By Corey Fields
To some, the idea of 400 junior high students gathered together at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center for a weekend is frightening. To youth workers, it is an opportunity.
The latest opportunity came at Eagle Eyrie on Oct. 7-9, when 528 youth and adults gathered in wet weather for the weekend. The event is sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board's emerging leaders team.
The theme at this year's conference was “My Identity,” and the goal was to have every student leave with a better sense of what that identity is. Much of the time, students hear what they are not. This conference aimed to help them see what they are-a unique creation of God-made for an awesome purpose.
Tierce Green of Dallas, a full-time musician and speaker, served as both the worship leader and speaker for the event.
Green began on Friday night with a message on Lazarus, helping students latch on to the concept of “taking off the grave clothes.” At the end of this message, Green left small strips of fabric on the stage. He told students to come and take one-if they wanted to-as a reminder that they, too, have some “grave clothes” they may need to shed.
One of Green's main themes was “Identity Theft,” referring to the way in which Satan will try to take away what God has intended us to be. He spoke to issues such as temptation, sexuality and treating the body as the “temple of God.”
Students attended special interest conferences of their choice over the weekend. Youth ministers and others from across the state led students through Bible studies that highlighted the unique identity of different biblical characters and how they allowed themselves to be used by God. This was an attempt to show students that there is no one way to be a Christian-they don't have to change who they are or be a perfect person to follow Christ. Students attended tracks such as “Jonah: the Un-Prophet” and “Abraham: Holy Interruptions.”
Eleven students selected by their youth leaders attended the “Emerging Leaders Tracks,” Levels 1 or 2. These were designed to help students, identified as emerging leaders, to explore their spiritual gifts (Level 1) and their personality type (Level 2). During these tracks, the students discovered their unique gifts and/or personalities and each made a commitment to put these gifts into action with some sort of ministry project back home. Two of the students shared what they had learned with their peers on Sunday morning.
One of the new aspects of this year's junior high weekend was the opportunity for the adults to explore their calling as well or to hone their leadership skills.
Leslie Straw, adult ministry strategist for the emerging leaders team, led an emerging leaders track for about 10 adults. Straw helped them understand God's call on their lives, what resources are available to them and different avenues in ministry that they could pursue.
Many of the youth ministers and other volunteers participated in training sessions led by Green and Chris Bowers of VIPCare on substance abuse among teenagers and how the church can minister to them.
Over the weekend, 12 students made first-time professions of faith and a number recommitted their lives to Christ. Each student making a profession of faith was given a CD-ROM entitled “The Pursuit,” containing software programs designed specifically for young people making a first-time decision. “The Pursuit” includes a complete copy of the Holman Christian Study Bible, several weeks of daily devotions, a study guide for mentoring and a video explaining baptism.
Special to the Herald
Corey Fields is a ministry intern for the emerging leaders team of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and a student at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond.