Approximately 640 high school students and adults gathered on a warm weekend at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center for Senior High Weekend, March 10-12.
The theme of the annual weekend conference, sponsored by the emerging leaders team of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, was “Narrow Minded,” referring to Jesus' words in Matthew 7.13: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”
Tierce Green from Dallas served as both the worship leader and speaker for the event, as he also did at Junior High Weekend in October. He shared assertive and biblically-based messages around the theme using attractive multimedia. He talked to the students about the narrow, less-traveled road of following Jesus. He said walking the narrow road means living above negative influences, which is often an unpopular choice.
Students attended special interest conferences of their choice over the weekend. This year, breakout sessions focused on historic Baptist distinctives such as soul freedom and religious liberty. The goal of these sessions was to help students better understand the traditions and values that have shaped their faith. The titles of these sessions tapped into issues in which many senior high students are interested, such as “Do God and Government Mix?” and “Am I Free to Believe What I Want to Believe?”
A total of 55 students — identified by their youth ministers as emerging leaders — attended the special emerging leaders tracks (Levels 1 or 2) during the weekend. These tracks are designed to help students who are sensing a calling to ministry (or who have special gifts in leadership) explore their spiritual gifts (Level 1) and their personality type (Level 2) and how each of these helps one to discover ministry opportunities in the spiritual discernment process. During these tracks each student made a commitment to put these gifts into action through specific ministry projects to be implemented at home. Specific projects ranged from starting a neighborhood Bible study to adopting a grandparent. Four of these students shared what they had learned during the closing Sunday morning worship.
On Saturday afternoon, the students participated in a contemplative prayer service, a completely new element introduced to the conference this year. In a relaxed, meditative atmosphere, students were led through an interactive time of prayer and reflection. The service was visual and participatory and included videos and worship music. Students were asked to remain silent throughout the service as they prayed about things personal to them: friends they care about; people with whom they were angry; their relationship with God.
There were several learning opportunities for adults during the weekend as well. Many of the youth ministers and other volunteers participated in special training sessions led by Chris Bowers of VIPCare on substance abuse among teenagers and how the church can minister to them. Leslie Straw, adult ministry strategist for the emerging leaders team, led a session for adults who may be sensing a calling to ministry themselves. Greg Alexander, collegiate/
young adult ministry strategist led a session with adults on Sunday morning to share with them his vision for the future of collegiate ministry and how churches can partner with the emerging leaders team to enable students to connect to Baptist collegiate ministries across Virginia. Alexander also talked to seniors at the weekend conference who are graduating this year and will communicate with collegiate ministers on the campuses where these students will be attending next fall.
In all, a total of six first-time professions of faith were made and 15 commitments to full-time Christian ministry along with a large number of other spiritual decisions. Each student making a profession of faith was given a CD entitled “The Pursuit,” containing software programs designed specifically for young people making a first-time spiritual decision. Students making a commitment to Christian ministry were given “The Discovery,” a CD containing mentoring guides, vocational resources, Bible studies and more. Both of these resources are also available as a free download at www.vbmb.org/emergingleaders.