In late 1980, Herbert W. Armstrong announced the birth of a new magazine for teenagers, called Youth 81. Here is how he introduced it to the Church:

“But God has now shown me that we have been neglecting a most important number of our people—the youths from age 18 and under…our young people coming along are the future membership and leaders in the Church and the leaders in the whole world government of tomorrow!

“In a sense, doesn’t that make them almost the most important people on earth?...

“We will have a department for ‘What our readers say,’ and if some of our youths will write in right away telling us what they think of the idea of a magazine of their own, the editors will select from among them letters to be published in Vol. I, No. 1.

“And that will become a treasure copy to be kept for years.”

The time has come for The Restored Church of God to bring back this wonderful magazine. The restoration of God’s truth is not really complete without it. As the only true extension of the Elijah ministry, we must never forget our responsibility to the youth who attend God’s Church. As Mr. Armstrong wrote, we hope that this inaugural issue will once again “become a treasure copy to be kept for years.”

But what is the purpose of our new magazine? The answer lies in the name we have chosen—AMBASSADOR YOUTH! As the cover logo states at the bottom, you are a future leader developing now for a role in the world tomorrow. But you are also an ambassador to your peers in today’s world.

I attended Ambassador College, from 1967-1971, to prepare and train for service in God’s Work. Mr. Armstrong understood that students “are ambassadors for Christ,” (II Cor. 5:20). He decided upon this name because it best reflected what Ambassador College students were to become.

Those who were accepted had to really know why they wanted to go. And once they arrived, they were taught what it meant to be an ambassador. While there, I was told that I was in training to hold this office. High standards were set so that high standards could be attained. These touched upon all facets of student life: Studies, finances, health, appearance, work, athletics, dating and spiritual growth. All who did not strive to reach them, simply did not remain an “ambassador in training.”

While there is no Ambassador College today, the AMBASSADOR YOUTH magazine will include the vital knowledge you—as an ambassador to your peers—need. It will also show you how to live a complete and fulfilling life.

Understand! You are an ambassador in today’s sick and confused world. People do not know why they were born. They do not even know if there is a reason for human life!

God’s Church—your Church—has this vital knowledge.

The Greek word for ambassador is presbeuo. The word president also comes from it, as does Presbyterian. Its most literal meaning is “representative.” In the United States, we have the House of Representatives, with 435 members. Together with the Senate’s 100 members, this forms the Congress of 535 elected representatives of the people. These elected officials answer to and, in fact, are supposed to represent the will of the people who sent them to Congress.

It is similar with youth in God’s Church, who are ambassadors, or representatives, of Jesus Christ. It could be said that I attended “Representative College,” because I was training to become Christ’s representative. As a reader of this magazine, you are also a representative of the true way of happiness—God’s Way—to a society cut off from this precious understanding.

However, while being an ambassador is a high calling and privilege, it comes with a price. Ambassadors are usually sent to faraway countries, away from family and friends, and often feel that they “don’t fit” in their environment. In effect, they often live lonely lives, cut off from sharing many common experiences with others around them.

This causes them to stand out—as representing another country, culture, government and generally different way of life. These differences are much truer of Christians—and of God’s young people!

The ultimate destiny of Christians is to become kings and priests, ruling with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of God. But just as all Christians have an important diplomatic job here and now—so do you, as a teen in God’s Church. As God’s people, we represent a foreign government, because as Paul wrote, “Our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven” (Phil. 3:20).

This means that you are an ambassador for another government to other teens!

Ambassadorships are critical appointments, only conferred on those who can properly, positively represent the ideals, laws, people, culture, government policies and political ideologies of the countries where they hold citizenship. If an ambassador fails to uphold all these standards, he can automatically disqualify himself from representing his government—and be recalled from his post!

Ambassadors for God’s future government must exemplify His way. They are to represent the peace, happiness and joy inherent in the spiritual government to which they owe their true allegiance. They are, in Christ’s words, to be lights to the world (Matt. 5:14-16). And the “Father of lights” (Jms. 1:17) will not permit them to hide their good examples “under a bushel.” As one of God’s young people, you have been “set on a hill” for all to see—to be a light piercing the surrounding darkness of this world.

Have you noticed that people have a way of immediately categorizing anyone they meet or any idea with which they come in contact? If you meet someone from the southern United States, you automatically fit that person into the image you have of the South, though you may have never been there. You may think of a Confederate flag, a steamboat, the Atlanta Falcons football team, hot, humid weather or “Southern hospitality.” You assign the person to a certain “slot” in your mind.

If someone drives a Cadillac, it means a certain thing to most people. Driving a Volkswagen communicates a different image. Everybody knows businessmen dress a certain way. The images of models, playboys, bricklayers and athletes also connote a certain “uniform” in our minds. The way a person carries himself conveys that he is cocky, refined, shy, confident or relaxed.

People are categorized, many times incorrectly, according to their religion, skin color, political preference, manners, friends, sports they like, books they read, jokes they tell, entertainment they prefer or even the kind of dog they own.

Here is what this means to you as an ambassador to your peers!

People are analyzing your every word, move and habit. Therefore, you must set an example that unmistakably identifies what you are and who you represent.

God purposed that ancient Israel be such a wonderful example that all the surrounding nations could not help but notice how they, too, were intended by Him to live (Deut. 4:4-8).

Unfortunately, the Bible shows this never happened. Israel utterly failed their commission! In fact, they failed so miserably that, in the New Testament, Paul often referred to Israel’s example in order to show how not to live (I Cor. 10:6). How much better it would have been had Israel written a positive, righteous record!

One bright spot in their history was King Solomon’s early example of wisdom and understanding, which spread abroad so strongly that the Queen of Sheba could not believe it. She decided to check for herself (I Kgs. 10:1-l0) and found that she “hadn’t heard the half of it” (vs. 7). Solomon must have been setting a wonderful example.

The early Church also had a difficult time learning to generate the right light. Paul must have had great patience as he dealt with the Corinthian congregation. He had much to say to them about their wrong conduct and explained to them, “…we are ambassadors for Christ” (II Cor. 5:20). The reference was not to the ministry or apostles alone, though they are ambassadors in the most direct sense. He sought to emphasize to Corinth the importance of the examples we all set (vs. 10). All who know God’s precious truths have received an ambassadorial appointment—a very high office, carrying much weight in representing God’s government.

Paul instructed the Philippians to “Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becomes the gospel of Christ” (Phil. 1:27), which is of the coming government of God. Is your conduct “becoming” of that government, or do you cast a bad light on it? Are you an “unbecoming” representative?

In Mr. Armstrong’s later years, when he regularly traveled abroad to meet world leaders, he was called “an Ambassador without portfolio.” He certainly conducted himself as one—recognizing that he represented a foreign government. He understood that leaders and others evaluated the Worldwide Church of God by the message and conduct of its representative—Herbert W. Armstrong!

Notice Paul’s instruction: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without…Let your speech be alway[s] with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:5-6). Can you answer your friends about what you believe and why?

People around you, in school or work, should recognize your good example. All of us in God’s Church—His teens included—must be growing in wisdom, discretion, tact and diplomacy, to retain our “credentials” as ambassadors.

I Corinthians 6:2 reveals that the saints will one day judge the world. This could include you! If that day were here, and all those who knew you in this life now could see you as a member of the ruling God Family, what would their reaction be? Would they remember an outstanding example—in your home, family, neighborhood or school, and find it easy to accept? Or would they collapse in shock that you could have made it into God’s kingdom?

The Bible records that Christ gained “favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). In this way, He set an example for His followers (I Pet. 2:21). Are you in “favor” with God and your peers? It has been said that “You may be the only Bible some people ever read.” Are you known to even “abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thes. 5:22)? Do friends notice that your conduct is different from those around you (I Pet. 4:4)? Does your example convict them?

No error or fault could be found in the prophet Daniel (Dan. 6:4), and this was probably said of him when he was a teenager (1:3-4, 6). His conduct was so outstanding, in all respects, that cunning, carnal-minded adult politicians could find nothing of which to accuse him—unless it was “concerning the law of his God” (6:5). He was doing nothing that they could attack.

This is what it means to be a teen in God’s Church and an ambassador to the world, which is growing darker every day!