By Linda McCullough
BIG SANDY--Our youth group went to an Acquire the Fire teen convention in Dallas, Texas, Jan. 10 and 11.
The results astounded me, and I wanted to tell everyone about it because we are all so excited.
First, our youth leaders did a presentation with two of the teens, then the whole congregation watched a video about Acquire the Fire.
A donation was taken up, and our congregation supported us with $780 for gasoline and hotel expenses.
Although the teens had already done fund raisers to pay for their tickets, the rest would be incurred by the parents.
Most of the parents who drove the vehicles attended the convention as volunteers. The convention was organized by teens who told us what to do, handled money and registered us.
What we saw happening to our teens, and all of us there, is something few of us will forget. Our teens sang and prayed and held hands while doing it. It was like a Feast of Tabernacles for teens. It wasn't just some big emotional show. Emotion was there, but you can't have any kind of relationship without emotion, otherwise it is merely an acquaintance.
Our teens committed their lives to Jesus for real. It is what our teens have been looking for all along. It is something we weren't giving them--the right to have their own relationship with Jesus Christ.
One of the teens, who initially did not want to go, told her mom the last night, "I love you." Tears filled all of our eyes.
As the Newsboys say in one of their songs: "God is not a secret to be kept," especially from our teens.
We hope that all WCG teens will have the opportunity to go to an Acquire the Fire convention. We need to spread the fire.
Linda McCullough is a member who attends the Big Sandy church.
Feb. 18, 1997, WN, page 9
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