In February, I was blessed to be a part of the Black History Month Celebration for the White House Communications Agency. Not only was I honored to provide the invocation and benediction; I was privileged to hear words of wisdom from the guest speaker Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County (http://www.umbc.edu/AboutUMBC/president/). Young people, this guy is amazing. He was born back in the day in Birmingham, Alabama when people of color didn’t have the basic rights that all of you have today. But, despite his negative environment and numerous obstacles, he was a child-leader in the Civil Rights Movement and was prominently featured in Spike Lee’s 1997 documentary, Four Little Girls, on the racially motivated bombing in 1963 of Birmingham’s Sixteenth Street Baptist Church. But that’s not all of it. He graduated at 19 from Hampton Institute with the highest honors in mathematics and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he received his Masters Degree and four years later his PhD at the age of 24!

As he was speaking, one of the things that stood out to me was when he said, “the civil rights leaders decided to allow children to be a part of the movement.” His statement reminded me that young people have so much to offer and so many gifts and talents, that they have and will continue to make their own history. Think about this. Trevor Ferrell was a middle school student who spent most of his spare time playing video games and hanging out with his friends. But because of a learning disability, Trevor didn’t like school much, and he only got average grades. Most people didn’t see Trevor as anyone special—but God did. He knew Trevor had what it takes to be a good leader. God’s call to Trevor came when Trevor was watching TV one night and on the news, he saw people living on the streets in Philadelphia. For some reason Trevor knew he had to do something. Trevor influenced his parents and that very night he went downtown to give someone a blanket and his favorite pillow. His enthusiasm, spirit, and drive started a campaign for the homeless. When his family ran out of blankets and spare clothing, he put up a sign in his dad’s store asking for help. Soon, contributions of food, clothing, and money poured in from all over the city (Leading from the Lockers, John C. Maxwell). God called Trevor to be a leader and I believe he is calling you too. If you do some research, you’ll find God loves young people and calls everyone to service. If you don’t believe it, open your bibles and read the stories of Joshua (Joshua 6), David (1 Samuel), Josiah (2 Kings 22), Esther, Jeremiah, and Timothy (Raising Up Young Heroes, Efrem Smith).

As you begin the new month, I want all of you to remember that God has a calling on everyone of our lives and it’s up to us to ask Him what is it that he wants to do with us. Young people, it’s OK to have fun and enjoy your lives, but it’s just as important to stay focused on what God is trying and going to accomplish through you. Get ready to make your own history and know that everyday in your life is a chapter that you are writing, as well as, a chapter that others are reading about you and what you do. Also, remember this: Leadership is Influence and Influence is Leadership!

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16. (NIV)