CHRIST'S YOUTH IN ACTION
"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants ... " (II Cor 4:5)
JULY 1988
LETTER-FROM '" •• <
THE-DIRECTOR
FOR CHANGING • TIMES • By Mike Joseph, Jr. "There~is a time for everything, . and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build ... ... I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and noth-ing taken from it" (Eccl3:1-3,14)
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veryone experiences changing circumstances. For some it's the end of a semester and time for /"'"'\graduation. Then on to finding a job or reviewing for the Board exams. For others it's back to school, a new semester begins, new teachers, new friends, and a new tuition fee! HURTING INSIDE Many young men and women are overwhelmed by the changes in their life. They have to deal with their moods and emotions. There's often a new "crush" or a break-up with the old one. Even at home there's trouble. Recently a high school teacher
••••••••••••••••••••••• Mike Joseph, Jr., is the Director of Christ's Youth in Action.
told me he was amazed at the increasing number of his students that were coming from broken homes. No wonder so many young people are turning to drugs, alcohol and sex to help them deal with the pressures and difficulties of their changing times. They want to escape by eating, drinking and being merry. The next day they don't die. They just end up having to pay for all of yesterday's bills. Many are angry, rebellious and confused at what's taking place in their lives. They don't know who to trust. They end up isolated, lonely and trying to "make it" on their own. Recently one of our staff related an experience he had at the University of the Philippines. He noticed a young woman who appeared so full of life, eager to be back in school, to party, to have a good time. He found out that day from one of her friends that she had recently attempted suicide. She was happy outside but hurting inside. She wasn't "making it" on her own. MOVING OUT I recently went through some changes in my own life. I t was really nothing more dramatic than changing my place of residence, where I had lived for the past 11 years. But I re-learned some very important lessons about faith in the midst of changing circumstances. In late April we received a call from our gracious landlady informing us that the house we were renting was being taken over by her brother. There were eleven of us men living together at that time; eight (Turn to page 4)
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Greetings in Jesus Christ! We're off to a new semester. The challenges to evangelization are even greater now. More young people are being mesmerized by material goods and satisfied with a lukewarm form of Christianity. An ex-lukewarm friend of mine told me the story of how another Christian shook him out of his complacency. He hadfust brushed off an invitation to a Bible study: with, "1 believe in God. That's enough for me." "So does the devilf" was the rejoinder. "James 2:19 says the devils believe there is one God - and shudder. What makes you diilerent?" My friend began to come to the Bible study. That's a 'great challenge to us Christians: To be different. The scriptural term for that is to be holy .. It's to be set apart, consecrated for God's purposes. Thank God for his Holy Spirit that makes this calling possible.
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1 want to thank Andy Juan, who is moving on to conquer new fields in the business environment, for his five years of faithful service to CYA. He has set a great example of a man who wholeheartedly serves the Lord Jesus. He has affected many lives and we'll miss his joyful presence. But the Lord does need more Christians in the marketplace. Go for it, Andy! . . 1 also want to say good-bye to Syd Calo for his two years of service to CYA. Syd is now working for Morningstar, a Christian organization working among the poor and in rural areas of the Philippines. I'm sure we 'U be seeing more of Syd as the Lord leads 'us to more coOperative works - (Jurn to page 3) .