Am I too young??

Marie, I'll tell you how I got the name Mr.Cheese.
We have some friends. They live where we used to before we moved closer to school. They have a daughter who is 17 now. But she was fifteen when this took place. Like you. I called over there one day and she didn't know who I was (the daughter). She thought I said Cheese instead of Chase for my last name. So she has called me Mr. Cheese ever since. The point to all of this.
I was far from God at this time. But I saw this young person who loved Jesus. She really did. She was a shining light which helped guide me back home.
That doesn't sound too young to me. Don't let people discourage you.

I don't think that there is such a thing as "too young" for ministry. Something that you might not know, since you don't have children yet, is that the younger people have an amazing way of seeing thing in a different light. Their simplicity and great ability to love touches the hearts of nearly all that witness their capacity to touch others. Don't worry about being too young. If anything, it sounds like the other person needed to take stock of themselves, instead of making you feel uncomfortable.

*hug*

I think, perhaps, the person who "put you down" might do better to become more aquainted with the Word of God, both the Old and New Testament parts of it.

Perhaps they should start with the Old and read about Samuel who ministered before the Lord as a child. (I Samuel 2:18)

Then, perhaps, they should go to the New Testament and read the Words of Jesus, Himself, who chose you and ordained you to go and bear fruit.

The people you should listen to are the ones with enough wisdom to understand that the interpretation of God's Word was for a people of another time but that there is an application of the entire written Word of God for US today.

Just focus on Jesus, and God will bless you in His service.

I think it's great when "young" people want to participate in ministry! Don't give it up! If you get people active and involved in church things at a young age, they'll want to continue as they get older...which is always great.

whoa! dont *ever* let anybody make you feel like you're not adequate enough for God to use you! the truth of the matter is that age doesnt matter and your ability doesnt matter - what matters is that you're willing to be used by God, and that you obey Him. God can use you no matter your age. read Jeremiah! great book, great name (my name is Jeremiah )

Jeremiah 1:4-10 (nkjv)

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Then I said: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant."

much Christian love!

its not too young, i have a friend who when they were 13 they were called to be a missionary.

I'm 15 too, and have served (and still do) serve as an altar server (since a little after I received my first Holy Communion, but it's normal for younger people to be altar servers for awhile), and I am also a Lay Reader (Lector 1 of two people in their teens). I really also want to teach CCD, or at least help teach at some point in the near future, and I hope that my Priest will allow it. No one should say that you are too young for any ministry in your Church. I think it was Thomas Aquinas who also said that the maturity of the body is not the same as the maturity of soul. Keep pushing, and serve God in all that you do. Don't worry about what others think, do what your heart tells you is right.

Pax

Good stuff Pax. You are right. The maturity level is not, and should not be based on physical age!

I'm 18, act like a crazy man, rather play with soft toys on my bed than go out for a drink with some mates and... well, i just draw weird stuff . Not mature? Yep. I can act like one but that's just not me. .

Maturity comes here and there. i don't discriminate by age. anyone who is mature can boss me around .

I would like to be able to say to you that you will never face opposition such as this again Marie, but the Truth is as a Christian you will face all sorts of negative suggestions and even insults of various reasons while ministering to others/serving God as a follower of Jesus.

I too have been told I look too young to minister at 27, and for simply speaking the Word of God in Truth with confidence, gentleness, respect I have been ignored, spit on, threatened, called all sorts of names, screamed at, told I could never be a minister without a certain college degree, etc.

satan attacks our thoughts, but God's in control. When satan tries to put thoughts of self-defeat that are untruthful in our heads, we are forgetting to put on the Armor of God.

Jesus said, "Keep in mind that the world hated me first."

Remember what they did to Him. Remember who we are serving. Remember that we are "citizens of Heaven." Remember that suffering leads to character. Suffering for Christ is Joy!

I wrote a book about suffering in Joy for Chirst:

http://www.jiloa.org/JILOA/Articles/Suffering.html

This book is my attempt at ministry, but I have been told that since I am not an established writer, since I do not have doctor in front of my name, since I am not wealthy, etc that it is not a book of ministry. Same thing with my online ministry: It's a waste of time, no one looks at it, you're too dogmatic, you're a holy roller...

Jesus said in the Bible for Christians to not be surprised at the trials we suffer, but to never let it stop us from serving Him.

Suffering in this world is only temporary.

Moreover, the Bible tells of the importance of meeting with other Believers for encouragement/refreshment, and to get in the Word daily to expose insulting lies with the Truth.

I agree with the other comments in this thread. Communicate how you feel to your Pastor or another Believer. Show this person what you have learned about service for your age in the Bible- the indisputable Truth.

Man, I thought I was too young! If you think you're too young, good. It'll give us time to learn more, prepare, and hey, the problem with pass with time.

God calls us whenever, no matter the age. But there will be some who disagree.

I received a prophesy last year that God called me before I was born. I wish I was aware of it at the age of 15. You are not too young - YOU ARE BLESSED!!!!!

I agree with everyone here, you are not too young to serve God. You set good examples for the other youth in your church so I encourage you to do so. Shame this person doesn't know this board, I think he would be surprised at the positive response from us. Keep up the good work.

no one is ever too young for serving God
this person is going aginst God
and thats just rong.
God will guide u ... sry i dont knwo what to say
Bye and God BLess!
-Andrea

I love to help out at church too but I make sure I'm careful not to take too big of a bite if you know what I mean. I have dedicated my life to ministry and I am carefully building up for my future even now as a teen just as you have. Great job serving God, keep it going

Jesus said that if anyone took a child away from Him, they should have a rock tied around their neck and be thrown into a river (not literally).

No, you're not too young, just ignore people who discourage you or even show them some Bible verses that people have already posted.

Too young for ministry? At age 15? ROFL ....

At age 15,

William Booth and a group of friends set out to evangelize the poor of Meadow Platts. They held nightly open-air addresses, after which they invited people to meetings in cottages. Their use of lively songs, short exhortations calling for a decision for Christ, visitation of the sick and of converts (whose names and addresses they recorded) all anticipated methods Booth would write into Salvation Army Orders and Regulations thirty years later.

Click to expand...

Now - if you were to ask if you are old enough for ministry.... Even Moses wasn't old enough.