We are so pleased to say that we had a very successful first gathering of all the youth and young adults of Fruitful Life in the living room of our home, last night. It was such a great meeting that we've decided to meet each week, at least for this month, until everyone goes back to school.
The ages ranged from 16 to 26 and our discussion centered on the introduction section of the book we published four years ago, titled "WHAT NOW?"
We opened the evening by allowing each person to introduce him or herself and tell us about their personal interest and goals in life. We learned that we have a lot of "kool-aid" lovers. Many priorities involve eating and sleeping. We also discovered that we have quite a few artists who all love to draw pictures and share similar interest in cartoons and animation. Carol and I find that very fascinating that the Lord has put within us a desire to produce comic books, video games, and cartoons and now HE has surrounded us with young people who can actually pull this off.
Even for the business aspect of such a vision, there are some business/ accounting focused youth, along with some music and video editors and producers. Let's just see how GOD brings this all to pass in the years to come.
Anyway, it was a great discussion as we covered such things as the greatest resources that they will ever need. We talked about wisdom being more valuable than rubies and its fruit being better than gold or silver according to Proverbs 8: 11,19.
Somehow that took us into recounting the story of how we had a $35,000 medical bill after the twins were born, reduced to $300. Believe me when I say, that story made the point that we need GOD more than we need money. We need HIS favor more than money.
We answered a very important question that was brought up on how does one recognize when GOD is speaking to them. We took everyone through the practical principles of how to discern and recognize the voice and will of GOD for their lives.
We love it when young people ask that question!
We also answered the question regarding living with seemingly unanswered prayers. I related one of the most precious missionary stories I've ever heard to make the point that we may ask GOD to do things that are not part of HIS will and that we must trust HIS answers, even if they disappointment us. We must trust HIM.
We talked about getting to know the WHY in life and not just the WHAT. People who know WHAT to do will have a job, but people who know WHY will be their bosses. We encouraged all to move beyond just gathering information and knowledge and to begin to embrace a life of WISDOM because it is the know-how ability that you get from GOD. You must know what to do with all the knowledge that you may acquire. GOD WILL TAKE YOU BEYOND INFORMATION TO THE REASONS WHY THINGS WORK THE WAY THEY WORK.
Finally, we just spoke directly to the group that they are a generation that has been united as a global culture. We pointed out that they have the potential for global revival because of the unique opportunity they have as the first global culture in human history.
All in all, it was a wonderful start to a ministry we have desired to launch since our beginning. Thanks to Gary Foster, we even had a multi-ethnic mix because he brought two young people (ages 18 & 20) who go to a church started by Christ Community Church.
You may recall that I spoke at Christ Community two times last year. It is a predominantly white congregation in Camp Hill, PA that has embraced us as their own. We love the pastors and staff there. When I told the visitors about our relationship with the CCC pastors, we had instant connection and they were very open to us from that point on.
So there's my update for this week with the new beginnings we are experiencing in Fruitful Life.
The ages ranged from 16 to 26 and our discussion centered on the introduction section of the book we published four years ago, titled "WHAT NOW?"
We opened the evening by allowing each person to introduce him or herself and tell us about their personal interest and goals in life. We learned that we have a lot of "kool-aid" lovers. Many priorities involve eating and sleeping. We also discovered that we have quite a few artists who all love to draw pictures and share similar interest in cartoons and animation. Carol and I find that very fascinating that the Lord has put within us a desire to produce comic books, video games, and cartoons and now HE has surrounded us with young people who can actually pull this off.
Even for the business aspect of such a vision, there are some business/ accounting focused youth, along with some music and video editors and producers. Let's just see how GOD brings this all to pass in the years to come.
Anyway, it was a great discussion as we covered such things as the greatest resources that they will ever need. We talked about wisdom being more valuable than rubies and its fruit being better than gold or silver according to Proverbs 8: 11,19.
Somehow that took us into recounting the story of how we had a $35,000 medical bill after the twins were born, reduced to $300. Believe me when I say, that story made the point that we need GOD more than we need money. We need HIS favor more than money.
We answered a very important question that was brought up on how does one recognize when GOD is speaking to them. We took everyone through the practical principles of how to discern and recognize the voice and will of GOD for their lives.
We love it when young people ask that question!
We also answered the question regarding living with seemingly unanswered prayers. I related one of the most precious missionary stories I've ever heard to make the point that we may ask GOD to do things that are not part of HIS will and that we must trust HIS answers, even if they disappointment us. We must trust HIM.
We talked about getting to know the WHY in life and not just the WHAT. People who know WHAT to do will have a job, but people who know WHY will be their bosses. We encouraged all to move beyond just gathering information and knowledge and to begin to embrace a life of WISDOM because it is the know-how ability that you get from GOD. You must know what to do with all the knowledge that you may acquire. GOD WILL TAKE YOU BEYOND INFORMATION TO THE REASONS WHY THINGS WORK THE WAY THEY WORK.
Finally, we just spoke directly to the group that they are a generation that has been united as a global culture. We pointed out that they have the potential for global revival because of the unique opportunity they have as the first global culture in human history.
All in all, it was a wonderful start to a ministry we have desired to launch since our beginning. Thanks to Gary Foster, we even had a multi-ethnic mix because he brought two young people (ages 18 & 20) who go to a church started by Christ Community Church.
You may recall that I spoke at Christ Community two times last year. It is a predominantly white congregation in Camp Hill, PA that has embraced us as their own. We love the pastors and staff there. When I told the visitors about our relationship with the CCC pastors, we had instant connection and they were very open to us from that point on.
So there's my update for this week with the new beginnings we are experiencing in Fruitful Life.
