Day 3 Pt. 2…The Church

Getting Instructions for Limited Senses

Our afternoon began with some team building games.  We had a great time on the football field playing and solving puzzles together.  After we played two team building games we got in a circle  and encouraged one another while passing around some yarn.  At the end, after each person had shared, the yarn made a really cool web, as it was stretched and connected to each person.  We spent time talking about being united in one heart and one soul (Acts. 4:32) and then had a really neat time of prayer together.  After that was done some guys ran the “40″ and timed themselves.  I think Chris O’Hara took the gold as fastest guy in our youth group.

Kondo

Tonight Kontdo Simfukwa (sp) from Christ’s Covenant Church spoke during the main session.  He spent much of his time teaching through Eph. 5 and Genesis 2 on the love that Jesus has for the church.  He then challenged students to love the church as Jesus loves the church.  “You cannot love the Head (Jesus) and hate the body (the church)” said Kondo.  Students were then asked to do 3 things.  If they do not love the church, 1. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to cause in you a love for the church and 2. Call your pastor and tell him that you are “so in” (committed).

After the main session we had youth group time in which we brainstormed ways that we can love and serve Community Grace.  After a good time of sharing I then asked the students if they indeed loved the church.  Planning things to do is great, but if loving the church becuase Jesus does is not our motivation than our plans will be short lived.  Zach Stichter than asked if Pastor Tom was still in the church office (mind you it is 11:15 at night at this point).  I told Zach no but then told the students that Tom IS in Arizona which Cendall Ogle caught and realized that he is several hours behind us in time zones.  So we called PT and one by one students told PT that they were committed to our church and appreciated him as their pastor.  It was really moving and the students were more excited and energetic than I have ever seen them before.

God has so powerfully been at work in our group this week.  There will be dozens of stories and God moments to share.  Thank you for the time you spend praying for us.  Please continue to do so.  I can’t wait to see what God will do tomorrow.

Getting Instructions for Limited Senses

Kondo

Day 2 and Day 3 Pt. 1

Yesterday was a fantastic day.  Shawn McBride challenged our students from Hebrews to “throw off hinderances and the sin that so easily entangles.”  Many students during our youth group time later on that night talked about hinderances in their lives that they are throwing off.   Students also were convicted that they are more in love with their sin than their Savior.  One thing that was so cool to see take place was during our youth group time students were encouraging each other and sharing Scripture with each other.  Someone would share, then someone else would encourage them with Scritprue and things that God has taught them in the past.  It was so neat to see and listen to them care for each other like that and to watch them take each other to the Word and Jesus.

Thank you, parents and church body, for praying and fasting for our students yesterday.  God is at work in each one of their hearts.  Please continue to pray for them, that God will continue to convict of sin, encourage broken hearts, and deepen their passion and love for Him.

Other Hightlights:

1. Our Girls repeated at Basketball Champs!!!

2. Both Guys B-ball teams lost in the quarter-finals

3. Students are having a great time with each other

4. The food is great!!!

5. Everyone is safe and healthy

6. Team building games today

Thanks again.  Here are pictures!!!