will let you know when I am ready, when I feel it is right for me…oh, these couches are so uncomfy, where are the donuts?”   “How dare God inconvenience us with His Will for our lives.  How frightening that we might actually have to live by faith.” It’s very sad to watch spiritual hope swirl down the drain. When did we stop caring?

Pastor, you can’t find dedicated, selfless, loving Christian workers for the Harvest because for the most part the American Church stopped birthing real men and women of God many years ago. Why are we dismayed? It is clear…we have reaped what we have sown. Did we actually think evolutionary humanism would not cripple the church somewhere down the line? It’s amazing to me that so many people would so quickly deny the first verse and chapter of the Bible. The Devil always casts doubt on the Word and his scheme has worked once again. “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”  We can’t serve 2 masters. It is time to learn how to fight this spiritual battle. It is time to put on the full armor of God. It is not too late.

So I don’t think you can make a blanket statement that God doesn’t want to send you a couple of “on fire” people to help ignite your church. Could it be that Jesus’ desire is to still seek and to save that which was lost?…that His will is that all should come to Him?  But maybe, just possibly, at this time and place God has no one who is willing to patiently study the Word, grow in purity, knowledge and grace and therefore willing to be equipped, prepared and anointed to stand with you now or in the near future. Gee whiz…They may have to give up their porn addiction.

I will be praying for you and your church. Your duty in this may be to re-assess and prayerfully and diligently raise up ministers out of your own congregation. Pouring your life into a few young men and women, feeding them, nurturing them and watching them grow. I believe Jesus is pleased with that approach to filling ministry positions. He is also pleased with using the small, the insignificant, the plain and unremarkable to bring Him glory and confound the wisdom of the wise.

Pray with me that God will raise up young men and women that will humbly submit their lives to God. Picking up their cross and following Him no matter the cost. Men and women that will say with the Apostle Peter, “Lord Jesus, where else can we go? Only You have the words of eternal life.”

Watch and pray with me for coming revival in America. May we be ministers that train up and help equip the next wave of ministers of righteousness. Be assured… we must step up and model true Christianity and ministry now. This is our fight and our responsibility today, so they will someday be models for a generation we will never see.

Am I cynical? No…actually I am hopeful and I will seek to be faithful with what God places in my hand. I believe pointing young people to Christ is worth us giving up our lives for. I also have seen what can happen when young people get real with God. He gets real with them.

How much is one soul worth? Look to the Cross, stained with the Blood of the Lamb and we might get a glimpse of the price.  What is the cost of giving up and leaving the ministry because people don’t play fair and the outlook is grim in America? The cost will be multitudes cast into Hell, lost without Christ for all eternity. The cost could also be your integrity, your purpose and destiny…maybe a crown or two. Stay in the race, let’s finish faithful.

Pastor, I encourage you to stand whether anyone stands with you or not. I don’t think Jeremiah the prophet had much help either. I know the American church is damaged and in trouble but do not despise the day of small things. Jesus will build His church. Let’s be thankful for the light we do see. Let’s praise Him for anyone who calls on His name whether in a church of 50 or 5,000. The Heavenly Hosts rejoice over the repentant one…may our hearts join in praise with theirs as we faithfully share the magnificent love of Jesus. He did not call us to be great. He called us to be faithful and serve. Let’s get back to being the Church…the “called out ones.”

I believe that these two young men that you are asking God to send to your ministry and church can exist. But I also know it is going to take real work, sacrifice, time and attention on our part to see them rise up and shine. God builds the man. We have to be willing to offer our gifts, encouragement and Godly guidance throughout the building process. This is no small task. The end result, I pray, will be dynamic, faithful men and women who will go into all the world and preach the Gospel…or simply lead your local church to greater heights.

I will leave you with this quote from A W Tozer:

“The church at this moment needs men, the right men, bold men. The talk is that we need revival, that we need a new movement of the Spirit, and God knows we must have both. But God will not revive mice. He will not fill rabbits with the Holy Spirit.  We languish for men who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the allurements of this world…..and when these deliverers come, they will be men of God and men of courage. They will have God on their side because they will be careful to stay on God’s side. They will be co-workers with Christ and instruments in the hand of the Holy Ghost…”

 Praying always,   Darryl Riden: President/ CPM Student Missions Association

If you are someone who loves Jesus and young people, live in the JC area,and are looking for a way to reach this generation for Christ… come and join us in this mission effort. You are welcome here! Training, Bible study and prayer group meets every Sunday at 11:00am. Feel free to email me at darryl.riden@rocketmail.com for more info and directions to the Sunday gathering.

