One of my passions in the ministry is training up a new generation to continue the cycle of godliness in the midst of darkness. At the current time I am the Sr. Pastor doubling as the Youth Pastor also which makes thing very busy but also has its rewards.
Last week end I was the adult male sponsor for a winter retreat at Lake Ann Camp called Freeze Out. Going into the trip there were some concerns about some of our youth spiritually. Everything from Salvation to sanctification was consuming my prayers for the weekend. Thankfully we have an amazing God that hears our prayers and likes to see people get closer to him as well.
The theme of the weekend was building a Faith of Virtue. All were encouraged to look past your salvation, and make a life and lifestyle commitment to godliness. On saturday night the focus was on salvation, but also taking a stand. Two areas which are fimiliar to teens were highlighted: Teens from divorced homes, and teens who are the only one who go to church in their homes. The youth workers of each church were asked to pray over all the teens fitting that description within our group. We had 9 kids in our group, and 7 of them fit in that group along with one sponsor. Looking around the chapel some churches were in blank stares because no one in their group were in those situations, but we were and that time was there just for us. It was through that that we saw a girl get saved, and several opened up emotionally and let God take over their bittnerness and anger that had been bottled up for years. Following the service we all met in the dining hall to challenge us to be accountable to each other, not just God, because we are part of a body and have encourage our brothers and sister to stay true to God and stand up for what is right.
Freeze Out is a weekend that is designed for teenagers, but it hit me where I needed it. No, I didn't come from a split home, nor was I the only person in the family that went to church, but it taught me a valuable lesson. Many time we take the areas in life that we feel lost in our out of control in, and since we don't know how to handle them we put them in our pockets and think they will go away. They don't. We must take these things out of our pocket and lay them on the alter before God. If something is out of our control it is in God's. It is not our fault, it is our opportunity to be blessed and be a blessing.
For the first time in nearly 3 years knowing some of these teens I saw them praying for each others and helping each other through difficulties by the Word God, and communication with God.
Some of the teens went just expecting to have fun. They did, but God had more instore for them. You and I might we doing things just becasue they are fun, and if they aren't we hide them in our pockets. I Peter 5.7 says we are to cast our cares upon him... why? because he is madly in love with you and cares for you. Don't forget that. You are never too old, too rich, too wealth, too health or too see the grace of God... but you might make yourself too stupid. Don't. Open your eyes and bask in the light of God's grace.
Last week end I was the adult male sponsor for a winter retreat at Lake Ann Camp called Freeze Out. Going into the trip there were some concerns about some of our youth spiritually. Everything from Salvation to sanctification was consuming my prayers for the weekend. Thankfully we have an amazing God that hears our prayers and likes to see people get closer to him as well.
The theme of the weekend was building a Faith of Virtue. All were encouraged to look past your salvation, and make a life and lifestyle commitment to godliness. On saturday night the focus was on salvation, but also taking a stand. Two areas which are fimiliar to teens were highlighted: Teens from divorced homes, and teens who are the only one who go to church in their homes. The youth workers of each church were asked to pray over all the teens fitting that description within our group. We had 9 kids in our group, and 7 of them fit in that group along with one sponsor. Looking around the chapel some churches were in blank stares because no one in their group were in those situations, but we were and that time was there just for us. It was through that that we saw a girl get saved, and several opened up emotionally and let God take over their bittnerness and anger that had been bottled up for years. Following the service we all met in the dining hall to challenge us to be accountable to each other, not just God, because we are part of a body and have encourage our brothers and sister to stay true to God and stand up for what is right.
Freeze Out is a weekend that is designed for teenagers, but it hit me where I needed it. No, I didn't come from a split home, nor was I the only person in the family that went to church, but it taught me a valuable lesson. Many time we take the areas in life that we feel lost in our out of control in, and since we don't know how to handle them we put them in our pockets and think they will go away. They don't. We must take these things out of our pocket and lay them on the alter before God. If something is out of our control it is in God's. It is not our fault, it is our opportunity to be blessed and be a blessing.
For the first time in nearly 3 years knowing some of these teens I saw them praying for each others and helping each other through difficulties by the Word God, and communication with God.
Some of the teens went just expecting to have fun. They did, but God had more instore for them. You and I might we doing things just becasue they are fun, and if they aren't we hide them in our pockets. I Peter 5.7 says we are to cast our cares upon him... why? because he is madly in love with you and cares for you. Don't forget that. You are never too old, too rich, too wealth, too health or too see the grace of God... but you might make yourself too stupid. Don't. Open your eyes and bask in the light of God's grace.
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