Global Youth Ministry Network - Asia

There is something simple yet profound about meeting God throughout the day. The difference is found in asking ourselves, Am I getting knowledge at one serving alone or meditating on truth as I chew all day? Are we feasting only to starve later as unconnected people far from His table? Do we find ourselves running and falling head first into His food again at the table, because we could not store up morsels of truth to sustain ourselves? What a crazy picture, yet this is the picture of many, who chose only to feast then famine.

Personally, I confess that when it comes to physical food I love sweets. I love to eat candies and chocolates, especially. I have tasted many great chocolates and found them to be good. In fact it is not unusual for us to try to have some kind of sweets always available in the house.

This reminds me of what is spoken of in the Old Testament,

“How sweet are your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Ps. 119:103).

The psalmist speaks of God’s words as being as sweet as honey, but I think the sustaining, throughout the day, power of His Word, our food is found in the next verse,

“From your precepts I get understanding. Therefore, I hate every false way.” (Ps. 119:104)

Is it not easy to taste the sweetness of the Word, but then to look elsewhere later in the day for something to fill our soul that is not from Him? Chewing on the precepts of God’s words throughout the day gives us understanding. Simply eating sweets alone will not sustain us.

In another Psalm, the writer states,

“O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Ps. 34:8).

Here I see again that the Lord does not want us to only taste (or sample) His goodness, but to take refuge, abide in Him. There is a stark contrast between sampling and abiding. True impact, life change and availability to God happens in the other 23 ½ hours a day that we may not be paused in front of the Scriptures, but in these hours of time we can have His word in our heart, mind and soul so that we can call upon the spiritual food reserves at any time.

What if we could position ourselves before the Lord in a way to chew on His truth throughout the day? What if we stored up the spiritual food in our pockets and pull it out throughout our day? We can be filled and led 24/7 by the Great Provider, but He bids us to come and eat with Him. Do not excuse yourself from the table with a full belly alone, but take His food with you. Two fish and 5 loaves will not sustain you forever, but when He multiplies and distributes His food in us through the Holy Spirit it will miraculously feed your hungry soul and leave more pieces for the feeding of those around you as you share His provisions. May you be fed spiritually and be a source of spiritual sustenance for those around you.

This post and the one before it are written by Chris Davis, as part of the YC which we hope will be of use in your ministry. Chris is the Executive Director of Global Youth Ministry Network and he also blogs over at GYMN-International.

This post and the next are written by Chris Davis, as part of the YC which we hope will be of use in your ministry. Chris is the Executive Director of Global Youth Ministry Network and he also blogs over at GYMN-International.

I have noticed that when it comes to our spiritual life we tend to run on the premise of feast or famine.

This may be a new saying to some of you, but the idea is that either we have so much “feast” or we are starving “famine”. In the physical realm this is not the best way to life if at all possible. This is living a life on the extremes. In the physical realm when we have a feast, it slows us down as we tend to eat too much. However, if we are in a famine we have nothing to eat for many, many days which can cause us to not be able to function and become prone to diseases.

These same truths apply in the spiritual realm. I know that most of us would not say we are spiritually famished or that we get to live at a feast spiritually every day. So what is the healthy and balanced option?

I was personally pondering this the other day in the midst of feeding spiritually in the morning. I had felt as if God set the table of spiritual feasting right before me. But then I entered a time of reflection on my upcoming day and past days. I noticed the following. That I may even feast daily on His word and His presence and that is all good. I am glad for that kind of routine and God’s presence (though there are days when it is more like I am begging Him for food than feasting). However, I noticed a trend in my life and maybe you have seen this. My trend is to meet with Him but then find myself somewhat still in need spiritually throughout the day, finding myself spiritually hungry or not walking as I would like and not walking as I had committed to earlier in that day. Why is that? I asked myself that same question. I was thinking about all that I had just eaten spiritually. For some reason, I realized that as great as that was, it would not sustain me for 24 hours, probably. So what is one to do? Continue reading Feast or Famine?

With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand

“Scripture talks of leadership as being a combination of the skillfulness of hands and the integrity of heart. Yet, from my experience the high majority (over 90%) of all seminars, workshops and books that are offered to Christian leaders is based on skill alone, (“How to….”).

To balance this equation at GYMN we are offering experienced and long-term Christian workers an alternative. Heart of the Leader is a series of retreats (2 in all) that will help you position yourself before God for the long road of ministry. We will be holding the first of these in July in the Philippines.

