Youth Forum

We held our first youth event at our church tonight!! God is good. We invited three different young people and one of our church leaders, Esteban, to participate in a forum in which I interviewed all of them and Marvin. The theme was "Who are we?" The questions were focused on different aspects of our youths' identity. We discussed 1) their important roll in our church and the important roll of the church in their lives, 2) struggles/weaknesses we should be aware of and strengths/spiritual gifts to offer, and 3)our vision and goals for spiritual growth. I personally came away feeling blessed by our time together. There were a few specific things said in the forum that really stuck out to me. One of them was a common thread through the discussion of the different participants expressing that while the church, the youth group, the leaders, are all here to encourage and help each and every young person that walks through the door, it is youth's responsibility to recognize their need for help and take an interest and initiative in learning and discipleship. We, of course, are set up to help them and counsel them in the best way we can, but it is so important that they yearn for and desire that and that they seek that out. Another thing that stuck out to me was the youth expressing and being honest about their identity struggle-wanting to live pleasing lives to the Lord, yet struggling over wanting to fit it with peers and be accepted and liked in a world of worldliness. My heart is that the Lord will give us the ability to create a safe atmosphere for them where they feel safe living out their Christian faith and that we can serve as a support base for them to stand strong as they face the world and its many pressures. So many them are right in the thick of heavy peer pressure and severe family problems. There were so many interesting things that we talked about and great points brought up! I was really impressed by the youth participants that we interviewed--they gave some great answers to some deep questions. We were also so blessed to have Esteban with us tonight-he is so passionate about discipleship! Marvin did a great job expressing some of our desires and goals for this next year coming up.

Please pray for us as you remember us that the Lord will enable us to serve Him efficiently and effectively. I have so struggled with feeling inadequate for this job-especially in the area of organizing/facilitating as we are still relatively new to the church and still figuring out how things work and getting to know people. The Lord has been stretching me though and reminding me that this is not about us, it is about Him. We cannot do it in our own strength, but must depend on His! Praise our Almighty God that He is in control!