The Homeland Park youth have had a wonderful fall
semester. From Bible studies, to fellowship dinners, to our ENGAGE retreat, we
really got to know each other on a deeper level, and more importantly, learn
more about God, His Son Jesus, and the nature of our relationships to Him.
Over the course of the semester, our main study topic
during Bible study was relationships. We began with an individual’s
relationship to God. God is our creator and judge. He created us in His own
image, but we rebelled against God in sin. Though we all deserved God’s
judgment for sin, He sent His Son, Jesus, to be born as a man to live a perfect
life to fulfill God’s law. He died in our place to take away the punishment we
deserve and was raised from the grave to give new life. By turning from sin and
trusting in Jesus and His work alone for salvation, an individual becomes a
child of God, saved from sin into a new relationship with God as His child.
We learned how God’s salvation and a relationship with
Him influence all of our relationships, making the way for peace, forgiveness,
and joy in relationships with parents, family, and friends. We learned how this
relationship with God joins us to the church, God’s people, to worship God,
grow in our relationship with Him, and experience the love of God through His
people.
During the semester, we had special opportunities to join
the rest of the church for fellowship dinners. Aside from Sunday mornings,
these fellowship meals are the best times for the adult members of our
congregation to pour into students, encouraging them and loving them.
Finally, our youth joined Varennes Heights Baptist
Church, New Prospect Baptist Church, and Southside Baptist Church for the
ENGAGE student retreat this past November. Our theme for the retreat was “Salt
‘n Light,” as the students learned how believers are to live in this world.
Personally, this is one of my favorite things our
ministry does. The retreat, and travel to the retreat, provides a great
opportunity to get to know each other on a deeper level. The teaching, worship,
and fellowship reminds us of the centrality of Jesus in the world and in our
lives. Furthermore, being able to interact with students from other churches
allows them to make new friendships and to develop Christ-centered friendships
with people in their schools from other churches.
Our weekend together began with our first worship
service. Tony David taught the youth on the weekend and challenged them deeply
in different ways to live as Christians in an unchristian world. We then had a
snack and smore time around the bonfire to close out the night.
Saturday, we began with a personal devotion time. This is
a really cool aspect of the retreat, allowing the students to slow down from
all the fun and interact with God through His Word and prayer on a one-on-one
basis. The students then split off into breakouts, where they learn how Jesus
impacts various areas of their lives. Some of these included using sports as a
ministry, finding your ultimate identity in Christ, living as a missionary in
your day to day life, and others. The morning time then concluded with another
group worship session.
Saturday afternoon featured a lot of time to relax and
enjoy fellowship with God and His children through different activities.
Students could do flag football, arts and crafts, basketball, the recreation
room, and many others. Saturday concluded with a third worship session and
amazing talent show. Finally, we departed on Sunday after a time of personal
devotion, learning, and worship.
When looking back to the same event a year ago, a lot of
growth can be seen in the lives of the youth of our church. They understand
more of God, the Gospel, and of how Jesus wants them to live. They are
beginning to internalize more and more of what Jesus did for them and how that
impacts their lives. They are also becoming more and more open with the adult
leaders and with one another. We pray that by time the same time next year, we
will continue to see such growth and maturation.
This fall semester has been a great time in the life of
Homeland Park Baptist Church and for the Homeland Park Youth! We are excited to
see the many ways God is challenging our students to grow and impacting, not
only each other, but also the church and the community around us!
Praise the Lord! Praise the God in His sanctuary; praise
Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise him
according to His excellent greatness. – Psalm 150:1-2
Jason