GYC 2005 Highlights
To say that the General Youth Conference was an incredible blessing would be an understatement. It was truly beyond description. However, in an attempt to provide a taste of what it was like, here is a random list of my favorite moments of GYC 2005:
- Listening to David Gates speak about risking it all for God and then, seeing people already jumping out of their seats and flowing into the aisles before he even finished his appeal
- Meeting with international attendees who want to start something in their own local area
- Going door-to-door with my sister on Sabbath afternoon (and otherwise spending quality time with my family)
- Sharing the stage with godly men I respect including Dr. Pipim, Dr. Clouzet, Chester Clark, and Mark Finley
- Hearing the dedication speech by Dr. Pipim to the incoming GYC leaders and being humbled by the tremendous opportunity we all share
- The Eight Blessings and "Blessed are They" with Peter Gregory and company
- Norman's expressions during John Nixon sermons
- Seeing old friends and making new ones (a taste of heaven)
- Passing out 1500 audioverse.org cards (thanks to all who helped spread the Word!)
- The personal decisions I made to consecrate my life even more fully to the cause of God this coming year
I believe with all my heart that the end of time is very near. As proof of this, I point, not only to devastating natural disasters or the recent political landscape of America, but to the revival of the young people of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The church is languishing for the help of young men [and young women] who will bear a courageous testimony, who will with their ardent zeal stir up the sluggish energies of God's people, and so increase the power of the church in the world. Young men are wanted who will resist the tide of worldliness, and lift a voice of warning against taking the first steps in immorality and vice. . . . Young men, press to the front, and identify yourselves as laborers together with Christ, taking up the work where He left it, to carry it on to its completion. RH June 16, 1891
posted by Tim at 8:00 PM
6 Comments:
wow, every time i read about the messages i didn't get a chance to listen to i am jealous. haha.
It was definitely an inspiring week for sure tho =)
the first four words of the quotation..."The church is languishing..." in itself should have caught our attention.
what a privilege we have as young men (AND women ahem >_<) to
1. press to the front,
2. identify ourselves as laborer together with Christ,
3. take up the work where He left it,and
4. to carry it on to its completion.
really...sooner the better...
letz get it done. =)
Your sister...I think I've seen her on various occasions but never realized that she was your sister. Is she by any chance a student here at Southern? Your parents were at GYC as well? It's always nice to spend quality time with family.
Ah yes, the "Eight Blessings" and "Blessed Are They"--twas fun singing with the last minutely thrown together Hartland student/alumni choir...that was of course when my voice was still functioning. =)
Praise the Lord for the decision to consecrate your life even more to the cause of God...that is my desire too.
The part of the quote that caught my eye was:
"...who will with ardent zeal stir up the sluggish energies of God's people and so increase the power of the church in the world."
Can you just imagine what could be done if the sluggish energies of God's people could be awakened and channeled?
The power of the church in the world would be...phenomenal.
To resist the tide of worldliness...this is indeed a high calling and direct challenge...and in order to do this it calls for direct action...press, identify, take up, and carry...
Powerful quote!!!
Hey Tim, how long between the first two comments??
Powerful quote. It's already been broken down well by others.
Let's carry the torch to the finish line.
And yes, in MM 49, "Christ was a Seventh-day Adventist, to all intents and purposes."
Glad to know my facial expressions were memorable. See you soon back in CA.
Being at GYC was definitly a big blessing! Meeting so many friends, seeing all these different people from all over the States (and the world!?) with a vision, listening to powerful sermons - yes, it certainly was a BIG blessing! Now is the time to pick up the work in Norway again though! It´s tough, but needed! Though by Gods grace and help, He will definitly help us carry the light to those we meet!
You´re doing a great Work Tim! Keep it up!
Sarah - Notice that I added [and young women] to the quote...
Michelle - My parents and sister were at GYC this year. Deborah, my sister, is on staff at Wildwood but used to attend Southern. I believe that she graduated in 2001...
Norman - Yes, your facial expressions are memorable...no matter how hard I try to forget!
Robby - May the Lord bless you as you work for Him in Norway. The Lord will strengthen you as you work in such a secular society...
Glad to see the hidden talent of Tim Arakawa. What other talents do you have, Tim? You have ten and it has multiply to 100, I guess you need to keep multiplying to 1,000.
Keep smiling
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