Investment is key to future growth

A few weeks ago, the first youth congress of 2017 was held. There are three congresses held each year, designed to help youth recognize and respond to the call of God on their young lives. We've held these congresses since 2003 and most, if not all, of our young leaders are a direct product of these days of learning and team activities. One of the most memorable activity in each congress is the Bible verse search in the mountains. This is a competitive, hard activity where the youth are divided up into teams with a goal of locating and memorizing Bible verses. All team members work together to decipher cues they find, using burgeoning orienteering skills to locate the hidden verse. Then each member of the team must memorize the verse and recite it to a designated listener. No one on the team can be left behind. The beauty of this activity, devised by Roger, is that through it, the team builds sensitivity and joint effort among its members. Although an arduous undertaking, it is always harder for Roger and his team, who investigate the mountain, devise the routes, make the topographical maps with clues, and then review the trails a few times before it is given to the youth teams. Only one team will be chosen as the winning team, through reports given in the large group setting by the team leader and one member of the team. One of the best moments for Roger and I is to watch those who've been a part of past youth congresses now lead activities and classes. This investment is key to future growth, and although it means we do this every Holy Week, it is well worth it.

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." I Timothy 4:12