'Rock' 2009 -- Mission Accomplished!
"Mission Possible" was the theme that inspired more than 6,500 youth and their chaparones (including a mix of 22 from GSUMC) when they gathered at the Ocean City, MD Convention Center Jan 30 - Feb 1, 2009 for a good ol' revival.
"Everything is Possible with Jesus," said Conference Council on Youth Ministries President Lauren Stitzlein. The youth responded with shouts and applause that grew even louder when the rock band 'Stellar Kart' began to play.
"The God of the Universe was waiting for you to come here today," said Bishop John Schol. "God loves you deeply!"
Throughout the weekend, 'Stellar Kart' shared the stage with the Gospel group 'Youthful Praise' and evangelist Reggie Dabbs, a virtual motivational superstar of religious revivals.
On Saturday evening, Dabbs called upon the youth to open their hearts to God. "You're not listening to somebody who's perfect. I was a mistake," said Dabbs, who's mother was a prostitute, selling her body for money and drugs.
At every turn, Dabbs encouraged the kids to choose life -- abundant life! "This is your defining moment. You gotta let go, and let God in. You're not born to live in sorrow," Dabbs told the teeming (or was it "teen-ing") crowd. He then invited the mothers and chaperones in the crowd to embrace the youth, many of whom collapsed in tears and emotion.
As the band played, Dabbs issued an altar call. About a quarter of the youth in the Convention Center joined him in praying "Jesus, come into my life. Be my Lord, be my savior." Many came forward to to "become free" and "accept the joy of the Lord."
From the wings, Tom Price, the B-W conference youth Director watched and his "heart was overwhelmed," he said.
"When I see in that one moment that the youth stood, the incredible depths of suffering and boldness it took to stand up, I am just in awe! And then, when you feel the peace of God begin to spread among the crowd, when you see the mothers becoming the arms of God to hold (their) children -- it's being in the presence of God. God is here!"
"Mission Accomplished," I suppose one could remark!!
GSUMC Contingent
Youth:
Casey, Kayla, KP, Duns"Tina", Hank, Ben, Ezinne, Nnamdi, Denzel, Bill. Joyce, Valerie, Junior, Femi, Joel, Chika
Chaperones:
Brian Rossbert, Phillip Palmer, Sr., Kimberlee' Broadie, Priscilla Ugoji, Stacey Matthews, Christiana Campbell
On May 23 the Youth hosted a spaghetti dinner / karaoke-singing fundraiser to benefit "Nothing But Nets". Each dinner served covered the cost of a life--saving malaria net for this very unique project. Over $1,350 was raised!!
Spurred by a May 2006 editorial in Sports Illustrated by former SI columnist Rick Reilly, "Nothing But Nets" is a grass roots effort to supply simple insecticide-coated nets to drape around sleeping areas. According the World Health Organization, upwards of 3,000 children die EVERY DAY in Africa due to malaria -- an otherwise beatable disease. As Reilly wrote, "that's a 9/11 every day!" Some nets can cover an entire family, and the nets last upwards of four years. They cost $4 to $6, and $10 total will buy the net and get it shipped overseas. We are still taking contributions. To contribute: Contact Kimberlee Fisher or Priscilla Ugoji through the church office
