JCX Tuesday 1/5/10

Spectacular night @JCX … our first night back from Christmas break. Here’s the details:

-Started off in D-groups and had a great time re-connecting with each other. The first half hour of JCX is always fun to see who comes and to chat with each other about the things happening in our lives. After a long break, those convo’s last a while. We also broke into groups of 2-3 which I’ll explain in a minute.
-Once inside the main room, we opened with this vid:

-That lead us into a time of prayer. It’s during this time we got into groups of 2-3 and prayed for each other. It was an awesome moment of silence and a great scene of 120 plus youth with their arms around each other, lifting up the things that those around them are facing.
-After worship through song, Vanessa shared her passion about loving the Rafa House. This organization rescues and houses women and young girls who were taken advantage of in the sex trade throughout the world. Vanessa isn’t old enough yet to visit the house but she wanted to do something. So we made friendship bracelets and will be selling them to raise money to help support the Rafa House.
-While we made the bracelets, we focused on what makes us angry. We chatted about how anger comes from lust which really is our desires turning into demands. When our demands are not met we turn it into anger. The challenge was simply to remember what the gospel truly is: the good news that we are not anger or lust and don’t have to be held captive by those things because of Jesus. We asked each youth to write down the anger they need to face and if they are willing to walk into that dark place and with whom. Great stuff!!
-Lots of great learning and conversations after the teaching … Two text messages that I received after youth really encouraged me. They both focused on facing and walking through their mess with Jesus. So glad when it clicks!!
-Invite a friend next week … our theme is “Sadness”. Hope you’re coming!