Saturday Night

Hey guys! Guess what?... It’s Prayer Culture TIME!! Kickin’ off tonight's service was a clip from the new Young Believers Broadcast episode, called Life Support, which consist of a testimony from a second year leader named Brieanna. Following that powerful video, a slam poetry group called Speak came on to minister about the power of your words. Pastor Andrew and the prayer culture team took the floor from there and kicked us off with some high jumpin’ praise! Pastor Peter came on stage to minister and by the leading of the Holy Spirit started calling out and pouring into the camper intercessors. The service followed with some spirit led testimonies, campers being filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, and a beautiful prayer altar where everyone had the chance to come to the altar and receive prayer from the Texas Bible Institute students. Then to wrap up the service, Pastor Andrew and the praise team did what their best at, ended us with some awesome praise! Always a great service when it starts and ends with praise.

That is all we have for tonight as far as service but some fun activities are taking place outside like tournaments, sports and of course some great food. See you tomorrow morning bright and early!

Renee' V.

 

The Brew

Hey guys i'm here at The Brew with Pastor Andrew and a bunch of youth leaders here at Youth Spring Retreat. Pastor Andrew started off this session by saying that everyone needs a team, because teams are a big deal.  First thing to ask yourself is what kind of team do you need?  Well here are some FACTS about building teams.

F- Frame up our teams.
A- Attitude that is always winning, always ready, and always available.
C- Communication.
T- Train your teams.
S- SUCCESS.

To frame a team leaders need to see past the present and see the potential of that person's future. There is something that everyone can do, you need people on your team who can fill each spot. Youth don't need a cure but they need a cause.

As far as attitude goes the first thing we always do is we always smile and the second thing we always do is we pick up trash. It is an important thing to be a good steward of God. Always reach out to people. Always jump in. Always call people by their names. Your attitude will determine your altitude.

Communication can be seen in the way that everything happens from the inside out. If your team is not working properly then your service will not work properly. Find what works and stick with it. Make sure you have the support structure in place. The higher the building goes up the deeper the foundation is.

When training your team, remember that training is teaching not telling. Make sure to create tasks and checklists. If excellence is all you do it's all you'll be known for.

Lastly to have great success is to know that teams have a leader and leaders make the decisions. Teams decide how to take the hill leaders decide what hill to take. If you can keep momentum, you will keep moving.

Well this class has been amazing. It is now time for dinner and then Prayer Culture service so I will see you guys then.

Renee' V.

Saturday Afternoon

Hey Youth Spring Retreat! Are you all ready for Luminate? I'm so excited to hear this awesome bunch of guys, Sam, Dusty, Dustin, and Cody that make up a band called Luminate. They kicked off the concert with a song called 'Innocent.' “We are, We are, We are innocent!” Next they played my favorite one which is called 'Come Home.' Very popular on christian radio you may know it goes like this "So you've been running, searching for something, but you're looking in a place you don't belong, it's never too late, you can't outrun Grace, no mercy doesn't care what you've done, so come home." Shine, “love is an action” came up next and I love that title because love really is an action and not just a word or feeling. “Love is an action and it starts with a passion.”

Yet another powerful song 'New Beginnings' came up next; "So here's to new beginnings." Then they played a song called ‘Fearlessly’; It's saying don't be afraid of fear and don't be afraid to move just go on fearlessly.

Such amazing lyrics!

They played many, many more songs to close the concert with; but OVER ALL not only was the music amazing and the lyrics powerful, but the anointing of the Holy Spirit fell like no other!

Well guys that was such an amazing concert. I hope you enjoyed every bit of it as I did but it's not completely over just yet they are going to be out signing some autographs and taking picture so you know where I'm going to be. See you next service!

Renee' V.

Saturday Morning

Good morning guys! Are you all awake? Well you should be now because this morning service started off with a holy ghost party in praise. Fred came up to host the retreat and open up in a word of prayer. Party Patrol then came up to play a game with the campers called In A Minute; you play by acting out stunts in a minute. Today’s stunt was to drink a can of coke enough so that you're able to balance it on your side.

