growing deeper in the Word of God.

Delving deeper into some of the reasons for the exodus, the research group found that nearly 40 percent of the surveyed twentysomethings first had doubts about the Bible in middle school. Another 43.7 percent said they first doubted that all of the accounts and stories in the Bible are true during their high school years. Only around 10 percent said they first became doubtful about the Bible accounts during college.

the rest of the post can be found here -
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090629/survey-churches-losing-youths-long-before-college/index.html

these are alarming statistics. and it shows how much we disregard the Word of God as part of our relationship with Jesus when the Bible itself already mentions that "All Scripture is breathed out by God..." (2 Tim 3:16a). John 16:13 states, "But when He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth." The Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin also assures the believer that the Bible is God's Word.

these truths may familiar and we do believe that the Bible is God's Word and its importance. But do we really live it out? do we seek guidance from the Word? do we want to learn more and more about the Bible? do we place it as an authority over our lives? do we really know what the Bible says? (for example, the Bible never mentions 'God only helps those who help themselves')

truth be told, nobody really wants to read the Bible (Psalm 119:36). we have to get down on our knees to plead with God for that desire. “Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God.” (1 Chronicles 22:19) and the more we seek, the more we will find out. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” (1 Chronicles 28:9) Basically it means - the more you'll understand the Bible if we spend time in it.

just like how we pursue an object of interest, the more we'll find out about that interest. it's the matter of the heart. example, i would want to research on everything that makes up the girl of my interest. i want to know what she likes, what she doesn't like.

there is no possibility of saying you know someone, if you don't know the least about that someone. the same way, the way to know God is to study His Word.


Growing deeper in the Word of God is very important aspect of our WinGS ministry, and we would not abandon the cause to instill Biblical knowledge for the sake of making youth ministry more attractive. there is no a need to dress up God's Word because the Bible stands alone, unchanged throughout the ages, and it is God inspired.

for this i pray, God that You instill in us an understanding of Your beloved words. we acknowledge the need to learn Your Word. we desire to hid Your words in our hearts that we may not sin against You (Psalms 119:11) that we may be a youth ministry that places Your Word above all else, and that it may equip us for every good work that we pursue. (2 Tim 3:17b). in Christ name, Amen.

i found this article really interesting.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20061116/23499.htm

the letter G is one of the five purposes that i would like to refresh our memories about the purpose of our WinGS ministry : )

n., pl. youths (yūths, yūTHz).

1. 1. The condition or quality of being young.
   2. An early period of development or existence: a nation in its youth.
2. The time of life between childhood and maturity.
3. 1. A young person, especially a young male in late adolescence.
   2. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Young people considered as a group.

WinGS never set out to pigeon-hole any age groups into a ministry. yes, we do cater to a specific age group but there should be a greater view that this ministry exists for more than a social club/babysitting time for the younger age group for our church.

i have seen pretty amazing stuff happen in this ministry but we should never dwell on former glories. i take heart that we should always know of what we are capable of, with a great God over us.

being a youth is a state of mind. there are 28 year olds who act like 12 year olds, and also 13 year olds who act like 28 year olds.

Youth, or immaturity, is an attitude of the heart and will rather than a function of age.

the Bible has examples of many who are considered 'young' and maybe God chooses them because they know that they're young - and by that they know that they are considered 'weak', 'unable', 'don't know anything' or even 'too young' - and once they really grasp the power in being weak but used by a great God, then His glory is so much more amazing.

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:30-31

therefore i would just like to stick my head out and say this, WinGS is more than just a youth group, it's a youth ministry under the church, and it is encompasses the entire body of believers, take for example, we have wonderful adult camp counselors before and we definitely would be welcoming more adults to speak during our meetings. WinGS is involved in reaching out to the children of VBS, and Sunday School. we definitely need young adults who will take up the challenge and be leaders to these youths.

the moment we put WinGS into a box, we render it as just another church ministry that we can pick and choose.

I'm awake as a dream,
lifted off this miry place,
freedom it seems,
breathes like wind to my face,

ever fallen asleep during a sermon? or even in a car driving down to school? sometimes, its all down how we keep ourselves ready and alert, or are we complacent to succumb to sweet sweet sleep = )