R U Seeking Him? YES!
Wow–the resounding answer to the question: R U Seeking Him? was YES this past weekend. We were honored to host this year's RUSH celebration for the Bourbon County Youth Ministers Network. The band, AGAPEslave entertained us nightly with popular Christian music by today's latest and greatest recording artists as well as treating us to a few of their own creations.
Tim Bertram of God's Graffiti stunned us with his incredible messages each evening as well as the talents of his art. While ministering to our youth, Tim painted an incredible picture of Jesus with the Crown of Thorns, which was auctioned off on Sunday evening. I am happy to report that our youth group received the winning bid and this painting will now hang in the newly renovated youth space in the church basement. THANK YOU to all who contributed to this project. Our youth greatly appreciate the gift you've given as well as the memories of this event.
Our Friday evening crowd began small, with 53 youth participating, but the energy was great and everyone had a great experience, moved by the spirit with Tim's message and songs from AGAPEslave. Saturday our numbers grew to 75 and the excitement mounted as well. Sunday evening we celebrated the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ with an astonishing 90 youth. Tim's story our last evening told of the monkey slaves of Africa. The way the slave traders catch a monkey is to put a piece of food inside a small hole in a coconut that is anchored to a tree by a chain. The monkey reaches in to retrieve the food. When he takes hold of his prize, his closed fist will not allow him to pull free from the coconut and he is trapped. Because the monkey will not release what is in his hand, he sacrifices his freedom and becomes enslaved in the world.
The question our youth left with and which faces each of us: What are we holding onto that we refuse to let go of and thereby become enslaved to this world rather than opening ourselves up to the freedom that comes from a relationship with God? For each of us, the answer is different, but I'm sure we can all think of something we need to let go of in order to let God into our lives.
Shalom,
Tracy