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Making a Difference ...

We met with our 20 -30 year olds after church yesterday and learned something interesting. After asking what they find most meaningful about church, they unanimously agreed ... it was the opportunities the church offered them to serve others and make a difference.

Read more at: Making a Difference

is Seen in 2018

When I was growing up in the 1950s and 1960's our small church helped assist a missionary in the heart of Africa. His family had been there for a few years and, although our support was modest, we could call this family our own.

he family visited with us once, as I recall, for a weekend and shared stories of people who were no longer cannibalistic in nature but were now loving children of God. But, though spiritually better off, were they actually better off.? They remained in poverty with a life expectancy of about two thirds of that of an American. Of course there was no internet and few televisions or even movie theaters in these poverty stricken regions. So, in the 1950s and 1960s, they did not know the opulent world from which their caring missionaries came.

The family visited with us once, as I recall, for a weekend and shared stories of people who were no longer cannibalistic in nature but were now loving children of God. But, though spiritually better off, were they actually better off.? They remained in poverty with a life expectancy of about two thirds of that of an American. Of course there was no internet and few televisions or even movie theaters in these poverty stricken regions. So, in the 1950s and 1960s, they did not know the opulent world from which their caring missionaries came.

Read more at: Hope is Seen in 2018

An Inoculation of Hope ... Give it a try after Easter. Why is it hard to find hope? Perhaps we need someone to inspire hope in us? Pastor Jada Hodgson writes ... "Sometimes it seems different generations are from different worlds. If Tim and Mattpaul can speak with one another, perhaps we can speak and learn generation to generation... I am grateful for this book. It is a good story, well told and delightfully illustrated." Pastor Dianne Dunne writes ... "The Chest Of Visions is an excellent tool to reach our youth today." "it definitely made her think" "I read this book with a thirteen year old girl and once we were finished I asked her how she felt about our experience. She said it definitely made her think about many things in her own life and in her walk with God." Shirley Johnson, author/reviewer Sept. 19, 2012 No question ... Jesus Christ is our hope but a little inspiration from a messenger of hope can go a long way. A young man Alex, who has written on our blogs, stated at one time "I need an inoculation of hope. He then talks of how members of his youth group are praying for him. Where does he ultimately find his "inoculation of hope"? From reading the story of Mattpaul in "The Chest of Visions". Mattpaul - a young man, whose faith changes his world. Don't miss this opportunity to find an inoculation of hope for yourself. The young man Mattpaul inspired hope in his world. His story will do the same for us. The story is now expanded from Chest of Visions: Secrets of Caperston through Chest of Visions: New Pathways 'Cross Broken Highways. Start with the published book , Click: The Chest of Visions TheChest of Visions: New Pathways 'Cross Broken Highways is available but is not fully published. If you are interested in this follow up to the story, please let us know by writing to: Timferguson@christianyouthgroup.org Billy Graham: Personal remembrances Like many I have had the opportunity to hear Billy Graham preach in person, in my case twice. The first was as a ten year old at the old Madison Square Garden in 1957 with my parents. I recall the music of the 3,000 person choir led by Cliff Barrows, particularly their rendition of "Just As I Am" at the end of Dr. Graham's sermon. I recall feeling the presence of the Spirit of God touching my heart but, as a ten year old with my parent's present, I was hardly ready to take those steps to the floor of the Garden at the call at the end of the service. It was the first time that I clearly understood that our Christian faith was a personal, individual experience not simply a community worship experience with parents and friends at our local place of worship. Of course, the other memory that remains to this day was of George Beverly Shea singing his powerful and moving version of "How Great Thou Art" with the 3,000 person choir backing him up. Though we often sing this song in our worship services today, back in 1957 it was never sung in the Baptist Church on Long Island (New York) which we attended. The church left this song for the crusade and it made it that much more special to hear. " It was the first time that I clearly understood that our Christian faith was a personal, individual experience not simply a community worship experience with parents and friends at our local place of worship." Forty-eight years later my wife and I attended a Billy Graham Service in Queens. New York. It was held on a Sunday afternoon and we were returning from a visit to a Hindu Service at a church a friend of ours attended. We were unaware of the Billy Graham meeting as we travelled to that Hindu service. This was our first visit to a Hindu place of worship and our three hours with a Hindu congregation left us in a contemplative mood. On the way home a billboard on the side of the road announced the service by Billy Graham. We were ready to hear him. Little did we know that this would be the last public sermon that Dr. Graham would preach (At least, as depicted in newspaper reports the next day.) Once again George Beverly Shea sang his version of How Great Thou Art. The topic of the sermon was the story of Noah, how Noah had to make a decision - to obey or not to obey a rather unusual directive from God. Billy Graham did his usual wonderful job of telling this Bible story just the way it was written but with a passion for the Word of God. In the story God, noting Noah's faithfulness, called him to build an ark for his family and all living creatures of the earth. He had to act alone at the instructions of God. The rest of the world was going their own way. The message was a simple one and Dr. Graham asked each of us: have you ever found yourself all alone, taking a stand for what you deem to be correct while being questioned by all others around you. It made me think about times I have taken stands out of faith when logic said otherwise. Not as often as perhaps I should have but there have been times. Those few times resulted in blessings beyond which I could have imagined could occur. Billy Graham was a humble man, giving all the credit for his success to God. His life of commitment is as influential to me as any of his sermons but the two times I heard him, in person, were impactful. We live in troubled times in America. The country is separated into factions that are unbearable to observe. Many, who deem themselves conservative, and many, who choose to follow liberal standards, appear to have less tolerance for each other than at any time during my lifetime. It is a lonely place trying to be the mediator at this time. The mediator is attacked by both sides of the ideological segments of the world. The Christian Church even has become ideological. Perhaps the tragedy at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School will be the moment that people look to those things we can agree upon and focus less upon their differences. The articulated determination of the youth of this country to bring about needed change is commendable. Is there another Billy Graham in this generation? " The articulated determination of the youth of this country to bring about needed change is commendable. Is there another Billy Graham in this generation?" Perhaps the gospel message by Dr. Graham, that touched me as a ten year old, is a message the Christian world needs to hear again. God calls us individually and personally. We all have a choice to respond or not. Respond "yes" and the loneliness we sometimes feel will be overcome by the prayerful inspiration we receive. Tim Ferguson Click: The Challenge that Separates Us We are all reading the debate over gun control spurred on by the horrific murder of seventeen innocent people in Florida Keys. We are issuing a two day report on this matter. Included is a synopsis of the Australian model of gun control including first hand impressions received. Please click: Gun Control: The Whole Story Resources that Reach the Hearts of Youth Books that Teach: The Chest of Visions and Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting (the book) Not the Same Old Done-it-before Youth Meetings: "A God-send" for you! Laura Cooley of St. Paul's Church, Patchogue, NY writes... "Your book is a God-send!! You have laid out in an organized and easy-to-read fashion so many wonderful ideas and activity plans that we will never again feel uncomfortable when getting ready for our next Christian Youth Group meeting. I am new to the role of Youth Group leader and your book gives me confidence that we can indeed succeed with God's help". "Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings" now available for immediate download on Kindle. See more information about Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings. click: Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting (the book)      Christian Youth Ministry Blog: Share Your Thoughts       "With God, anything is possible"      Three Recent Blogs: Stories of Faith, Hope and Love: God's Amazing Call, Challenges Today and Better Than Average Read our blogs ... share your story as I share my story of God's call. Then read how God can make people with average expectations into special people Click: View my Blog !!!!! Share a Story ... We are interested !!!!! **************************************************** Meet youth from the world of Caperston and our own as they correspond. Elizabeth Marie review: "In this book we meet youth from two different worlds...Once I opened this book, I couldn't set it down ... I love this book! I think it's perfect for a youth group read and study." Click: The Chest of Visions           Free Monthly Newsletter     I Want to be Empowered ...    with activities that are both fun                      and faith-based.   "I totally had to get this book" Jo writes regarding Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meetings ... "I think this book is really good and helpful. I first read the online version of the book because I did not want to pay for it. But after reading a couple of program ideas and having a very very successful youth program I totally HAD to get this book. It is well worth the money." Read more reviews like this one by Jo by clicking ... Not the Same Old, Done-it-before Youth Meeting (the book) Try a Christian bookstore from Swiss Valley BooksRace and their other special websites:The Missing Link, Inc. The Missing Link and Children's Chapel Twitter My space Social Networking Links View my Blog Free Blogs by Bravenet.com Jesus calls Christian youth to "Go into the world to preach the gospel" and gives the promise,"I am always with you to the end of the age". Please share with us where you live so that the global community of Christian teens and their youth leaders can become more evident. Are you active in a Christian youth group? Do you have Christian youth activities or entertainment ideas to share. Your shared ideas for youth ministry programs will be featured on our activities page. Help make our Christian youth website truly international!Just click on the Guestmap Icon and let us know who you are and if you have ideas to share. We will get back to you..