Now it's time for 'The Road To Forgiveness." Lindsey Orlando who is a second year leader came to preach The Word of God this morning. She had explained on how when she was young she had been sexually abused. Her first point was that you have to learn to forgive others just as it says in Colossians 3:13. It may sound a little harsh but it is needed; just let it go and walk it out. Chose a higher road for yourself, don't turn back just keep walking forward.
The second point she gave was that you not only have to forgive others but you have to forgive yourself. There is a quote she then gave that really hit home for me and that quote was "to forgive is to set a prisoner free and that prisoner is you." That just gave such great revelation. Forgiveness is a choice. You can chose not to forgive and walk down a path way that is going to be hard. Heartache after heartache and hurt after hurt, or you can be like Jesus and just forgive. Ultimatly forgiveness is not for the other person but forgiveness is for you. Psalm 103:12 says "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." We can live in joy and happiness but it is a choice. The Lord wants you happy and he doesn't do anything to harm you. Just as John 10:10 says "It is the thief that comes to kill, steal and destroy. I came so that you may have and enjoy life more abundantly." It is so much easier to walk down 'The Road of Forgiveness." It may be hard and difficult at first but once you get through it you will see that this road is much easier than the road of unforgiveness.

That was such an amazing word. Next some of the students gave a skit called 'The Wrap Group.' Basically about a Support Group called Popaholics Anonymous, and all their endeavors that followed them, it was so funny! Yasmin then came on to give a very powerful testimony.

Well this concludes the service for this morning but it's not over yet Luminate is up next to give us an awesome concert. I'll see you guys then.

Renee' V.

Friday Night

What's up Youth Spring Retreat?!?! Are you guys ready for this weekend? I know I am! Well lets dive right into service! It kicked off tonight with a band called Rebirth and they sure got the house jumping. Pastor Mark came on stage to greet everyone and introduce the retreat. Pastor Gabe and the Praise Team ministered next and opened up with a song 'Oh Happy Day.' Pastor Rachel then came on to greet the camp and introduce Matthew Heaton who is the speaker for tonight, he is one of the second year leaders who attends Texas Bible Institute. Then another one of the students, Cheyenne, came up and gave her testimony on how Jesus has restored her relationship with her dad and is working in her life still today. Worship in Color came to minister up next, this is a group that ministers through the art. Next a student named Jimbo came on to give his testimony which was very powerful he talked about how Jesus broke additions in his life. The worship team came up and opened up everyone's hearts for tonight to get ready for what they needed to receive for tonight.

Matthew Heaton came and delivered The Word of God. The title of his message tonight was "Who is my neighbor?" Reading from the book of Luke from the parable of the good Samaritan. A lawyer had asked Jesus what he needed to do to please God, and he answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.' What does that mean exactly? Well it means exactly what it says. The Good Samaritan saw a man in need and had the heart to help him. What did he do?

6 way the Samaritan Showed Love:
1. He personally helped him
2. Eased his pain
3. Gave him his own goods
4. Sacrificed his own contort
5.Provided basic necessities
6. Looked after him personally

6 Ways Jesus Shows Love:
1. He wants to help us personally
2. He can and wants to ease your pain
3. He gave what He had; His life
4. He died on a cross who bore pain so we didn't have to
5. He has given us His word to apply to our lives to live by
6. He wants to take car of you and have a relationship with you

He was not only open hearted to serve but he was prepared to serve. Showing love to one's neighbor is putting love into action and it requires time and energy. His challenge tonight was to let your actions be lead by compassion. Who is the Good Samaritan? Jesus is the Good Samaritan because He doesn't want you to hurt. He gave up everything He had so that we could have life more abundantly in Him. Love is not just an idea of feeling towards God but it is an action.

Then the salvation took place. This is my favorite part of the service because this is what the service is all about. The altar was packed and many said yes to Jesus tonight.
Well I'm headed off to hang out with these guy so I'll see you all tomorrow morning.

Renee' V.