Volume 12, Issue 1
n From the Editor’s Desk Greetings to you! The Impact team is pleased to reveal to you our new look. This is in an effort to engage you, our readers; to encourage you to make strides in service, in spiritual growth and in sacrifice; and to enable you to make a positive impact on those around you. Feel free to interact with this material. Share it everywhere you go, and be an agent of change in this economically, socially, and spiritually challenged world. To live is Christ!
Yours faithfully, Donna-Lee Thomas
What’s Inside?
Let’s Do It!: YD Objectives 2015-2017
2
JBUYD Conference and Rally 2015
3
What’s the JBUYD, Anyway?
4
Speak it! Believe it! Live it! The Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department (JBUYD) has chosen for the 2015-2017 period the theme, ‘Living the Sacrificial Life: Speak It, Believe It, Live It’, and the Scripture focus Galatians 2:20. To live the sacrificial life means to die to oneself, one’s desires, one’s ideas and notions of life and to live life the way Jesus did: by faith. The sacrificial life is by no means a passive life. Neither is it lonely nor destitute. In fact, living the sacrificial life is a day by day choice to commit one’s self to God and allow His will to be done. Speak it! We should show others how to live the sacrificial life, declaring that it is possible and speaking it into being. The sacrificial life calls for an understanding of what it’s all about; so as to be a greater witness to others. It is a call to our youth for deeper study of this kind of life.
...And As Always
The Right Angle
2
Take the Challenge
2
To Your Health
3
Thy Kingdom Fun
3
Make a Note
4
Two-year theme logo (2015-2017)
Believe it! In living the sacrificial live, we should trust God to help us in our endeavours.
To live the sacrificial life means to die to oneself, one’s desires, one’s ideas and notions of life and to live life the way Jesus did: by faith. We must believe that it is possible, and even more so believe that others have also lived it based on the Word. Without faith it is impossible to please God. When the deeper study of the sacrificial life is done, it will bring to light persons who lived sacrificial lives and show how God honoured their faith in Him. Live it! Being equipped with the knowledge of what the sacrificial life is, we may speak about it and fully trust that God is able to help us live the sacrificial life. Once we can speak this, live and believe it, we have no choice but to live it out. It is indeed a life that is possible to live, and one that we are called to live daily. Will you join the JBUYD on this journey of living the sacrificial life by speaking it, believing it and living it? renew
Page 2
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department |
The Right Angle CONTRIBUTED: Rev. Davewin Thomas
Scripture: Philippians 1:21 Phil. 1:21 captures the essence and meaning of what living the sacrificial life is all about. It tells of a life whose purpose is Christ and a life whose passion is to see to it that the message of Jesus Christ is taught, preached and lived out before all peoples. This means that the life of the believer is pledged to enable the mission of Jesus to be carried out in its fullness. Living the sacrificial life is often counter -cultural inviting trials, temptations and persecutions as the believer rallies against the forces of evil that seek to oppose the work of Jesus. However, it is also a life filled with numerous opportunities for worship and service and guarantees the rewards of peace, joy and hope that sustain and propel the follower of Christ to live a rich and full life. renew
Take the Challenge! Are you living the sacrificial life? You can start today by calling a friend and tell them or explain to them what it means to live the sacrificial life based on Galatians 2:20. This simple exercise will lead you to put others above yourself, and by doing that you will receive a spiritual blessing. Taking the time to call someone and explain a principle of God’s word is putting value on their spiritual growth and development; which in turn helps your own spiritual growth and development. reach
Let’s Do It!: YD Objectives 2015-2017 In keeping with our theme, “Living the Sacrificial Life: Speak it, Believe it, Live it”, the Youth Department has five main objectives that we would like to see met for the period 2015-2017. In this issue of Impact we will share with you two of these objectives: To increase the number of Baptized youth in each local
church by at least 50% over the next two years. To increase the number of attendees to the National Youth Conference to 150 by 2017. Remember, JBU is YOU, and we want you to get involved and play your part in helping us achieve our objectives. reach
Volume
, Issue
Page 3
JBUYD Conference and Rally 2015 The year is 2015. The young and the young at heart are traveling great distances to get there. It’s the event we have all been waiting for. Youth Conference and Rally 2015 is where they are headed. Zone 4 competing in Dance
March for Life: Save our Children
The weekend started with a spirit-filled Opening Service that set the pace for what was to come: mission reports from youth who had travelled to Haiti and the nuts and bolts of leadership. Among the weekend’s activities was also a road march under the theme: ‘March for Life. Save our Children’. The youth marched all the way to Duncans’ Square, protesting child abuse, abandonment and neglect.
