Youth Uprising

Sometimes when we are young we dismiss ourselves and others dismiss the possibility of us making significant contributions to society. When God called Jeremiah to be a prophet to the nations, Jeremiah responded in the book of Jeremiah 1:6 Amplified Bible, "Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth."

But Jeremiah did not speak the truth. God gave Jeremiah the ability to speak well before the foundation of the world. Just like God gave Jared Sawyer, Jr., the ability to speak and to sing well before the foundation of the world. Sawyer is a 15-year-old, African American who is a minister, singer, musician and author who has had opportunities to share his gifts internationally. Sawyer says on his website jaredsawyerjr.com, "Truthfully, it is so easy for us to recognize the nugatory aspects of our life. It is effortless for us to acknowledge the bad things that are going on in our life, whether it is sickness or pain, storms and rain, foreclosure, unemployment, and the list continues. But, it is of great, internal comfort to focus less on the problems of life that have the tendency to bring us down, and focus more on the greatness of our God. Psalm 145, verse 3, states “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”"

Samantha Marquez is a 16-year-old scientist, entrepreneur, innovator and activist. Marquez developed a hollow structure of cells that she named Celloidosomes. Celloidosomes can be used for liver reconstruction. They also have application in Tissue Engineering, Bioengineering, Environmental Science, Genetic Engineering and cell/drug delivery as well as many other fields of science. Since discovering Celloidosomes, Marquez has published several peer-reviewed papers and presented her research work around the United States, China, Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica and Russia, where she won first place in the International Space Olympics. 

Marquez, who is now working on her 8th patent, is also an advocate for the Latino community, encouraging Latino youth and women to develop a passion for science and community activism.

Rachel Chan is a 16-year-old who performs Contemporary Christian music. Chan sings and co-writes the songs on her debut album, Go, released January 10, 2012.

Some may have tried to hinder Sawyer, Marquez and Chan because of their youthful age thinking they are too young to know and to do much. Sometimes our view of people is too small. We serve the God of more than enough. He does many things big and extravagantly. God does not practice age discrimination. God is no respecter of persons. He will do great things through whomsoever is willing to cooperate with Him.

Ask God to improve our vision, so that we can see people as they truly are and what they truly can be. Stop thinking in terms of limits and negativity. Our God is good, and He dreams and does great things. Ask God to give us hearts and minds willing and able to help people be all that they can be no matter the age of the person.

African American, Latino American and Asian American youth in the public eye was something that did not happen fifty years ago. But today Martin Luther King's dream has come true. Minister and Civil Rights Activist Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

Please share on-line stories about young people doing good things in public.