This afternoon and this evening we had a great time at the first IFM Conference. Our chosen theme was "Catching the Vision".
The first session focused on Catching the Vision for Eternity. The music and message focused on realising we will spend eternity somewhere, either Heaven or Hell. Evan Williams , missionary to Honduras, preached a clear Gospel message and the young people listened well. Although I believe most, if not all, of the young people there were saved it was still the best way to introduce the second session which was on service. When we see the cross and get a clear vision of Jesus Christ then serving Him and those around us is a natural reaction.
In the second session Travis Snode
preached a challenging and pointed message on Getting God’s Vision for Your Life. Once you are saved, then you should be serving. We stressed the fact that God has a vision for every Christian, old and young. Once again Travis preached a great message.
In the first session Graham Silverson sang "Amazing Grace" and in the second Stephen Silverson gave a testimony of how the Lord is working in his life. Both of these young men are allowing God to work greatly in their lives and it is wodnerful to see.
I hope to make the video and audio available soon on this site. Here are some pictures to get you started:
Here is the some of the content from the leaflet we handed out to each young person:
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Ecclesiastes 3:20
Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. I Corinthians 9:24
The first verse makes something as clear as crystal, but let me make sure we all understand – you are going to die. Cheerful message, right?
The discussion of death may not be a happy one for you, but face it, it will happen. One day your physical body will come to an end. Your heart will stop beating, vital organs will shut down, the brain will cease to function and qualified individuals will check for a pulse and for brain waves. When they do not find them they will pronounce you dead.
Then what happens? Darkness? Oblivion? The Bible teaches that death does not mean the end of life, but separation. Death as we think of it means the separation of the body and spirit. The spirit, the soul, is you, the part that will live forever.
Where you will live may yet to be decided.
If you have never accepted you are a sinner and believed on Christ and received him as your Saviour then punishment and eternal separation from God is what the future holds.
For the Christian it is a different matter.
If you are born again then you can agree with one writer when he said,
“Death is not extinguishing the light from the Christian; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.”
Catching the Vision is all about challenging you to live God’s way in this life.
The first session focuses on challenging those who do not know Christ to come to Him. Before any can serve, they must be saved. We are excited to have Evan with us to share how the Lord has worked in his life and to preach the Gospel to us.
The second session will focus on stirring you up to catch God’s vision for your life! We agree with William Carey in that we must "Expect great things from God and attempt great things for God."
God has something amazing for your life, do not settle for the ordinary and mundane.
Pastor Clarence Sexton has said that
“the Christian life is not about choosing between the good and the bad, but between choosing the good and the best and always choosing the best!”
Determine today to always choose the best.
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