ASDAL/2003-w

"Fresh Faith & Affirmation"

Worship: Pre-Conferece of the School Library Section - June 15, 2003 at Atlantic Union College

"Fresh Faith..." As It Relates to Our Faith
in the Working of the Holy Spirit in the Lives of Our Youth

There is one troubling fact: 40% and in some areas as high as 60% of our youth
between 15 and 25 years of age are leaving the church. When I accepted this
assignment, I wondered if we couldn't help our youth spiritually as well as assist
our schools with their libraries.
The worship component in our pre - conferences that will do just that. With this
in place, this assignment becomes more meaningful and fulfilling.
Our video was introduced to me at an elders' retreat of the Pioneer Memorial
Church. Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church is the speaker.
I pray that you will be as blessed as were many of those who saw it. The video is
about 50 minutes long. As you watch this video see if we can adopt pastor Jim's
method in our church.
VIDEO Presentation - Cymbala, Jim (1994) Praise Gathering [ Video = 50 minutes ]
October 14, 1994 - Friday Worship
The video centers on two facts: (1) Our churches are a "House of Prayer" and
(2) a praying church can help in saving their youth !!!
Rather impressive... I believe that without this intercession of the entire church
(1,500 + attend Tuesday prayer meetings!!!) Kristy may not have found her way
back to Christ.
It was my privilege to sponsor an Early Teen Prayer Conference Team and a Prayer
Conference Team made up of university students. I have seen the glory of God as
students' lives were changed because of our efforts.
At one prayer conference in Nottingham, England, we had a 1 ½ hour intercession
with 44 youth. We sat on the floor the entire time.
During an all-day retreat, we had a 2 ½ hour communion service given to us by pastor
Laurence. Pastor Esther arranged for us an unforgettable Friday night communion
service for my Early Teens.
And on the 30th of May, a few days ago the last person was being baptized of the
original Early Teen's group of 11. One youth in re-deticating his life burned all
questionable cds!
Future pre-conferences will (1) provide support for our teachers in their efforts in
saving our children, and (2) provide nourishment to "hang in" in this task.
Our worship at AUC has been a rich blessing for all of us.

Can the 40% to 60% be reduced? Oh yes! Here is what works:

DEVELOPING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE OF CONCERN
= Trying not to Play God.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,..." Hebrews 12:2
"...that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of
Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
"I will contend with those who contend with you and your children I will save."
Isaiah 49:25
If you really want to see how the Lord works in the hardest cases in human drama, here
is the book you just h a v e to read: None of Your Business, chapter 8 of Cheri Peters'
book (2002) God is Crazy About You.

BUILDING SUPPORT FOR YOUR YOUTH!

I. Match each child in your school with a prayer partner / mentor.

Maxwell, John C. (1996) Partners in Prayer: How to Revolutionize your
Church with a Team Prayer Strategy - T. Nelson

II. Invite mentors to weekly prayer meetings interceding for their
children.
III. Suggested Format for these weekly prayer meetings:
A. Season of praise and thanksgiving through song and testimony
B. Study of a Bible verse or passage dividing the study into three parts:
1. Ask
2. Answer
3. Apply = Interactive Bible Studies
C. Time for prayer dividing into three parts:
1. pray for yourself
2. pray for each other in the group
3. pray for your children by name
IV. Suggested readings for prayer partners / mentors = very important!!!:
A. Mentors will learn more about prayer and intercessory prayer.
B. Mentors will learn how to become creative in ministering to their children.

DeVries, Mark (1994) Family-Based Youth Ministry: Reaching the
Been-There, Done-That Generation - InterVarsity

"...Affirmation"
As it Relates to Nourish US in Our Efforts to Keep the Youth With Christ!

AFFIRMING

You are a very special individual to your students, to their parents, and to the work
of God, which may be realized sometime later! No matter which grade you teach:
for many You are a role model! their hero!
for others You are often their mentor! AND
in many cases, you are the only source of love for them!

YOUR COMMITTMENT

You are out there - on the front line - in the trenches - standing every day before your
youth, no matter how you feel that day -> you are there. Often you feel alone, especially
in small schools. You also wonder if what you do makes any difference.
On top of everything, you are worried about how many decide to follow Christ after
they have left your class, your school.

YOUR SUPPORT - YOUR NOURISHMENT

Building your Defense

As soon as we dedicate ourselves to prayer for our children, Satan will fight us: by
touching our health, by bringing us into severe financial problems, or by bringing
doubts about our salvation, etc.! Therefore, we need to "Put on the Armor of God."
Building your Support
How much do you depend upon God for your work?!
Story of Moses when fighting the Amalekites - Hur and Aaron. You need that
support also (Ex 17).

Maxwell, John C., (1996) Partners in Prayer: How to Revolutionize Your
Church with a Team Prayer Strategy / T. Nelson

Getting YOUR Nourishment
Scheduling personal worship time is / can be a problem. Working all week with
our children, adding duties at church, expecting much from you there are other
problems. You cannot "afford" to become Spiritually deprived!
Being with God - How do you measure your desire to be with God ? !

WINNING THE BATTLE

As you are in the classroom remember the Lord is with you:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty"
Zechariah 4:6 - Chronicles 20:15-
"So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will
strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Isaiah 41:10 + 11

INTERCESSORY PRAYER TIME

At the end cards were passed out, each of us was asked:

If there was one thing in your personal life you could change, what would
it be?
Is there a situation in your school you wanted to be changed, or
A certain student, who could use prayer?

Thus ended a wonderful worship. I credit this blessing to two of my former prayer
conference leaders, and a wonderful young friend that lifted me up in prayer:
Jill, Philip, and SuperGirl (real name = Allison). Many thanks for your back-up!
It was like good old times.