Tag: youth

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INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION

If we don’t invest in the next generation, someone else will.

CBS News reported a few years ago that advertising budget that was poured into marketing to the next generation grew as the years went by.

In 1983, it was a mere $100 million.
By the time 2007 hit, it ballooned to a whopping $17 billion.

Advertisers and companies seemed to think it was worth their money because research tell us (www.globalissues.org) that teens spend about $160 billion for their gadgets, clothing, food, games among many other things. Those who are in their “tweens” (8-12 year olds), spend about $30 billion. Those who are under 12, influence their parents to spend about $670 billion per year.

If Nike, Xbox, and Mcdonalds see this, why can’t we?

We obviously don’t have the billions they have, but we have a gospel that is powerful to make a difference not just for a game or two, or for a year or two, not even for a decade but for all of eternity.

Hannah prayed to have a son and God granted her request in 1 Samuel 1.

What can we learn from her story?

1. Pray for the next generation.

Hannah prayed to the Lord for Samuel.

We need to pray for the next generation. With all the bombardments from all sides, growing up in this environment these days can be challenging.
We need to pray that they will hear meet God early in life and desire to live for Him the rest of their lives.

2. Prepare the next generation.

Hannah waited until Samuel was weaned.

Time will come that we will have to release the next generation to fight their own battles.
We cannot always be there and we should not even try.
Not letting them fight their battles will end up emasculating them.

Our goal is to see them become less dependent on us and more dependent on God.

3. Mentor the next generation.

Hannah found someone who can mentor Samuel with her – Eli.

We need to see the value of multiple anchors.
It’s nice to dream that our kids will always hear what we say.
But input from others in invaluable.

I’m thankful for David, Rich, Joey and Joe who have mentored my son Nathan all through these years.
I’m grateful for Rica, Dar, Carla who have taken time to impart faith and life into the life of my daughter Janina.

Raising the next generation is so much better when we have partners who can help us.

Oh another thing, it is also great to bring our children into an environment where they can encounter God, hear the gospel of Christ and receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Our kids ministry at Victory Fort recently had their Camp Equip for the pre teens and it was absolutely powerful.
Watch the video below.

 

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WHY GO TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

Why do we need to go to the next generation?

Joseph Bonifacio, in the closing session of the Every Nation World Conference, shares his thoughts.

“Our God is a multi-generational God.”

God’s promises are multigenerational.
God’s commands are mutligenerational.
God’s plans are multigenerational.

And that goes with His very nature. When you look at the Trinity, you see the Father in adoption, the Son in redemption and the Holy Spirit in sanctification.

Because God works multigenerationally, this gives us an example to follow.

“I am nobody without my dad. I don’t resent my father because he casts a big shadow. I thank Him for the shade.”

We have thousands of preachers but very few fathers.
We have 10,000 podcasts but few fathers.

That’s why when someone approaches us for correction, we end up getting offended. Offense alienates us.

There are those who don’t like correction. They end up with an independent spirit saying, “I’ll just go do my own thing.”

However, correction is critical. People who are not corrected, they are called something – orphans.

The prayer? As Jesus prayed in John 17:20, “may they be one as we are one.”

Why do we need to go to the next generation? They need to be fathered. And those who are fathers need the zeal, input and freshness of the next generation.

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MY IGNITE TOP 10

10. OPENING NUMBER

The opening number by Judah Paolo, Quest and Yeng Constantino was one of the best I’ve seen seen in any conference. It was inspiring, explosive and anointed. It was clear that the Holy Spirit was at work through the presentation and that Jesus was glorified.

9. J.S.

The fresh preaching of the gospel of Jesus is always a highlight for me. There’s no other message will match the message of the cross. J.S. represented our delegates from different nations. Watching young people from restricted nations worship Jesus openly is an amazing sight.

8. VIDEOS

From the countdown to the session introductions, our video team poured every drop of their creative juices into these videos. The countdown videos were fun and engaging while the session videos set up the message to help both the speaker and the listener.

7. HALF TIME SHOW

This one you didn’t want to miss. Both day 2 and day 3 half time shows were out of the ball park. Rachel Ann Go, Yeng Constantino, Quest, Christian Bautista gave the students a treat as they sang. The crowd went wild when Boy Pick Up went on stage. It was such an amazing blessing to hear Ogie Alcasid share his journey of faith and walk with Jesus.
6. WORSHIP

No words here. You just have to be there. It’s just plain “whoa!”

And worshipping Jesus with 9,600 students was unbelievable.

The worship team led and God showed up in every meeting. Kudos to the team.

5. LIANE, EDREI, CJ, JIDE

Listening to a young lady preaching the Word was powerful. She was precise, clear and on point. It was inspiring to believe for more powerful preachers like her.

