YOUTH SPRITUAL ACTIVITIES

By

Pr. Emmanuel Sumwa

Adventist Youth Society Features

Adventist Youth features have been developed as a means of enlarging vision, instilling Christian ideals, and guiding in service.

Participation in some form of Adventist Youth activities is absolutely essential to arouse the interest and promote the growth [Spiritually] of the individual Adventist youth in the life and work of the AY Society and the church.

An Adventist Youth Society that expects to accomplish something definite during the year should focus on certain lines of work and direct its promotion toward those lines, maintaining a proper balance in the various classes of activities.

Every member of Adventist Youth should be encouraged to engage in one or more of the activities of the Adventist Youth Society.

The features are divided into three Areas of emphasize: They are Up-reach, Reach across, and Reach-out.

UP-REACH [Discipleship] Features

• • • • • Small group Ministries Devotional life: Bible reading, Bible Year, Bible and Prayer conferences, Bible Bowl, Morning Watch, Encounter Series, Prayers Groups, AY Week of Prayer Reclaim and Retain projects Revival and Reformation Progressive Classes

 Small groups Ministries.

 Devotional life: Bible reading, Bible Year, Bible and Prayer conferences, Bible Bowl, Morning Watch, Encounter Series, Prayers Groups, AY Week of Prayer.

 Reclaim and Retain projects.

 Revival and Reformation.

 Progressive Classes.

In general the program features all activities that help young men to reach God for spiritual renewal through prayer and study of the Word, highly valuing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our midst

In every activity of UP-Reach the Strategic should be:

 To develop in every individual a personal relationship with their God through personal Bible study and prayer  To intentionally cultivate spiritual renewal through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit  To develop contextual worship practices that are built on biblical principles and Seventh-day Adventist foundations

 To inspire, equip and support disciples for spiritual growth, mission and acts of loving service  To refocus on being a Church that is known and respected for its sound Biblical understanding and teaching

REACH-ACROSS [Church Community] Features

 Unity in Diversity  Leadership Seminars [Pastors, Elders, MG, Youth Directors, etc.], Youth Ministry Training, this will result the Youth in the church to form:  Senior AY Book Club,  Master Guide Club,  AY Leadership Club and activities,  Nature Clubs, Hobby Clubs,  AY Heritage of Truth Award,  AY Silver Award,  AY Gold Award.

 Life Style issues seminars.

 Self Support Entrepreneurship  HIV/AIDS awareness

In general the program features all activities that help young men in the church to reach each other as one family in the church, embracing our unity and diversity, building discipling, nurturing, community relationships, improving structure and being involved in the life of the church

Every activity in this area [Reach-across] the target or the Strategic should be:

 To build a unified church, characterized by loving relationships  To invest time and resources in the development of effective leaders  To utilize the talents of everyone in the functions of the church, encouraging innovation, creativity and commitment  To intentionally build cross cultural and cross generational communities of believers

 To foster leadership cohesiveness across all entities within the Church  6. To model servant leadership  7. To promote and develop a stronger culture of ownership, responsibility and accountability within the Church

 To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organization operations and structures that serves the church and its mission  To ensure that resources are allocated in alignment with organization strategic priorities

 To promote a positive and nurturing work environment that encourages and empowers employees to build trust- based relationships and experience a sense of belonging and engagement in the mission of the Church

REACH-OUT [Evangelism & Service] Features

• Caleb/Elijah projects.

• Annual evangelistic projects per church. AY Voice of Youth, Witnessing Groups, Prayer and Personal Workers’ Group, Koinonia, Temperance Teams, AY Congresses and Rallies, Ingathering Singing Groups (in season)

• Service projects/Community Service Africa], Christian Help Group, Community and Disaster Service Groups [WCYCS-Impact South • Literature Controversy distribution project], Correspondence Groups.

• Spiritual Gifts and Ministries [Great and

Reach Out program in general help Youth to reach others as a friendly church putting Christ’s mission first, inviting all peoples to fellowship and making a difference through service to the community

Every activity in this area [Reach-Out] the target or the Strategic should be:

• To refocus every member, church employee and entity on the mission of the Church as our first priority • To clearly state, reinforce and promote an understanding and enthusiasm for our distinctive Adventist message and mission

• To utilize available electronic, print and visual media to share the message and fulfill the mission of the Church • 4. To develop the desire and capacity of everyone to share their faith and serve others

• To actively nurture the reputation of the church and its associated entities in the community • To build the capacity of all entities to understand and respond effectively to the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of their communities

• • To develop a culture that values meeting human needs in the community To extend the range of services that provides support, nurture and healing for the needy effective

OTHER YOUTH ACTIVITIES Fellowship Features

• • • • • Society Social Gatherings Senior AY Couples’ Club Camps Young Senior Singles Club Retreats Recreational Occasions; Married singing festivals, hikes, excursions (to the hills, Woods, swamps, seashore, to study birds, trees, insects, and to places of historical interest).

ADVENTIST YOUTH MEETINGS

Types of AY Society Spiritual Meetings

There are various types of AY Society Spiritual meetings:

The regular weekly meeting.

Experience meetings, when opportunity is given to various bands and to individuals to tell the experiences they have had in working for the Master.

Evangelistic meetings

organized and conducted during the AY Week of Prayer or at other times for the purpose of winning the unconverted, careless, and reclaiming deepening the the Christian experience of every member.

Rallies and conventions

in which the home AY Society is host to visiting AY Societies.

• • • •

Congresses and special programs,

such as: Special programs for youth, with the whole church attending.

Special programs for the promotion of some activity of project.

Congresses or youth rallies when AY Societies from several territories meet together.

Special temperance program promoting

Demonstrations

that will teach how to begin a conversation that will lead to Bible studies hold meetings in homes, show slides, distribute literature, sell books, and conduct Revelation Seminars.

•

Investiture ceremonies

,

usually conducted once a year are a type of recognition service where those completing class requirements are awarded certificates and other items that signify reaching a goal.

Think of more Youth Spiritual activities…

The End