KPC YOUTH MINISTRY

SUPPORTERS’ LINK

August 2006

Links

KPC Website

The Team

OUR MISSON is

to TOUCH the lives of unbelievers,

to RECEIVE them into God’s family,

to TEACH them Jesus’ ways,

to help them SERVE one another,

so as to GLORIFY God together, forever!

Worshipping our Lord!

Shooting hoops

Searching for clues

Taking a break in MRT

Contacts

Presbyterian youths unite!

Dear Parents and Friends,

Thank you for your generous donations in support of the Synod Youth Ministry Adventure Race in aid of Presbyterian Community Services. To date, you’ve contributed $1368 is cash and $425 in pledges. The youths did their part too by participating in the race. Really, it is a truly encouraging sight when Presbyterian youths from all round Singapore unite! (Photos at the side!)

In this newsletter, I would like to share with you:

(a) Perspectives: Devotional Times For Families

(b) Events Forecast: Highlights for August and beyond

(d) Highlight: Faith Factor (Saturday) Trial on 2^nd September 2006

Yours Sincerely,

Pastor Kuo Yung

DEVOTIONAL TIME FOR FAMILIES

I could not over-emphasise the importance of family devotional times on the spiritual development of youths. I have heard and experienced, time and again, spiritually matured Christians who have benefited from family devotional times when they were youths.

Recently, I have seen on TV an interview with a Taiwanese doctor who became famous due to his sacrificial services offered to third world countries. In the interview, he said that his family meets regularly for devotion and that is where he developed his desire to make a difference in this world.

In my ministry, I too have the privilege of getting to know some youths (in KPC as well as my previous churches) who have regular devotions at home with parents and family members. So far, my personal experience is that 100% of these youths demonstrated maturity in their Christian walk.

I could think of some obvious benefits for youths to share a common devotional time with family members:

· Youths will get an idea of how to do personal devotion with God;

· Youths will be encouraged to rely on God just as their parents have relied on God;

· Youths will be motivated to seek God further in their lives when they are ministered through this devotional time.

So, have you been blessing your youths with regular family devotions? I know it’s a little awkward to mention this topic at this stage because if you’ve yet to establish this habit at home, it’ll be tough to start suddenly. But unless you have some genuine reasons why you should not have family devotion time, why not decide to start now and discover the blessings it’ll bring to your family?

All it’ll need is (a) everyone present, and (b) a Bible!

If you sense some obstacles to having a family devotion but you desire it, why not start with prayer to God about this matter? Then allow God to walk with you step by step in overcoming these obstacles. God who loves to fellowship with us will certainly help us.

I have much to share about this topic but if I say some more, I’ll be construed as “naggy”. So, I’d rather end off by sharing my personal experience.

I have 3 kids (aged roughly 1, 3 and 5) and 1 wife (phew!). At the end of each day, the 5 of us would sit together in the children’s bedroom and either my wife or I would read from the kid’s Bible. After that, we’ll take turns to pray (somebody will represent the 1-year-old in prayer using kiddy voice because the baby simply couldn’t talk!). Then the kids will go to sleep peacefully – really, somehow, the 2 older ones are visibly satisfied after the devotion.

I don’t know how long my family can keep up with this practice. But I hope it can be as long as we are staying under the same roof. And since there are many predecessors who have succeeded in this endeavour, I’m certainly not prepared to give up so easily!

All the best, brother (or sister)!

EVENTS FORECAST

Date / Time	Event	Remarks
2 Sep 2006 (Sat) 5pm – 8:30pm	Faith Factor Saturday	This is a trial Saturday program. Hence, no youth program on 3 Sep (Sun)
9 Sep 2006 (Sat) 3pm – 7pm	YLTC - Strategic Planning Session	Youth leaders to plan for the next year
23 Sep 2006 (Sat)	Wedding of Terrence & Khim	Congratulations!

Entire Calendar for 2006

WHERE ARE OUR LEADERS ?

Rest assured MI4 (Mission Impossible – 4 years, 40 to 400 youths) has not been forgotten by the Youth Ministry. On the other hand, this has become the vision and driving force for many of our leaders.

But just the other day, I was wondering to myself, with 400 youths “hanging around”, who are going to provide quality mentoring and pastoral care to them? Who has that kind of spiritual maturity to do the job? Who can be trained? Without proper guidance, 400 youths is a dangerous mob!

My conclusion is this: Every of our 40 youths in KPC now has to be trained into a spiritual leader. Why? Because they are the ones who are the most endowed today. When we bring in new converts, we cannot expect them to mature overnight. But our youths are different. They already have years of Christian training (by their families and the church) behind them. All the ministry needs to do is to polish them and allow them to shine at this opportune hour!

(Of course I may be putting things kind of simplistically, but so long you see my point…)

When I interacted with many of our adult church leaders today, I realised that each of them had played an important part in influencing the youth culture of their own times. I was certainly told (many times by many members) about the wonderful youth ministry in KPC through its 50 years of history.

Now is the time for our youths to make the difference in their generation. They know the needs of today’s youths best. They are at the forefront of the battle. If they’re won for the Lord, equipped and then sent forth, a formidable army they shall be!

Most of us are clearly out of the frontline. But let us be the greatest encouragers for our youths – cheering them when they’re fighting for the Lord and nursing them when they got hurt. I’m looking forward, are you?

(Excuse me for all the “war” metaphors. Certainly no intention of creating more tension in today’s world situation, if I can help it.)

FAITH FACTOR (SATURDAY) TRIAL

Parents please note that there’ll be a trial Saturday program on the coming 2^nd September 2006 (Saturday). This is the first Saturday of their 1 week term break.

The program is as follows:

5pm Singspiration + Message

6pm Small Group Time

7pm Fellowship Dinner

Through this trial, we would like to give the youths a foretaste of the wonderful things to come. (This will also mean that there is no youth program on the next morning.)