“The situations you are in right now are not mere coincidences; they are opportunities. And when God provides the opportunities, He will also supply the ability.” – Liane Silla

Edrei’s one point really stuck: “Resolve or dissolve? (like sugar in water)” He spoke about Daniel and how he stood for the right thing.

CJ shared a message on sexual purity. It was indeed an apt message for this generation.

“Your purpose is to glorify God with your heart, soul, mind, strength and body.” – CJ Nunag.

Pastor Jide started out the conference with a bang! “If you live a life that is consecrated and concentrated, the world will realize that you are walking with a holy God.”

4. DAN

The man was the message.

He spoke on the life of Ananias.

His one point? “To make disciples, you just have to be a disciple.”

Simple yet powerful.

He lives this one out. Seeing him from where he was before and where he is now is remarkably inspiring.

3. NATHAN

More than being his father, I see a young man who has been rescued by Jesus and now lives his life for Him.

Seeing him share his testimony on standing up for Jesus in the campus was stirring and encouraging (running out of adjectives).

I’ve been in the front row watching God work in his life. My wife and i cannot claim any credit. We’re just thankful for the grace of God.

“My relationship with God is more valuable that any of the temporary pleasures that this world has to offer.”

2. STEVE

The president and founder of Victory, Steve Murrell, shared a classic.

What kept Paul the apostle persevere through the persecutions? THE RACE, THE TASK, THE GOSPEL.

Finish the race. Complete the task. Testify to the gospel.

But more than his 30 minute message, it’s the 30 years of living this out here in Manila.

Thanks Pastor Steve.

1. JESUS!

No other name.

He is the very reason why we even have Ignite Conference.

He is the mover, supplier, influencer, provider, rescuer, the cause and the objective of all that we are and do.

You alone are worthy.

—–

How about you, what was yours? Feel free to add to this list.

For more IGNITE CONFERENCE photos, updates, blogs, podcast and audio remixes, click here.

 

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SNIPPETS FROM THE WORLD PRAYER ASSEMBLY

Quick thoughts and quotes from the World Prayer Assembly Indonesia.

Here are some of the snippets.

To see what you’ve never seen, you’ll have to do what has never been done. (Ed Silvoso)

God has given us the mission mandate and the prayer mandate.
The mission mandate —> Matthew 2818-20. Go and make disciples of all nations.
The prayer mandate —> Matthew 9:38. Pray … to send forth workers… 

This generation has become a fatherless generation.
Today’s modern day orphans are those that are being parented by iPads, cable TV and Facebook. (Jerome Ocampo) 

 

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IGNITE YOUTH CONFERENCE

If you are in high school, college or you have a heart to reach out to the next generation (or even just ‘feeling’-youth), you can’t miss out on this conference.

Ignite 2011 is on May 26-28, 2011.

See you there!

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NARCISSISM AMONG YOUTH

“Believe in yourself.”

“Have faith in yourself.”

“Let the children express themselves and discover the good inside of them.”

These are some of the statements you’ll hear these days.  The intention is pure yet statistics show that this hasn’t been the healthiest trend.

“Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all…” may not necessarily be a helpful statement.

Andrew McAffee wrote an article for Harvard Business Review recently talking about how young people today are getting more narcissistic.  Read his article here.

He mentioned a book by Jean Twenge and Keith Campbell entitled “The Narcissism Epidemic” and quotes an excerpt from the book.

“”We found that… college students in the 2000s were significantly more narcissistic than Gen Xers and Baby Boomers in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. The Boomers, a generation famous for being self-absorbed, were outdone by their children. By 2006, two-thirds of college students scored above the scale’s original 1979-85 sample average, a 30% increase in only two decades… The upswing in narcissism appears to be accelerating: the increase between 2000 and 2006 was especially steep.”

Twenge and Campbell present a lot of evidence that “overconfidence backfires” and that narcissism does not equip people to succeed in today’s competitive world.  They really make good solo performers and make great entrepreneurs because of their high tolerance for risk.  But in most contexts, narcissism is a handicap.  It makes them less valuable professionals and less valued collegues.  In a world of increased team play, the one man show syndrome is not highly valued as we thought it would.

Jesus was right when He said that “to be the greatest, you have to be the least.”  He also said that to lead, you need to serve.

As parents, we need to teach our kids to learn the value of team and serving in that context.
As leaders, we need to exemplify the team spirit and realize I don’t have to be the know-it-all.
As citizens of a nation, lifting others up and putting their needs first may be an ultra revolutionary concept that will take this nation around.

“Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Jesus made it clear that our confidence, our strength and our source has to be Him and Him alone.