There are literally millions of young people in the USA who do not know Jesus Christ as their Savior…let’s go tell them the Good News!

I woke up in the middle of the night feeling anxious, nervous, and very alone.

“I can’t go into ministry Lord, I don’t have a three piece suit and my hair is way to long.”

Thus began my journey into the wild frontier of student ministry. I was seventeen years old when God began calling me and planting the seed to proclaim His Word. I felt utterly inadequate for the task.

            Growing up in East Tennessee, part of the “Bible Belt,” I had a very limited view of what ministry looked like. Basically a preacher preached long sermons, sat on a bench while the choir sang, shook hands at the door, and made you feel guilty about everything. As far as Youth ministry was concerned that was a pretty straight forward deal also. It was 1979 and I personally did not know a youth minister. I had heard of a few churches in the Maryville/ Knoxville area that had people in that position, but to actually see one was like catching a glimpse of Bigfoot.

Most churches simply had a parent or two that would set up the yearly trek to a Nashville youth event, a bike ride around Cades Cove, and if we were really fortunate we would get to go to Six Flags/Atlanta for a summer getaway, if you call a getaway an 8 hour round trip in a stuffy Chevy van with 10 students and a cranky Dad at the wheel. The week long Summer Camp was another prize in the youth ministry bag. Poison ivy, bad food, ranting preachers in white collared shirts with big sweat stains and nice slacks, the occasional snake sighting (by the creek, not in the chapel services), and finding that kids are mean everywhere you go. Looking back I wonder how God got any of our attention.

            My family was a typical middle class family. Alda, my Mom was a realtor. Bill, my Dad was a bricklayer. Both very committed Christians and active in our small community church of 140 people. Dad was a great singer (still is) and sang in the choir, led it on occasion, worked with the youth and helped the church in any way he could. Mom played the organ, helped in the women’s ministries and was deeply devoted to being at church any time the doors were open. My older sister, Teresa, had already married Charlie by 79’ and they would soon graduate from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City. Teresa would be a nurse, Charlie would go on to be a minister several years later. Who knew that God would call the Riden kids into His service. I sure didn’t think it would happen. I am thankful that for the most part my family was always involved in a Bible believing church. Mom and Dad would always take time to explain spiritual things to me and Teresa as we grew up. We both were saved at home, Teresa at age 11, me at age 12 a few years later. (I was lying in bed one late October night and under sudden Holy Spirit conviction, realized I was going to Hell. Being the realist I am, and not one to provoke God Almighty, I ran to Mom and Dad’s room like I was already on fire, turned on the light, woke them up, pleading with them to lead me to Jesus…they did.)

When I was a kid, our family began singing together. Teresa would play piano, Mom on the organ, and Dad put a bass guitar in my hand. I still remember not having a clue how to play it when I first got the guitar but I would stand with it in front of my mirror and put on possibly the greatest musical showcases known to man. All I’m saying is that The Monkees nor, dare I say, even the Partridge Family could have performed better.

When I was 12 we began to perform as a family group all over the area for a few years before Teresa left for college. I learned how to sing harmony, played bass, went on to learn piano, guitar and drums by ear. It was also the year that I heard Elton John’s “Rocket Man” and Aerosmith’s, “Dream On,” and being profoundly moved by my first exposure to Pop music (I was basically raised on Country music, the Gaither’s and hymns) I felt I needed to be a songwriter. By the ripe old age of thirteen I wrote my first song, “You’re So Hard Getting Over,” which was of course about a young lady who I was profoundly “in love” with…. (trembling)..“But I really loved you…it’s been the best 2 weeks of my life!”… “uhmm, I know Darryl but it’s time to move on…” (crazy cheerleaders….sorry…kidding!).

 Music was important to our family. It was a vehicle of unity and worship of Christ for all of us. Mom loved to listen to Dad, Teresa and I sing together. Through the years we would occasionally all be together at one of our churches and Mom would insist that we sing. Mom died of cancer in 2005. Just a month before she passed away we were all at our home church…yes, Mom had us sing as she sat in the pew, tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. One of the songs we sang as kids was, “Now Momma’s Teaching Angels How To Sing.” Mom never thought she was a good enough singer to sing with the three of us. She was content to play the organ and be our biggest fan. But I am certain Mom is now showing the angels a thing or two.

