YOUTH ON FIRE FOR CHRIST

It is no secret that deep in the heart of Pastor Earl Baldwin there is a soft spot for Ebenezer’s youth. He has seen the progress of the youth choir and has exclaimed "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke 2: 29-30.

It is out of this love for the youth that the idea for the “YOUTH EXPLOSION” was conceived.  They are now in charged of the Sunday night services. This idea was in response to the lack of interest by the general church body and a poor response to the Sunday night worship service.

Such a high risk decision was rooted in faith and the fact that there is a growing population of talented youths in the church who are full of leadership ability but not actively involve in the ministry of the church, other than being members of the youth choir, which rehearses on Friday nights and who participates in the Adventist Youth program and a very small percent in the Drum Corps.

The purpose of the program, therefore, serves as a means of preparing our youths for ministry, providing them with a platform for leadership, acting as a haven from idleness, and encouraging an occasion for which through positive interaction youths can win others to Christ.

The goal is to stimulate spiritual growth and maturity, as well as to empower our youths to use their talents for God through singing, preaching, signing, or just taking part in the service. This objective is ensured through a weekly preacher’s class on Fridays starting at 6:30 P.M. The classes are conducted by Pastor Baldwin. Here the youths receive the necessary skills in sermon preparation and delivery in a simple and effective manner that even the smallest child can understand. They also are encouraged to share their talents and time. It is through these sessions that the name “Youth Explosion” was selected.

To-date the program is a huge success. The preacher’s class serves approximately 8 youths consistently every week, with more expressing interest each week. This success is seen every night when close to 50 individuals show up each night for the service. One shining example of God's blessing on this program was seen during the third session when approximately 70 members, the majority youths, came out on a “Super Bowl” night for “Youth Explosion.”

Each night God's presences is felt, especially when one of the youth preachers, an eight year old boy consistently writes his own messages, makes suggestion for the success of the program and even delivered his maiden message which was right on target for youths who are struggling with obedience. He called it "Easy Street Is the Way to go."  Following Jesus is indeed easy street.

With God's blessings this initiative continues to grow, the underlying attitude is, come rain, snow or social distraction, God's work must go on." Invitations are being extended to surrounding churches and the welcoming responses are being received from Beulah  Seventh-day Adventist Church in Flatlands to Lebanon SDA in Queens. Without a doubt, God's youths wants something better to do on their Sunday nights and they have planned to use this night to spread their influence and Love for God. May God's name be praised.

By Randall Scipio, Coordinator of Youth Explosion

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