The statistics and negative stories of burnout and moral failures are way too high globally in churches and ministry groups. I know you want to be successful for the long-term and be able to lead with an authentic heart, as do I. This journey through the Heart of the Leader, is something that I have done myself. In fact, I can say with full confidence that this set of retreats has impacted my spiritual life more than anything else (aside from my initial conversion).

You do not want to miss this opportunity! We have no promises that this will be offered again…so sign up now!”

A month ago, I received back my passport with approved visa from the embassy of a country that I will not name. A GYMN-Asia team is visiting three countries to equip youth leaders who reside there. Ghie and family are already in one and doing a seminar as I write. I meet-up with the team in Thailand and then we travel on toward a different nation.

Although GYMN-Asia has gone to these countries before, this will be my first trip outside the Philippines. So I am excited and hope to share these things with all of you as I go along. Through working with Christian leaders in these places I pray God would expand my heart and vision for his Kingdom in this world.

I leave on May 1, I hope you will accompany me in prayer.

For many youth workers in Asia, summer season means a youth camp. Here are some good articles to look at if this means you.

Before the Camp:

Youth Camps–Tradition or Life Change? – Some basics of a camp.

Organizing Camps and Retreats – (in Tagalog) Here’s one for the Filipino youth worker.

71 Fundraising Ideas for Youth Groups – To ensure you reach your budget.

Games @ The Source for Youth Ministry – Great resource that comes with its own search engine. Modify the game to fit your context or culture for better impact.

EGAD! Ideas – a compendium of activities, again modify these to suit your group.

During and After:

They Came Forward… Now What? – Here are very important tips on implementing evangelism.

Making the “Camp High” Last All Year Long.

Any resources you know that I haven’t listed? Place ‘em below:

Batangas, Philippines. At a resort with a pool. The day is hot and breezy, the pool is inviting and 20 youth leaders await the start of the seminar. Sound system present, tarpaulin for the projector in place and three teachers ready to begin.

Minutes before the start we lose all electric power.

This means no use of microphones, no PowerPoint presentations, no videos. The hot day just got hotter.

This is the Level 2 training of GYMN. It is a follow-up training to our Level 1 seminar and usually occurs a year after. This Level 2 training feels more like a reunion. Here not only do we the trainers share our stories but the participants as well tell us of the things that have happened since the first training, of what has happened in their ministry.  Here, we not only teach but invite the youth leaders themselves into the teach. But like the level 1 we ask God to join us in the event and he comes through in wonderful and unexpected ways.

And so somehow on this summer day without electrical power everything still seems quite alright. We go through the lessons, we interact with each other and we enjoy the time.

The electric power finally comes back just before dinner and then it goes away again as we begin the last session for the day. And again to me, it just seems just the way it should. We worship, singing to the Lord in the open area looking at the stars He created. Despite the loss of electricity, the Lord’s power is affirmed. His presence was with us that night and throughout the rest of the seminar.

It was a wonderful time.

At the beginning of this year, the Lord gave me 2 verses separately that caused me to ask questions. The first was in John 14:12, “He who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also and greater works than these shall he do…”

I asked myself (and the staff) the following questions:

How is this verse reflected in our own personal and ministry goals this year?

What are the things do we plan to do that are greater than the past years?

Is this the best time for greater things? What about the current economy of the world and of GYMN?”

Then as a team we were reminded that last year was the tightest year in GYMN as far as its funding…but one of our most fruitful years as well as far as ministry accomplishments. God cannot be limited by our limitations!!

~~~

The next verse was the prayer of a man whose name means ‘pain’ and yet was considered honorable by God–Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.

“Bless me, bless me indeed!” (intense, superlative)

“Enlarge my borders.” (more territories, more cattle, more influence, etc)

“May Your hand be upon me.” (God’s presence, victory, power, protection)

“Keep me from evil.” (Matt 6:13)

God challenges us to do greater things (in spite of and amidst of) and He also gives whatever we ask in His name … to do greater things.

~~~

Mid-last year I was convinced in my heart that we should start a hub in Nepal as we already have a local guy who has the same vision and is able to do the work. Nepal is also strategically located next to the 2 largest populated countries, China and India. Even without clear funding, I was excited. Before the year 2009 ended, I was close to giving up of my conviction. Last week, God provided the funds to start GYMN-Nepal!!!

Blessings, expansions, victory, greater things, these are possible because the great I AM cannot be limited. He is thinking big, He is thinking global!!

May God accomplish His greater things in and through GYMN this year. May He helps us with our unbelief and prepare us for greater things. To God be the highest glory!!

Related Posts:

The Need for Youth Ministry Training in Nepal

It’s a BIG Story!

Raising Nepal