youth update

It has been a little while since I last sent out an update on what is happening here in the youth, so it's definitely time because God has been moving!

Six months ago God seemed to suddenly put things into motion. After spending a couple of years involved in the youth work across Extremadura and not seeing much happen, we had a youth event where God poured out his Spirit and gave many of the youth a taste of something that they had never had prior: an experience of a living, powerful, holy God.
In the following six months a number of things have been changing. We are seeing a growing interest for inter-church activities and relationships across the region are growing rapidly, realizing that when there is unity and a heart to see God move... it will happen.
God has brought about some radical changes in the youth leadership across the region. Many who were youth themselves just a couple of years ago now find themselves leading their youth groups and asking how, when and where is God going to move! And at the same time wanting to work together, to be disciples and grow, while not being worried about politics and numbers that so often accompany small churches.

Practically we have been holding an event once a month between four local churches in the area and usually get between 40 to 50 youth along. It has been named "Something more to give" (it sounds better in Spanish). We have times of worship, prayer and seeking God, and of course fellowship. We have a long way to go still but there is an increasing hunger for God and a desire to not settle. There is a lot of discipleship to be done and more and more of them are opening up and saying they want it!

In our church, Comunidad Cristiana de Esperanza (Christian Community of Hope if we were to translate it literally) there has been an increase in numbers which is really encouraging. As little as a year ago we would get anywhere from 2 to 10 youth along to a particular event or normal youth meeting. Currently we usually get at least 12 along each Saturday but sometimes up to 18 if everyone comes. And in those kids there have been some real changes and encounters with God. As well, with Diana and I, we have another girl called Brenda who is about 20 and has been a great help. So not only are we seeing the youth growing but we are seeing God raising up leaders from amongst them!

We just had a youth retreat two weekends ago where from our church we took 19 kids. Again God moved powerfully and many kids were really impacted. Including one from our group who gave his life to Jesus. They are growing a lot and are beginning to get connected into the bigger picture of what God is doing in Spain. They are meeting youth from across the nation and are realizing that there is a lot going on in the kingdom! They are excited and are asking the question, what does it mean to live a life completely given over to God. This question is crucial and so encouraging!

We have a fair bit planned for this year: evangelistic-focused encounters in a few of the villages throughout the region to spread what God is doing, trips to Madrid and other places to continue to connect with and establish relationships with the wider body and see what God is doing on a national level (which seems to be picking up a lot of momentum and I meet and talk with other youth from different places), and many smaller local events to be shared amongst the churches, all with the focus on bringing them together into tighter relationship, seeking God and sharing Jesus with others. All this while beginning to disciple and raise up more leaders as was mentioned earlier!

Please continue to pray for us.
Many of the kids come from VERY complicated backgrounds and nearly every single one in my group comes from a broken home. So baggage is there, but it makes it that much more incredible when God truly does deal with it. (Like he has done in our church leadership team! It leaves you unable to deny the power of God!!)
Also, many churches in the area are very short on resources, so continue to pray that God will provide. Few of the youth I am working with come from financially secure backgrounds and if we are to continue to train them, raise them up, open their worlds to the bigger picture it takes money! There are more and more resources, events, and training centres springing up across Spain and a network is being created. In order to take advantage of these God will have to provide.
That God will continue to give us a hunger and a desire to seek him. And that unity will continue to increase and God will give us similar vision across the region (which I believe he is already doing!)

I'm excited and believe that we continue to be on the tip of so much more! So thanks for all your prayers and support.