“The gospel has gone a mile wide but it is just simply an inch deep. I desire that it be a mile wide, yes, but also a mile deep.” says Nick, a youth leader in Kenya, of his region. I hope that would be the same desire for all of us who persevere in youth ministry. Sure, growth in numbers does matter. But I think the thoughtful youth worker will acknowledge that growing deeper in the Spirit is as important as growth in numbers, if not more.

Now there really is the tendency to look merely on the numbers or what can be seen, as the Apostle Paul said: “We are careful not to judge people by what they seem to be, though we once judged Christ in that way. Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” 2Cor. 5:16-17 ESV

If we are not as careful as Paul we also will look on what people seem outwardly, when their standing with Christ inwardly is of greater value. We might do the very thing in our youth group. We might judge individual young people by who they are connected with rather than how connected they are with Jesus. We might do the same with the group as a whole: looking at how quickly our youth group is growing in number rather than how deeply it is growing in faith. It certainly is a tendency for me, maybe because it’s easier to measure and think about things I can plainly see. I have to remind myself to, like the Apostle Paul, look beyond the physical and see the work of Christ in each person. That I think is one important key toward making the gospel a mile deep in our ministry.

Thank you Ghie, Herman and Eric for your willingness to come to Nepal and minister young people beyond border. You guys have no idea how much God multiplied his seed that you guys had sown into this ground.

I still remember the battle we went through while you were here; first of all you guys waited a long time at the airport because we didn’t know each other and I guess that wasn’t a great impression and Eric, you lost your niece and that was not easy for you, Herman, you might still remember your nice iPod you lost and Ghie $200 wasn’t a small amount that you lost in the lakeside but then one thing that didn’t really make sense to me at all was you guys were laughing, talking about the things you had lost and just laughing … and later I discovered that I was with Filipinos (kidding) … but seriously you guys have great hearts and passion.

When I recall those times now, I can say that it was just the battle to discourage and stop us from being a blessing to many young people in Nepal but we know that enemy has been defeated and has no authority and power when we use the authority and power God has given us and together we have won the battle.

Today we have trained over 600 youth ministry leaders in different levels of seminars in various locations of Nepal. Praise God, it is all about Him. Thanks for being a part of this unstoppable move!

We will have a Level 1 GYMN Training in Naga on May 1-3, 2012. This will be in partnership with Light of the World Christian Center. See further details in the poster above.

What: a GYMN Level 1 with Good News Baptist Church

When: May 1-3, 2012

Where: At Good News Baptist Church in Davao City

Why: That youth leaders will be equipped for the work of the Lord.

The Power of Camp – Adam Mclane shows in this infographic how camp can change lives.

If you want to know more about the Hunger Games, which has caught the interest of many teens and has a movie coming out, here’s a Christian review of the book.

You may already know who Kony is but read more into it here.

Another infographic. This time, a learning/teaching tool on the Trinity with some links to other theology topics.

Here’s a great e-book on leadership, short but has some very important points:  Stayin’ Alive by Tony Morgan.

Food for thought: 5 reasons Jesus would be fired if he was a youth pastor.