All roads led to Ocho Rios on Saturday, November 21 for Rally, and there was no need for passports at this time. The five Zones were ready to compete in Dance, Bible Quiz, Rhythm Piece, Chorale Singing and Sports. Zone Two, however, claimed the victory as the overall winners. Last year’s Conference and Rally was indeed superb. What will it be like this year? You will have to come and see. So book your tickets early, make sure your visa and passport are up to date and make your reservations now for November 24-26, 2016. It promises to be bigger and better than before. It’s #AllOrNothing. rejoice
To Your Health: Protect Your Mental Health Your mind can only take so much before it needs to take a rest. Even so, many do not take care of their minds (Romans 12:2); and will often give their physical health more precedence. Here are some tips to prevent yourself from having an emotional breakdown and to protect your mental health. 1. Be optimistic. This promotes happiness and reduces stress. 2. Be hopeful. Push through difficult situations and meet your goals. 3. Accept who you are. You are, after all, fearfully and wonderfully made. 4. Maintain healthy relationships.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
Reach out to others who can help you meet your emotional needs. Be thankful. You can even do a personal gratitude journal or list! Know your purpose. You can start looking by exploring your natural talents and interests. Master your environment. Engage in time management and prioritization. Exercise regularly. You’ll reduce stress and improve physical health too! Live in the moment! renew
For the full article go to articles.mercola.com: How to Protect Your Mental Health and Avoid an Emotional Breakdown
Thy Kingdom Fun
Find the Bible verse referenced by the puzzle below, then fill in the puzzle grid with words from that verse. rejoice
ROMANS 12:1 (KJV) TIME: ____:____ (Answers on Page 4)
MIN
Make a Note July 2016 11-16 Intermediate Camp 18-23 Junior Camp 25-30 Youth Camp
September 2016 11
Student Service*: Mandeville Bapt.
18
Student Service*: Mona Baptist
25
Student Service*: Calvary Baptist (St. James)
Rewind: What’s the JBUYD, Anyway? CONTRIBUTED: Jamaica Baptist Union
The Youth Department of the Jamaica Baptist Union has a rich and colourful history. Having its genesis in the 1940s, the structured ministry to youth and the ministry of youth has been the remit of various Committees, Commissions and Departments, before eventually coming to be known by its current name: Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department.
October 2016 2
Student Service*: Pt. Antonio Bapt.
8
Zone Eliminations
November 2016 24-26 Youth Conference and Rally *All student services start at 10:00 a.m.
The JBUYD serves Baptist youth across the entire island.
The Early Days The process began in 1983, by the then Youth Affairs Committee, under the ambit of the Christian Education Department and gave rise to a National Youth Movement, whose main aim was
to improve on efforts for strengthening relationships among Baptist youth of the island. Subsequent to this, there was a merging of operations as the Youth Affairs Committee and President and Secretary of each Parish Youth Association formed the National Executive. The ministry to youth evolved further as a full time Assistant General Secretary was appointed with responsibility for Youth and Training and a Youth Department was established. By 1995, the first election of Officers took place at the Annual Youth Conference. From humble beginnings as a Young People’s Department to an established organization with various arms of specialized ministry, the JBUYD has indeed come a long way. Today, it represents the almost 11,000 youth of the Union’s population, scattered across the length and breadth of the island: children, youth, young adults and youth workers. rejoice
Did You Know?
The JBU now has 337 churches and about 40,000 members across the island.
Jamaica Baptist Union Youth Department Romans 12:1 (KJV)
2B Washington Boulevard, Kingston 20, Jamaica
969-2223 / 969-6268
@ 924-6296
@
jbuyouth@gmail.com
< http://youth.jbu.org.jm
Solution