I started a rock band with my cousins, Lonnie and Scott, in 8^th grade. I sang lead, wrote some songs, played piano and bass. We got our first concert gig at Porter High school and played 5 or 6 songs. Girls were screaming! People loudly applauded…we signed autographs! Interestingly, I vowed that very night that the pursuit of music and fame would henceforth be my lofty goal in life. I mean, come on, this was not like playing bass and singing tenor with the folks in church. Between football and music I figured I had the girl angle covered. It also became an artistic release before I even knew what that meant.

At seventeen I was already winning local and regional music contests, formed a band called Deliverance (me, Rob Cunningham, Brett Knaffl, Scott Carpenter, and Randy Moats…..Rory Steele and Danny Cartlidge came in a few years later), and started to play youth events around town and out of town. We were a Christian rock band before that was a cool thing to be. Many churches would not let us use the drums because they were the “devil’s instrument.” Rock music and “backward masking” seminars abounded, KISS was twisting young minds… We just wanted to play music we loved. We wanted to tell people about Jesus Christ. Little did we know that this was a form of evangelism that would explode onto the national scene within a couple of years. Looking back I realize now that we were some of the first young people in the nation to put the message of the Gospel with a true rock band format.

I remember we were invited to play at the Gospel Music Convention in Nashville in front of thousands of people. After we played our set the announcer said, “well…that was pretty good boys…now the next group up is our kind of music!” (a Southern Gospel group…which was the dominant Christian music of the day). Thanks for the encouragement, Clyde.

 Anyway, before we knew it we were playing up to 80 times per year. From the beginning I felt compelled to give an invitation every time we played somewhere. It was never a planned out thing. I just knew we may never see those kids again and we all wanted them to know Jesus personally. This evangelism gift began to grow and produce fruit, it also began to change something in me and the band.

One major turning point happened in our second year together. I was 18, soon to graduate high school and we were asked to play at a Methodist youth retreat held at a camp in the Smoky Mountains. 150 students were there and we just rocked the place! God came in power that night and as I gave an invitation to come and accept Christ, around 30 students came to pray. In the midst of the other students, two girls stood close together, crying, and holding each other as they walked up to me and placed two ropes in my hands after the time of prayer. Later, as the band was breaking down equipment, they came up to me, pulled me aside, and explained:

“We made a pact before the service tonight that when we were dismissed we would walk into the woods and hang ourselves with these ropes. We fully intended to commit suicide tonight. We wanted to thank you for telling us about how much Jesus loves us, that He would die for us, and that we should live for Him. No one has ever told us that we needed to be saved.”

 I remember standing there speechless as those girls walked away, still crying, still holding each other, heading toward a camp counselor to tell her the decision they had made. I was stunned that the name of Jesus was so powerful. Yes, we had been leading a lot of young people to Christ over the past year but that event showed me how Jesus truly brings Light to destroy darkness.

“I have come to seek and to save that which was lost,” took on new meaning for me that Spring night of 1980. To this day I believe it was in that moment that God placed a deep burden for young people in my heart…and I was just a youth!

Even though we were a Christian band we were voted by a local college music magazine as “best rock band” in the Knoxville area. We began to have a sizable following. By now we were students at the University of Tennessee, recorded our first Nashville album with producer John Mays, (who went on to be A&R for Word Records), on the road every weekend, had a song on college radio, performed on TV, and dealing with our egos. I was often discouraged when girls would come up for autographs and some would whisper inappropriate things to me and some of the guys. I knew there was a certain power to the stage and I was aware that one of the reasons I wanted to perform earlier was the draw it had on young ladies in the audience. (What can I say, I’m a guy). But as my relationship with Jesus grew I realized I was becoming disillusioned with the whole music deal. My thoughts after a show or service were, “…did they not hear one word I said up there?” (years later this aspect of the music business pushed me away from the industry for several years, just couldn’t get my heart around it.)

After a few years, now in my early twenties, I began to sense the ministry calling much deeper. Still racked with feelings of inadequacies. Still trying to find my balance. I just never had anyone explain to me that God can use you right where you are. Ministry is not always about preaching behind a pulpit with slicked back hair and a big Bible. I had so many questions, agonized over what God was calling me to, being depressed, angry, and sometimes just apathetic about the whole situation.

