The Power of a Testimony
Hearing what God is has done in someone’s life can be so uplifting and encouraging both for those giving the testimony and for those that are hearing it.
My wife Brenda and I own a flower, gift and antique store in Listowel, Ontario. I have been a volunteer youth leader for many of the past 27 years, as well as serving on our local Christian school board and serving on council 4 times. At the present time,I am also on the All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC) planning team, and the planning team for Classis Huron's Fall Retreat. This year I lead a team of youth from the AOYC on a mission trip to Nicaragua thru CRWRC, and we hope to go again in March 2013. My wife and I also volunteer at Passion in Atlanta every January.
I am intrested in youth, especially in getting them to life changing events. I love Christian music and attend as many concerts and events as I can. I am interested in many social justice issues, which include child sponsership, mission trips, and doing something about the slave trade. My hobbies include camping, making bird houses and furniture out of reclaimed materials, and reading.
Hearing what God is has done in someone’s life can be so uplifting and encouraging both for those giving the testimony and for those that are hearing it.
On Wednesday, Feb 26, the youth community in Ontario lost a giant of a man. Jake Hiemstra was a volunteer youth leader at his church in Goderich, Ontario.
As youth group leaders, how can we help our youth to experience Jesus not just know about Him? Maybe hearing some great stories can inspire us all.
Much has been written about going on short-term mission trips. What makes a mission trip good or bad?
It is so exciting to see so many young men and women passionately worshipping God with a desire to serve Him on their campus and in their churches. Experiencing all of this at the Passion Conference, I long for my youth back home to have this kind of passion for Christ
In practice, I and other youth leaders that I work with, often do all the leading ourselves. It is less complicated, isn’t as messy, and takes less time. In the rush of our week, with work, family and other obligations, who has time to involve the youth in actually leading youth group on a Wednesday night. It is just easier to do it yourself.
I once read that “our youth will not raise their hands in praise to God, any higher than their leaders do”. We all know that the best way to lead in anything, is by being an example. This is how we need to lead our youth. We need to “be a player”.
I don’t know about you, but often in the busyness of life, I tell myself, I don’t have just a minute, I have too many things to do. Sometimes I am so preoccupied with what I want to do, that I do not notice the needs of my youth...
Great blog Jolene, we miss you in Canada, sending lots of love!
I find podcasts wonderful to hear a variety of speakers and talks. I often load them on my ipod and listen to them while on vacation. Podcasts should however, not replace your regular church...
You make very good points that the church is not just a service organization, and I totally agree, BUT too many in the church treat it like it is a service club. How does the church minister to...
Just a coment on how Youth for Christ works in our small town of Listowel. They mostly work with unchurched youth and young mothers. As a supporting church, some of those youth some times end up...
Hey Lou, Sorry I was gone and missed your comment. The community I am talking about in Nicaragua is not bassed in any one church, but the local YMCA in Santa Lucia. The YMCA in Nicaragua is a...