MOYouth!
This is YOUR space to share all your awesome, goofy, serious, hilarious stories from Praise N the Park ‘08! Just click the “Comment” link on the bottom of the post, and type away! The rest of MOYouth can’t wait to hear what happened to you and your friends this year.
By Kent d Curry
The Forum, a conference for 20somethings seeking open conversations about contemporary topics, was held on September 26-27, 2008 at Gateway College of Evangelism. Sessions included: “21st Century Parables: We have the Better Story,” “Apostolics and Race - Is Everyone Welcome at your Church?” and “Self Image and the Apostolic Woman,” but they didn’t center around a speaker sharing their expertise, but a facilitator leading a discussion with the room. This format proved to be a hit with the attendees, who came from Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and throughout Missouri. Speakers included: Wayne Francis, Jaime McGarvey, Raymond Crownover, Jeff Tracy and Kent d Curry. If you’ve got a spiritual curiosity to tackle contemporary topics with like-minded Apostolics, plan on attending next year’s Forum on Oct. 23-24. (For a longer report and more pictures, visit www.ninetyandnine.com.
Enjoy this powerful word from one of Missouri Youth’s own, Hall of Fame Quizzer Andrew Gregory, from Festus, MO.
Dear Reader,
When reflecting upon what it means to be a Bible quizzer I am drawn to one word, consecrated. Consecrated is complete and unwavering commitment to a belief. In laymen terms it means to be sold out to something or in a quizzer’s case God and His word. To the great apostle Paul it meant, “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ; Yea doubtless and I count all things but loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things; and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
A quizzer does not just read the Bible through or play sword drills with their Sunday School class. Sure, they may have fun doing those things but a quizzer truly knows what it means to be consecrated and live a lifestyle suiting. They really know what it means to “win Christ” and “gain the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord”. The energy spent learning and hiding the Word of God in their hearts truly merits an extra mile’s walk.
A quizzer is not by any means a perfect vessel, no one is, but they are pleasing. The Bible says, “Study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Pentecostals and especially the youth of Pentecostals cannot get caught in a surface society lifestyle but must do exactly what this verse says and STUDY. Study is not just reading, dwelling, or praying. Study combines all three of these elements to comprise hour’s worth of a normal day for a Bible quizzer. Quizzers, because of their intense dedication, need not to be ashamed.
What good is a workman without tools? I am assured most of us would agree that the answer is a resounding useless. It is my firm belief that every verse a quizzer takes time to hide in their heart is one more tool added to their arsenal. Every hour spent studying is a declaration to God that I am here for the long haul no matter how much sweat and blood accumulates through the use of my tools. When other youth are watching the latest smash hit, or hanging at the mall, a quizzer is, like a young David writing Psalms, adding the their toolbox.
We all know that the Bible without David and his Psalms is a perilous thought. So also, is a world without quizzers. Just one quizzer no matter the achievements has more affect on this world and it’s kingdoms than the most learned of secular scholars.
Giants will come upon every young person and the one’s they love. Whether they be in the form of peer pressure, self image, sex, drugs, or work ethic they will come. A quizzer, like David through his faith in and the grace of God, will without fail be the only one in a group full of normalcy to challenge and defeat the giant. David knew what greatness God had in store for Isreal and the things He had promised with His love, so too does a quizzer learn and study God’s promises and love toward His people. Notice in the story David and Goliath, all of Isreal benefited from David’s victory. So too does a youth group or a church benefit from the victories won by a quizzer’s life and prayers.
If you are a young person reading this, a parent, or just a youth loving adult I challenge you to become a part of this, the best ministry sponsored by the United Pentecostal Church International. Yes, I am biased, but having dedicated countless hours, opportunities to hang with my friends, and twelve years of my life I know that god will honor the path to rise above normalcy. It is a satisfying thing to say that I have entrenched myself in the Word of God. In heavens translations I hear it now, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” So pick up the torch with me and let us take this world by storm with our sword, which is the Word of God. Let us bear in our body the Marks of the Lord Jesus.
From a quizzers point of view - Andrew Gregory
It was the first Sunday after I’d given birth to my first child, Andrew, and I lay in my bedroom listening to young children playing in the street. These children were in the first grade and they were smoking and what language they had, what had I done? I had brought a child into a world that was evil and wicked. I vowed that I would never have another child. These thoughts stayed with me for weeks and finally God said, “But don’t you see it is your child that is the light that is set upon a hill, the salt that preserves. He asked me, “If not your child, then who?” That is when I began to understand that God loves our children more than we love them and it is our job to train them and raise them to be used of God. If would be years before we got into Bible Quizzing but when we did I knew that this was the program that would train my child for the kingdom. Now after twelve years and watching many children go through the program I am more firmly planted in my belief that Bible Quizzing is “THE PROGRAM” for our youth. This program makes our children strong in the Lord. This program helps them do better in school. I wouldn’t trade the time, money or sacrifice that we have made for Bible Quizzing because the return is far more than we deserve. When my children need a word from the Lord it is in their mind instantly. When they stray or think of straying God can immediately recall an appropriate verse to guide them. On outreach they have been able to counter the questions asked by people and know exactly where they are found.
As I hand my child back to the Lord and his training is almost done I have done my job. I have prepared him to be used of God in any field that God chooses. Bible Quizzing has made that possible.
God Bless,
Renee Gregory
This year Missouri YOHM went to Harrisonville, Dixon, and Maplewood to help local Home Missions churches with outreach! Check out this AWESOME testimony from the church in Dixon, MO -
“On Saturday, Aug. 9th, a group of about 15 young people (and Youth Pastor, Michael Jackson) from Springfield, MO, and 3 young men from Rivers of Life Worship Center in St. Clair (and their Youth Pastor, Jason Tinker), joined the youth of First Pentecostal Church of Dixon for Youth On Home Missions! Thirty people hit the streets of Dixon, MO, delivering “care packages” to homes within the city limits. Four hundred bags, complete with tracts, church cards, and invitations were placed on doorknobs throughout town. Afterward, everyone gathered in the City Park, where Pastor Hohman had prepared a BBQ for the hungry workers. The next morning, a young woman showed up at F.P.C.D. Sunday school for the first time. When asked how she came to be there, she confirmed that she had received one of the bags and was curious about the church. During worship time that morning, she received the glorious gift of the Holy Ghost!!! Y.O.H.M. WORKS!”
Please use this area to POST your testimony and report about Missouri Youth on Home Missions ‘08!
What a GREAT convention! Testimonies have already been coming in. You may use this blog to post a “brief” testimony of what God did for you or your youth group @ YC ‘08. ~Luke Levine
Missouri United Pentecostal Youth
Est. 1945