My church was not a big help because of several reasons. They were very traditional and I never had the opportunity to play our style of music there. The problem was, at that age, late teens and early twenties, all I had was the platform of music. They just did not know how to integrate using my talent into ministry opportunities, and giving me and the guys a way to reach out under the guidance of our own church family. This disconnect was frustrating, real,  and very hard to verbalize at the time. Even though we had a 27 year old minister he was too timid to break the mold. He was fresh out of seminary and really had no concrete answers for me theologically.

I asked so many questions! I had such a thirst for the Word. I wanted to go deeper. He did become a good friend and confidant, and later I realized he too was simply trying to grasp where he stood theologically during those years. Many of the older folks in the church saw something in me but just did not have the ministry tools to help me find my way. Lots of hugs and pats on the back (which is important to a young person), but basically there was a hole that could not be filled. The band U2 recorded a song a few years later that echoed my frustration called, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” I certainly had a shaky and strained relationship with the local church for many years. I never seemed to quite “fit.” But I loved Jesus with my whole heart, ever aware of His presence and leading, so profoundly grateful for His grace, salvation, and love.

          Mom and Dad, though,  were supportive of my music. They let us rehearse in their basement…all I can say is “God bless them.” Thunderous sound waves shaking their house every Thursday night for years. They gave advice, helped buy equipment, and financed our first album in Nashville. I think they were as amazed as we were that God was using this group of young men to win souls. I will always be grateful for the prayers and support they gave a bunch of teenagers. We need more parents like that today. My sister and brother-in-law were big fans and supporters too. To this day my sister thinks my songwriting and vocals are up there with the best in the industry… again, my family was instrumental in me finding my place in ministry.

God used them all including my grandmother, Nana. She had no idea what all the loud music was about. She was the mother of five, grandmother of sixteen, a self supported beautician and one of the Godliest women I have ever known. She knew God was going to use me. You know how she knew? She asked Him to do so when I was born. So here are Nana and my Mom praying for me to preach the Word for years. Only they knew what they were specifically praying for. They never told anyone else, not even me.

The day I told Mom that I had surrendered to preach we happened to be driving home from one of her house showings. She was behind the wheel. I told her that I had been struggling with something for four years and I now know what I am to do. I then proceeded to tell her that I felt called to preach. She looked stunned and had to pull over on the side of the road so she could compose herself! (She then told me how she and my grandmother had prayed for me all those years.) I was 21 years old. Prayer matters. Don’t ever give up on anyone (or yourself) when God is the One in control.

God answers prayer…Yes, No, or Wait…This specific prayer just took 21 years to manifest. Now, 25 years later, I am humbled that God would ever use me to bring thousands of young people to Him. Believe me…if God can use me, He can absolutely use you! And by the way, It is a privilege to be in ministry…period. It is not a place for the shiny, arrogant, boastful and snobbish…ugh…sorry, I may puke.

Ministry is amazingly difficult, lonely, burdensome, and wonderful. If you are a young man or young woman that feels you are being called into ministry but feel a deep struggle within your soul…don’t be discouraged. Trust the Lord, wait on Him, pray, and prepare by immersing yourself in His Word. If you feel disqualified and inadequate…guess what? You are. But God delights in taking the small things, the insignificant, despised and unimportant things and doing something brilliant and beautiful with that willing vessel of clay. There are so many people who need to hear that Jesus redeems and restores. So many young people who may someday bring their “ropes” to you if you will first go to them.

What an awesome journey you are getting ready to travel. Yes, people can be discouraging and mean…satan will come against you…but greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world!

Get good counsel. If you do not have anyone to talk to about your calling, then please do not hesitate to contact me. I have counseled hundreds of young people through the years regarding their spiritual gifting and call to ministry…you are welcome to chat with me anytime. Bottom line, you and I are here to proclaim Jesus in our generation. The how, the why, the where is not important…a heart set on following Christ is all that is needed. Will you follow? Will you go?    Wow … I hope so.                 Praying for you,  Darryl

Throughout the next several months, we will be adding new content to the site.
These are exciting time at CPM and we look forward to seeing you soon!

God Bless,
Matt Larkin
CPM Media Director