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Stick to Yer Guns, Pardner!
Stick to Yer Guns, Pardner!
Therefore my dear friend stand firm. Let nothing move you! Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
I Cor 15:58 |
Imagine rising just hours after midnight to board a 55-passenger charter bus with 52 rising 7th and 8th grade youth! Spend the next 12 1/2 hours (that's at least 2 meal breaks, 4 additional restroom breaks and 4 videos long) trekking to Williams Bay, WI just across the Illinois border. At the appointed hour of 4 PM, 52 very excited youth and 13 somewhat weary chaperones begin a week long adventure together in the farmlands of the Dairy state.
So begins "The Great Escape" youth conference for 2003! The purpose of The Great Escape is to use age-appropriate programming to meet middle school students exactly where they are and to show them the love of Jesus. We seek to understand where kids are today to better reach and communicate to the wide range of their needs. The conference combines bible study, small group discussion, large group meetings with nationally renowned youth speakers, crazy recreation activities and lively music to underscore God's desire for a committed relationship with each one of us.
Our theme for the week was "Stick To Yer Guns" and was based on the scripture from I Corinthians 15:58. "Therefore my dear friend stand firm. Let nothing move you! Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
What better message can we convey to our youth than to remain firm in their convictions? The middle school years are filled with change that challenges our youth to conform to the world's standards, not those taught by God. Throughout the week our youth heard from speakers and musicians alike that they are wonderfully made by God who wants nothing more than to be "the Lord of their dance."
It was a blessing to spend the week with these growing youth. We know that God was ever present throughout the week in all our comings and goings. We wait with eager anticipation to watch these youth grow into the godly men and women our Lord desires them to become.
Enjoy the journey through photos of the time we spent with your youth and pray without ceasing giving praise and thanksgiving always for the many wonders of His hands.
Servants of Christ,
Erika Emerick, Mary Lindley Carswell, Kerry Dietz, Laine Evans, Merry Lynn Cato, Cindy Cook, Coreen Ford, Patricia Heim, Terri King, Jan Overton, Steve Butler, Mark Hardison and Dixon Witherspoon |
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