I just wanted everyone to know what a great weekend we had at FCYC (Florida Christian Youth Convention). I’ve been amazed this year at how opened our students eyes have been this year through the two major conference we’ve been to ‘07 (CIY and FCYC). The theme was out of Revelation 7:9 about the Multitude before the throne. The whole conference was focused on what the Multitude is and how we can be it now as we await the return of Christ. One girl came out talking about what it means to BE the church not just going to church. Another talked about how the multitude was multi-ethnic and how most churches aren’t and that she needed to be more open to people who are different than her. WOW! Others were making connections and strengthening bonds that were already there. It was a first trip with the whole youth ministry for our 7th graders and to see how good of a time they had was great. It was a really good time overall for everyone that went but we sorely missed those who couldn’t make it.
Here are a few photos from the trip.
The Challenge- On Sunday morning we started a new 3 week study called Retro looking at different aspects of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s for ways we can better align our lives with God. So for the 60’s we talk about how that generation is marked by rebellion against authority and talked about two songs that came out of the 60’s, “I fought the law” by the Bobby Fuller Four in ‘65 and “I did it my way” by Frank Sinatra in ‘68 and how do we respond to Jesus as our ultimate authority in life. At the end of the large group teaching time I challenged the 7th – 12th graders to give their complete life to God for the rest of December (which at that point was 29 days) by connecting with God daily through reading His word and praying and also to look at each situation that they are presented with and ask themselves how would God handle this. If they don’t know the answer they are to ask some that might (parent, some one they trust at church, their small group leader, or me) and then decide how to deal with it. As an example and encouragement I decided to start a blog just for my time with God called “My Day W/ Jesus”. You can follow along if you like and I’m hoping to get some of the teens to send me something from their time with God and post it up there also.
