DUBLIN — What kind of love do you have for God? Is it a “burnin’ love”?
That’s the kind of love Craig Tackett presented to the students from 22 churches who gathered for the Highlands Youth EnCounter on the day after Valentine’s Day.
More than 375 youth and adults from the Highlands Baptist Association and from as far away as Honaker, Salem and Roanoke packed the sanctuary Feb. 15 at Dublin Baptist Church in Dublin for two hours of high-energy worship, led by Tackett and worship band the Jonathan Project.
Youth gathered for YEC at Dublin Baptist Church in Dublin.
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Touching on the familiar story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Tackett highlighted three bold words that these teenagers presented to King Nebuchadnezzar: “God will deliver us, but if not, we will continue to serve and honor God.” Faced with the certainty of death in the fiery furnace, they refused to bow down and worship the king.
Tackett challenged today’s youth to live and love with the full knowledge that God is with them to help them in their struggles, but if not, their faith should not be defeated nor overcome, regardless of their circumstances or outcomes.
In response to Tackett’s invitation, eight students made decisions to become Christians and another 12 acknowledged a calling to Christian ministry and service.
Scott Shartzer, youth minister at Dublin Baptist Church, served as the host and local coordinator for the Highlands Youth EnCounter. Several local churches, including representatives from other denominations, helped plan and implement the event.
“I am very, very pleased with how things turned out,” said Shartzer. “I never could have imagined God would bless us as much as he did. But the greatest part was that eight students gave their lives to Christ and 12 more committed to Christian ministry and service. That’s what it’s all about.”
Dennis Jones, pastor of Dublin Church, shared similar feelings: “This could not have been better, not only for our church but for our area.”
Ivey Adams, a former interim pastor at Dublin Church, was thrilled with the turnout. “There is only one other time that I’ve ever seen this many people in this sanctuary, and that was for a funeral,” he said. “But I knew this was possible. Our September 2008 event gave us the confidence to believe this could happen. This is simply marvelous!”
A part of the renewed vision for Youth EnCounter is to take up an offering at all of the youth-related events sponsored by the Virginia Baptist Mission Board each year — such as Youth EnCounters, Junior and Senior High Weekends, Impact Virginia! — and to dedicate the collective offering to an identified social concern as part of the Virginia World Hunger Offering. For 2009, the identified need is access to clean drinking water around the world.
At the close of the Highlands Youth EnCounter, students viewed a brief video highlighting the scope of the drinking water problem and how they can take part in the solution. The challenge was presented to them that “Change Matters,” and they were encouraged to offer simply the change in their pockets to help dig wells and provide access to clean drinking water both here in the United States and around the world. Students came forward in a time of silent worship to present their change, and an offering totaling over $700 was collected.
The Highlands Youth EnCounter was a great beginning to the new strategy for Youth EnCounter, which is to replace the traditional summer event in Richmond with regional events that bring the Youth EnCounter experience closer to local communities, at less cost, in order to reach more students with the gospel. One of the leaders who brought a youth group to the Highlands event commented that she was impressed that such a high quality event was being offered free of charge in their region.
Six more Youth EnCounter events are scheduled for 2009. Churches are welcome to attend any or all of these events regardless of region. Information about 2009 Youth EnCounter events is available at www.yec.org. to host a Youth EnCounter in your area, contact Ken Dibble at [email protected] or 800.ALL.BGAV (255.2428), ext. 2255.