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Do Something Big: The band Leeland wants to inspire and encourage their generation to find a real relationship with Christ—and live it out. Or as the band's newest CD puts it, to live the "opposite way" as the world around them.

"There's so much pressure put on teens to conform," says drummer Mike Smith. "But yet, we see so much passion in teens to do something more than that."

And so, the band longs to show how youthful energy can be used for God's purposes.

"In every show we do, we want to encourage our generation to do something big," says lead singer Leeland Mooring. "Whether that means stopping AIDS in Africa, abolishing modern-day slavery, or starting a prayer-time at school, we want to see kids getting close to God and then through that, doing amazing things for him."

Let God Use You: The guys in Leeland realize living the opposite way and putting faith into action can be tough. "In junior high, I was in church all the time and I was saved, but my relationship with God wasn't strong," Leeland says. "I wish I could go back to then with the faith I have now and really make a difference for God."

Bassist Jake Holtz says: "There were times where I could have ministered to people, but I was too self-focused to think about it. I had to get past wanting to fit in and realize God's purposes are bigger than that stuff."

Leeland's older brother Jack, who plays keyboards, didn't have much say in putting his faith into action as a teen. His parents told him he'd be the youth pastor for the church they started. "I was like, 'Well, I'm only 16,'" he says. "But then I felt God saying, 'Yeah, you can do it.'"

Quickly, the youth group grew to more than 60—many of them older than their youth pastor. "It was challenging, but God totally did it," Jack says. "The people in the Bible who did big things for God were almost never ready for it. They just said, 'OK, God' and he did great things through them. It doesn't matter where you're at, God can use you."

Jump Without Wings: When Jack became the youth pastor, 13-year-old Leeland was the worship director and cousin Jake and friend Mike also helped. That experience readied them for their current music ministry and helped them see how God desires to use young people.

"I believe God has a really strong heart for our generation," Leeland says. "It is going to do amazing things for the kingdom of heaven."

Jack admits that doing those amazing works for God can start as scary challenges, but they'll pay off. "The most fulfilling, exciting times of your life are times when you just jump off a cliff in faith and God helps you build the wings on the way down. If God presents a challenge, do it—and God will completely back you up."

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Ignite Your Faith magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Ignite Your Faith.

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