It's not often I'm speechless. Today I was. This morning, my youth shared about their camp experiences during church. We didn't practice much and I never really told them what to talk about. Usually, we discuss what we had done and they pick things to talk about. This time, I just decided to tell them to write what they wanted to say and that we'd met the day before to figure out what order and timing for Sunday.
Hearing their thoughts and the impact of their week at camp was overwhelming. Seeing that they were not only able to understand it, but also that they were able to share it was amazing! Several of my youth are extremely nervous about getting up in front of people. A new girl had never done anything like it before and when I told her mom we were doing it she kind of laughed and said that probably wasn't going to happen. It did and she was great! Another youth is extremely confident in any situation. If I need something done, I know I can always count on him. Today, it was a different story. As he started to share his great message, he became overwhelmed with emotion and was unable to finish. I stepped up there as he walked away in tears and finished. The congregation had to hear what they were already seeing- he was touched that week by God's love in his life and the relationships he built with others that week.
The last one to speak gave me goosebumps. I actually sat up front looking out at the congregation because I wanted to be there for the youth as they spoke but also because I wanted to see their reaction to the messages. When he started out with the statement "There are a lot of people who don't know God- maybe some people in this room that don't know God.", he probably had the attention of everyone in that room. As he went on to say if someone asked him who God was he would tell them about camp, as he shared the feeling of worshipping, singing and praising Him with everything he had, surrendering to Him, he stated many didn't know what to call that feeling. "I call that God."
So, where was God today? He was in my youth who shared another step along their spiritual journey with the congregation today.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Hearing their thoughts and the impact of their week at camp was overwhelming. Seeing that they were not only able to understand it, but also that they were able to share it was amazing! Several of my youth are extremely nervous about getting up in front of people. A new girl had never done anything like it before and when I told her mom we were doing it she kind of laughed and said that probably wasn't going to happen. It did and she was great! Another youth is extremely confident in any situation. If I need something done, I know I can always count on him. Today, it was a different story. As he started to share his great message, he became overwhelmed with emotion and was unable to finish. I stepped up there as he walked away in tears and finished. The congregation had to hear what they were already seeing- he was touched that week by God's love in his life and the relationships he built with others that week.
The last one to speak gave me goosebumps. I actually sat up front looking out at the congregation because I wanted to be there for the youth as they spoke but also because I wanted to see their reaction to the messages. When he started out with the statement "There are a lot of people who don't know God- maybe some people in this room that don't know God.", he probably had the attention of everyone in that room. As he went on to say if someone asked him who God was he would tell them about camp, as he shared the feeling of worshipping, singing and praising Him with everything he had, surrendering to Him, he stated many didn't know what to call that feeling. "I call that God."
So, where was God today? He was in my youth who shared another step along their spiritual journey with the congregation today.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Love this! Thanking God for his work in these teenagers lives and for your ministry. I am really looking forward to next week!
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