36TEEN

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16

There is no doubt that John 3:16 is one of the most well known and widely quoted verses in the Bible. Because of this, many have referred to it as the most famous Bible verse in the world today. Due to the familiarity of the actual words and message contained in the verse, many people and organizations simply print the reference, “John 3:16”, in inconspicuous places. Companies have followed suit, like the In-N-Out Burger chain that prints it on the bottom rim of their paper cups, or the clothing chain Forever 21, who prints it on the bottom of their shopping bags. Just attend a professional sporting event where there are sure to be cameras; often the verse reference can be found on some fan’s homemade sign.

Probably one of the most audacious displays of John 3:16 was performed by the Heisman-winning American football player Tim Tebow, when he printed it in his eye black during the 2009 BCS Championship game. Just a few months ago and exactly three years after Tim Tebow wore John 3:16 in his eye black, the verse found its way into an NFL Championship game where Tebow was playing. The game became widely known as, “The 3:16 Game”, when Tebow threw for 316 yards in a comeback win; a game in which several other combinations of 3, 16, and 31.6 were recorded, resulting in John 3:16 being the top Google search in the United States.

We live in a world today that has little knowledge of who God is, and often it seems as if few even truly care. Yet our world seems to be polarized by a single verse reference, John 3:16. I believe this to be evidence of people who are searching. They don’t know why or even what they’re looking for, but they know that they haven’t found it in Hollywood or on MTV. I believe the reason people respond to John 3:16 is because it gives them hope that there is truly a God who loves them unconditionally and all inclusively. That’s why IMPACT Youth Ministry is proud to announce the launch of 3|6|teen.

Our goal is to reach out to those around us who are hurting, searching, confused, and in need of the Savior. The main purpose of 3|6|teen is to bring people to the saving knowledge that: “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” We don’t just want them to know the verse reference; we want them to know the Son! We want those who are searching to realize that what they are looking for is everlasting life…and that it is free for the asking! People, and especially teenagers, need to know that God loves them, and that He has no desire for them to spend an eternity in Hell; that He has had a purpose for them since before the world began (II Timothy 1:9).

On 3|6|teen, we will reach out with the love of Christ to places like malls and parks, as well as neighborhoods, encouraging people to attend church, but most of all, to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Afterwards, we will enjoy a good time of fellowship with dodge ball, floor hockey, miniature golf, laser tag, and various other activities. As a teenager, you will not want to miss out on this exciting time! It is our hope that every Christian teenager can understand that serving God is both rewarding and fun! We will meet in the IMPACT teen room every Thursday at 4 PM, and will be done around 7 PM. Feel free to check our Events Calendar here, or keep in touch with us on Facebook!