Have I ever mentioned I love YA?
A little more than 24 hours ago we celebrated the twenty fourth birthday of the coolest youth group ever (in my opinion): Youth Alive. We danced, jumped and sang the hours away. We listened to His Word. We even did our own version of the candle-lighting service… with CUPCAKES. (I’m not even sure how we’re gonna top that since next year we turn silver!) While the latter was happening Ate Penny stood in front and shared things that happened way before most members today got into the ministry, and it was heartbreaking. You know, the good kind.
And so earlier today, while in the shower (ok, maybe you didn’t have to know that part) I got to thinking… Youth Alive, what do you mean to me?
I didn’t know what to answer myself. I still don’t, now as I write this. (I guess I’m gonna have to wing it.)
What I do know is that I am so grateful to the Lord for this ministry. If it wasn’t for what Youth Alive did about five years ago, I’d probably be out tonight with friends, drinking myself to death. Or getting wasted on weed. Or having sex with some guy, maybe even pregnant! What a horrible thought. But yes, that might’ve been me. I don’t know, maybe some other person would let him/herself be used by God to get to me eventually but what if no one did?
Every week we ask people from the audience to stand up if it was their first time to attend a YA service. Seeing all those people always gets me excited. I didn’t understand exactly why I felt that way at those particular moments, but I’m having an inkling right now.
Imagine, five, maybe ten, years from now… It may be during their personal anniversaries with God, or another Youth Alive anniversary, or just a random day. Some of them would reminisce and write in their devotionals, and they’d be thinking to themselves as I have today “I’m happy I went that first Saturday.” And if asked why I think that, I’d answer simply: “It’s when I met the Love of my life,” which is true for those of us who only got to know Jesus personally through the ministry of Youth Alive. (it’s just like having your parents reminisce millions of times over dinner when where and how they met each other, only this time we’re the ones remembering how God wooed us)
And I guess that’s partly what Youth Alive stands for me. It set the stage of His courtship. It’s where I fell in love with the only Person worth falling for. It’s where I, along with other people as broken and messed up as I am, continue to grow and be used to let others have their chance of meeting and falling in love with the Lord as well.
The road put before me by God is long and hard and… narrow. I have no idea what I’ll have to go through to get to the end but I know that wherever I am, wherever it leads… I’ll always remember home. I’ll always remember Youth Alive.
If you guys wouldn't mind keeping Youth Alive in your prayers?
People have been ripping down our posters:l I bet you twenty bucks that if the posters said “there is no God” they would leave them alone.
I’m up against the biggest battle right now. My school needs the message of Christ, but I can’t spread it if they’re going to deny it before I can even share it.
Our club starts this Tuesday, so if you wouldn’t mind keeping it in your prayers please?
Youth Alive was pretty sickkkk tonight! FAMILY FORCE 5 WAS CRAY. ;) Seriously though they had everyone dancing in the mosh like
and it was pretty hectic in there. And everyone was jumping like crazy and yussss it was just great ok?! I was like in there with my friends and we just look at each other like..
JUMP!!
Perfect end to my day. THANKS FAMILY FORCE 5 :D
Australia loves you ;)
p.s. Let me see you wobble!
last night,
i went to new empire, at this youth event thing, for all the youths in my town.anyway, I went because i wanted to see new empire, i havent really been going to youth lately, or church for that matter, because i havent really found a place im happy with yet etc. anyway, so i was there as a bit of a loner, I dont really have any close pals from church or youth, that are my age, or my kind of personality… anyway, so there i was chillin, with this gal, feeling a bit synnical, bit bored, bit lonely, kinda wanted to go home, while the band have you seen this boy played and then the youth alive band, made up of the leaders from different youths played. while the YA band were playing, i turned my head to the door to see my two pals, who i go on holidays with, and are pretty good friends with but would never expect them to go to an event like this walk in! omg i was so happy! it was so fun to spend the rest of the night with them. ah, like, the ones who walked in are brothers, and their friend. my friend and his friend, who I also consider to be my friend (he’s a work and school colleague.. we’ve been pals from back in the day) were mocking the speaker of the night, Ben Prescott, during the time he wasn’t at the peak of his message, but when it came to the bit before the alter call, they were really listening and it was just so nice to see. and then during the alter call, i said to one of the guys, who’d never been to anything like this before what he thought, he thought it was a bit weird, but cool as well. i was so happy :’) it was just so nice to see people mocking the pastor, the message, whatever, and then all of a sudden, become so intrigued and listening intently. i know something within them stirred that night, even if they didnt say anything, you could tell they were being effected.
All Day
Youth AliveAll Day (Clocks) - Youth Alive (Hillsong United, Coldplay)
