This past Friday night was incredible, Praise God! I don't even know where to begin. Therefore, as I usually do, I will begin at the beginning.
Rebekah and I have been "youth leading" at First Apostolic Church here in Bowling Green all semester, and as the semester winds down I realize how much God has really moved in these past fifteen weeks. It was definitely none of my doing, but it has been Jesus who has changed lives this semester. Get this: He is not finished. Not with me, not with these kids, not with the church.
It's more like he's just getting started, and this past Friday night was the kick-off. About a month or two back, Sis. Tammy, the pastor's wife here at FAC asked me about doing a Christmas social for the youth. Her request is one that has made such and impact on my ministry. The entire time I was growing up there were always opportunities to go to church and meet other young people, lately that has not been happening. Sis. Tammy reminded me that it is my turn to minister and to pour into the lives of these young people, so I organized "A Night in Bethlehem: A Youth Social and Worship Service."
...And then I forgot about it. Seriously, and this is how I know that the Lord really had a purpose for this service. I organized, sent out invites on facebook, got a great speaker to come, and then I literally put it on the back shelf. Of course, when I would think about it I would pray and I checked to see how many people had confirmed that they were coming when I got on fb, but other than that, nothing. Then a couple of days before the service I realized that it was coming up, so I asked the women at church to help out with the dinner (that was the social part. We had spaghetti and bread and salad and tons of desserts). I got in touch with the speaker, and I picked out some good worship songs.
6:30, Friday night came along. The lights were hung, the food was ready. No one was there. I freaked out for two minutes. 6:32 people just started to pour in. There were five churches represented there and about 100 people; I was in shock, I didn't expect results like that. The food was great, the fellowship was much needed, but then came the service. Worship was electrifying. That many people singing and worshiping together is...heavenly. And Bro. Joseph Hale did an amazing job speaking. He spoke to the kids about how God used Mary, and she was only 15, which was great for a group of fifteen-year-old kids! And then he gave his testimony, and whoa, it completely blew me out of the water; it hit home.
I realize now that I did not do all I could do in high school to reach my friends. Yeah, I told them about Jesus, I invited them to church, but I did not intercede for them, I did not pursue them, and I hate it. I am so regretful that I wasted so much time. After Bro. Joseph ministered and made an altar call, I watched as the kids just poured into the altar. As I watched my kids from the church here in Bowling Green pour out their hearts to the Lord, I realized that God has given me a second chance to win souls for him, and I just cried because the weight of the responsibility I have for these kids, but also because of the grace God has shown me, it is unfathomable; I don't understand it.
But it's enough. His grace is enough. The success of the service on Friday night is just the beginning of a revival among the youth in this area. I cannot wait.
Rebekah and I have been "youth leading" at First Apostolic Church here in Bowling Green all semester, and as the semester winds down I realize how much God has really moved in these past fifteen weeks. It was definitely none of my doing, but it has been Jesus who has changed lives this semester. Get this: He is not finished. Not with me, not with these kids, not with the church.
It's more like he's just getting started, and this past Friday night was the kick-off. About a month or two back, Sis. Tammy, the pastor's wife here at FAC asked me about doing a Christmas social for the youth. Her request is one that has made such and impact on my ministry. The entire time I was growing up there were always opportunities to go to church and meet other young people, lately that has not been happening. Sis. Tammy reminded me that it is my turn to minister and to pour into the lives of these young people, so I organized "A Night in Bethlehem: A Youth Social and Worship Service."
...And then I forgot about it. Seriously, and this is how I know that the Lord really had a purpose for this service. I organized, sent out invites on facebook, got a great speaker to come, and then I literally put it on the back shelf. Of course, when I would think about it I would pray and I checked to see how many people had confirmed that they were coming when I got on fb, but other than that, nothing. Then a couple of days before the service I realized that it was coming up, so I asked the women at church to help out with the dinner (that was the social part. We had spaghetti and bread and salad and tons of desserts). I got in touch with the speaker, and I picked out some good worship songs.
6:30, Friday night came along. The lights were hung, the food was ready. No one was there. I freaked out for two minutes. 6:32 people just started to pour in. There were five churches represented there and about 100 people; I was in shock, I didn't expect results like that. The food was great, the fellowship was much needed, but then came the service. Worship was electrifying. That many people singing and worshiping together is...heavenly. And Bro. Joseph Hale did an amazing job speaking. He spoke to the kids about how God used Mary, and she was only 15, which was great for a group of fifteen-year-old kids! And then he gave his testimony, and whoa, it completely blew me out of the water; it hit home.
I realize now that I did not do all I could do in high school to reach my friends. Yeah, I told them about Jesus, I invited them to church, but I did not intercede for them, I did not pursue them, and I hate it. I am so regretful that I wasted so much time. After Bro. Joseph ministered and made an altar call, I watched as the kids just poured into the altar. As I watched my kids from the church here in Bowling Green pour out their hearts to the Lord, I realized that God has given me a second chance to win souls for him, and I just cried because the weight of the responsibility I have for these kids, but also because of the grace God has shown me, it is unfathomable; I don't understand it.
But it's enough. His grace is enough. The success of the service on Friday night is just the beginning of a revival among the youth in this area. I cannot wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment