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Why We Do Youth Camps

Posted on by zarellano

Why We Do Youth Camps

Bad food, late nights, crazy games, friendships established, encounters with God – it’s youth camp season again. All over the Philippines, our campus ministries are utilizing the summer season to hold these pivotal events that seal the previous school year and jumpstart the next one. Here are some reasons why they’re so important:

Youth camps are always action-packed!

1. Strong Relationships

Whether it’s a camp that’s open to all or specifically focused on the leaders of the campus ministry, one major upside are the relationships developed by the end. There’s just something about staying in the same place, going through those embarrassing games, and worshipping God together that brings young people together.

People who used to feel out of place in the youth service now come alive. Teenagers who were brought reluctantly by their parents leave the camp feeling quite at home. It isn’t uncommon to see people exchanging contact information, writing each other dedications on their notebooks, and promising to meet up soon – even though they’ll see each other within a few days in Manila. Childish sentimentalism? Maybe. Useful for ministry? You bet.

Whether a student joins the camp alone or with friends, at the end of the day he/she will surely go back home with even more friends.

2. Encounters with God

This is a no-brainer, but it should be mentioned anyway. I’m not saying we can’t encounter God anywhere else but there’s something about being out of your usual habit, being in nature, and worshipping God that seems to break through the usual noise of every day life.

I remember being 16 years old, singing a worship song when I suddenly felt a compulsion to get on my knees and cry out to God for the nations. I think I knew then that I would be doing this for the rest of my life. Many people in the Bible, in history, and in our movement have received their calling in similar encounters with God. Church kids who saw Victory as “my parents’ church” now see it as “my church” because of their encounter with God.

Young people falling on their knees as they encounter God in one of their sessions.

3. Faith Building

Camps cost money and one must walk the fine balance of helping out when possible but also encouraging the students to believe God for provision. Many students work, sell, save, and ask to raise the money. In fact, seeing God provide is like the opening salvo to a powerful encounter with God.

Dan Monterde, our campus director and youth pastor in Metro East, had one such encounter. He was new in church and wasn’t sure if he could make it to the camp. He thought, “Pangmayaman lang yan,” until a random church member went up to him and gave him money for registration saying God had led him to do so. That was a powerful lesson for Dan that God was his Father and this Father’s resources were unlimited. There are so many more stories like that and it compounds even more as these recipients of generosity gratefully pass on what they received to another generation.

Joining a youth camp costs. But the experience is priceless.

4. Leadership Development

Running a camp is hard! Securing the venue must be done months in advance – it has to be nearby, affordable, securable, and conducive to all the events. Planning it can be a fruit-testing process because you have to deal with students who change their minds, parents with weird special requests, money concerns, weather changes, bus drivers who are uncooperative, health precautions, etc. And this is all a great time to develop new leaders.

For many student leaders, running a camp is a time when they can get a taste of real campus ministry. We will not shrink back from asking the students to carry heavy loads of responsibility because a.) we really need the help (at least honest), b.) this will propel them to greater maturity, and c.) God has promised to pour out His spirit on them so they can do it!

Future leaders of our nation!

5. Vision for their Campus

No matter the specific purpose of the camp, when you combine the above elements you have a recipe for a passionate campus ministry ready to make disciples in the coming school year. Pastor Ferdie Cabiling used to have us go outside the meeting hall in Caliraya and lie down on the (wet) grass looking up at the stars. He said, “That’s how many people you can disciple, just like God promised Abraham.”

Maybe it’s the “mountain-top experience” where people come from the mountain to go back to the world. Or maybe it’s the company of brothers and sisters encouraging each other that we can go and reach our campuses for Jesus. Or maybe it’s because the stars are just brighter outside of Manila. For whatever reason, when these students have that powerful time with God in the camps they go back to their homes and schools ready to advance God’s kingdom there.

We’re now ready to change our campus!

Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Grateful for this Season

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Top 5 Reasons Why I’m Grateful for this Season

January, February, March…2012.. Time really flies so fast. This season has surely been a blast! I’ve never been this grateful! God has been so good! I can’t thank Him enough for allowing me to experience such new season…new things…new opportunities…new challenges..new endeavor.. and new relationships. And what’s more, it’s just the beginning of the year!

5. Our Student Leaders

I’ve been part of LifeBox since 2009. And for about three years now, I’m blessed to see young people grow in leadership, in character, and esp. in their faith and relationship with God. I’m blessed to witness not just how they have overcome their struggles and problems, but also how they’ve stood the test of character and faith.

Thank you Laurize, J-Ann, Julianne, Chelsea, Dyne, Ivan, Arby, Aik, Gabz, Nadia, Minstrel, Zsariz, Kim, Abet, Josh Supan, Von, Duane, Adit, Joanna, Mona, Airesh, Angel S., Agnes, Manfred, Glenn, Daphne, Zakk, Tatoy, Chris, Raymund, Kyle, Tin, Rachel, Roi, Ness, Charize, Arianne, Carmel, etc. for stepping out in faith and embracing the call of leadership. Thank you for your undying faithfulness in the ministry. You guys are amazing! You are the next world changers! :)

4.  LifeBox

LifeBox exists to prepare students for L.I.F.E. It partners with schools and parents to help students excel in their academics, develop leadership skills, be a positive influence in their community, and pursue a God-centered lifestyle.

And God has blessed us with so many open doors! Strategic and influential Schools and Universities such as Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus, San Pedro College, ACLC, Christian Colleges of SouthEast Asia, Ateneo de Davao University and University of Mindanao have partnered with us in the vision of raising up the next generation of leaders.

Since 2010, we were able to conduct 30 events which includes leadership training, team building workshops and seminars, and retreats with a total of 2,211 student participants.

It has always been a joy to impart “life” to these students!

And thank you to all our ministry partners! These things won’t be possible without your prayers and support!

3. Re-Versed band

I’ve been volunteering in the Music Ministry of Victory Davao since 2001. Since then, music has become part of my passion. I have grown to love worshiping God through playing the bass. And through the years, the dream to share that gift outside the walls of church has been birthing. Come December 10 of 2010, a rare opportunity was given to us (the Music Team) to share that through a gig and thus Re-Versed was eventually formed. What I like the most about this experience is not just the reality of our relationship with one another, but also the opportunity to touch people through our presence and share some positive music in the industry. I’m so grateful to have been given a regular gig in one of the famous places in the city. What a way to be the salt and light in the community!

Thanks Josh Supan, Monica, Jason, Von, Adit, Kuya Tom and Capt Kenny for being my band mates!! You guys are the best!! Lingaw kaayo! :)

Here’s the published Q&A about Re-Versed. Read more…

2. Spiritual Family (friends)

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! (Ecc 4:10).

I will never grow and mature as a person and in my faith in God apart from the spiritual family God has given me. I’ll be forever grateful to the people who believed in me, who stood by me in good times and bad, who made my day so colorful and bright, who inspired me to be the best that I can be, who spoke life to me..

Thank you Ate Mye Nunag, Babes Bato, Maya Reynoso, Michelle Astudillo-Compton, Chryso, Zi F., Glenda, Vee, Ate Joyce Q., Julie K., Tita Vicky, Ate Recs, Tita Bing G., Pastor Alvin, Pastor CJ, Jeremy, Tyrone, Peds, Jaydee, Auggie, Kuya Tom for all the prayers, mentoring, encouragement and impartation!

To my true friends Marlou, Von, Adit, Niel, Arianne Chu-Caringal, Ana, Ems, Liezel, Nikki, Jade, and other singles.. Thanks for all the fun and for sharing your lives..

And to my best and close friends Jade Ann V., Reinalyn, Monica and Weng.. Thank you for making me laugh again! And for inspiring me to be the best that I can be and to live my life to the fullest!

It’s more fun to be in this spiritual family! Grateful! Grateful! Grateful!

1. Family

I’m so proud to be part of the Arellano family! I super love our family! Sunday lunch and dinner times with our family have been one of the highlights of my week! I’m surely blessed with such talented, skillful, loving, and passionate people who have a big heart for the community and for this nation!

I love you all! Especially to my Mom and Dad! Thank you for being our parents! You folks are the best!!

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:5

“How do we like to be treated?”

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“How do we like to be treated?” read on..

The Right Thing 101 By John C Maxwell

A few years ago, I published a book called Ethics 101. In it, I proposed that ethics was not a changeable thing, based on your situation or personality or industry. Instead, I explained that I believe that ALL ethics boils down to one thing: The Golden Rule.

Essentially, asking the question, “How would I like to be treated?” is an integrity guideline for ANY situation.

Think about it: How DO we like to be treated?

1. We want to be valued.

Did you know that in the American marketplace today, 70% of those who leave their jobs do so because they do not feel valued? Don’t you want others to accept you for who you are and show you through their actions that you matter?

Valuing others, not for what they can do but simply because they are human beings, is the foundation of ethics.

2. We want to be appreciated.

Closely related to the need to be valued and loved is the desire to be appreciated for what we can do. Don’t you want to excel and achieve? Knowing that what you do matters builds your self-confidence and self-worth.

How do we express appreciation? Begin by thanking people at every opportunity. Give credit to others. And make a point of praising people in the presence of those close to them, like family members. Broadway producer Billy Rose shrewdly observed, “It’s hard for a fellow to keep a chip on his shoulder if you allow him to take a bow.”

3. We want to be trusted.

George MacDonald said, “To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” Think about it: Good marriages, business relationships, and friendships all require trust. Without it, you don’t have open and honest communication, and the relationship can be only temporary.

It takes a leap of faith to put your trust in another person, especially someone you don’t know well. But as Henry L. Stinson said, “The only way you can make a man trustworthy is by trusting him; and the surest way to make him untrustworthy is to distrust him and show your distrust.”

4. We want to be respected.

When others trust me, I receive responsibility and authority. When others respect me, it touches something deeper within me. It gives me dignity and builds my confidence. As Arnold Glasow said, “The respect of those you respect is worth more than the applause of the multitude.”

The respect of a leader gives people the freedom to perform at their best and the incentive to work with excellence. I can’t think of a more positive working environment.

5. We want to be understood.

Charles Kettering said, “There is a great difference between knowing and understanding. You can know a lot about something and not really understand it.” Likewise, we can know a lot about a person and still not really understand them or why they do what they do.

But the desire to be understood is so strong that many disagreements can be resolved simply when one party (or both) gets the sense that they’ve been understood.

Understanding others means extending yourself and meeting them where they are. You must put the burden of connecting on yourself, not on them.

6. We don’t want others to take advantage of us.

We can cut through almost all of the ethical and moral dilemmas of life by observing this principle with others. If anyone could interpret what I do as taking advantage of them, then my actions are probably a bad idea.

What do you think of the needs listed above? Did I miss anything? And just for the sake of discussion, let me pose a question you can answer in the comments:

Describe a situation in your past in which a person in authority expressed value, appreciation, and respect for you. Why does that instance stand out to you? How did you respond?

Find more on ethics for all areas of life in Ethics 101.

—————–

John C. Maxwell is an internationally respected leadership expert, speaker, and author who has sold more than 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 126 countries worldwide. Each year he speaks to the leaders of diverse organizations, such as Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments, the National Football League, the United States Military Academy at West Point, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader.

Parenting: Train a child in the way he should go..

Posted on by zarellano

CUSTOMIZED PARENTING by Steven Furtick

I was recently meeting with a pastor and he shared an idea about parenting from the verse that’s been read at probably every baby dedication or parenting series you’ve ever been to:

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6

He told me that in the Hebrew, it literally translates “Train a child according to his way.” I checked it out and it’s legit.

The implication is that this verse isn’t simply about giving our children good structuring or sound instruction. Or negatively, about training them up to go in the way we desire. It’s also about customizing our approach to our children based on their unique DNA and gift set.

Many people are familiar with strengths-based leadership and the fact that the most effective leaders are those that focus and invest in their people’s strengths. But fewer people realize that this applies to our first and primary sphere of leadership: our families. And specifically, our children.

Instead what often happens is that we think a one-size fits all approach will work for every child everywhere, including ours. Or that the goal of parenting is to produce a well-rounded individual, so we focus on making their weaknesses mediocre rather than their strengths phenomenal. Or worse, we want our children to have our strengths, or ones we wish we had.

The problem is that your child is unique on purpose. They have their own God-given strengths and aptitudes. And it’s these that you need to call out and encourage.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: Mediocrity is mass-produced. Destiny and excellence are custom designed.

The catch is that’s not only true with you. It’s also true with your children.
You are a peculiar person. There will never be another you.
But your child is also a peculiar person. There will never be another of them either.

God doesn’t intend for your child to be like everybody else. He already had everybody else when He made them. There’s something unique in your child. Something special. Significant. God has a calling on their life. There are exceptional abilities that only they have.

Your role as a parent is to identify and maximize them. Not change them or flatten them out. Or accommodate them to yours.

Train up your children in their strengths and they will discover the purpose for which they were created. And when they grow up, they will not depart from it.

———-

Steven Furtick is the Senior Pastor of Elevation Church.