At a very young age, seeing the illuminated faces of ICLA’s youth return from their annual retreat, made my heart yearn for the experience. It was in 1997, at age fifteen, that I finally had the opportunity to experience a retreat with Christ for myself. God, of course, didn’t disappoint and a four day retreat (in those days) just didn’t feel like enough. My mind, body and soul couldn’t be satiated and I ached for more of His presence, more of His word, more of His love.
Joy filled my heart recalling that the happiest memories in my life took place where I was headed today. The last time AJAIC D.O. was here it was under the leadership of President Tony Alvarez in 2001. Armed with my best friends Lizy, D-Lo, Ivy, Yvette, and Chilly, I had to return one more time to the place that not only introduced us to God’s presence, but also our lifelong friendship. Although the memories of those days at Bethel in the Hills Campground seemed far too distant, they slowly peered their way back in to my mind and in to our conversations.
During the drive up, I pondered whether the youth that was assembled here today came up here with those same spiritual desires as me and my friends did long ago. When I took part of the highly anticipated Saturday night service, you know what I realized? Something’s just don’t change! Thirteen years later, there is still that dedicated Pentecostal youth that craves the flame of the Holy Spirit to overpower their lives. Just like our youth did years ago, this one also rushes to claim the first seats of the sanctuary to be as close to the blessing as possible. A new group of talented musicians and worship leaders belt out songs with all of their heart and with all that is left in their throats. Creative souls are given a platform to shine and impart their versions of worship. I couldn’t help but smile at the ruined hairstyles that took so long to prop in place and now seemed to take on a life of their own with the slightest nudge of the Holy Ghost. Through tired eyes, hoarse voices and weary bodies, the youth assembled is still pushing themselves to their limits hungry for every ounce of God they can get.
It is evident that through much prayer and rigorous planning, this leadership staff headed by its President Juan Ventura Jr., yet again has landed the right evangelist to deliver that highly awaited message from up above. Based on Luke 4:16-22 the young and witty David Martinez conveyed in us that we must live by Jesus’ example as he didn’t give himself the luxury to begin his ministry without God. Just as Jesus used his anointing to heal the sick, broken, captive, blind, and depressed, we were reminded that we have the responsibility of that anointing to do the same and impart what we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to the world. Some of those assembled received new promises, others received reinstated faith and the rest received the simple satisfaction of feeling the grandness of our Heavenly Father’s presence.
I drove back to the city lights that night and recollected that overall, God doesn’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today and always. In the same way He blessed those at Pentecost, in the same way He blessed me and my friends thirteen years ago, in the same way He’ll bless those in the future, God delivered a grand blessing to His AJAIC at Bethel in the Hills in 2010. They say that this generation doesn’t love the Almighty the way the last one did. They claim this generation doesn’t have a desire like the last one had. Well, in my book, this generation sure proves them wrong!
March on AJAIC!
-Shadi
Joy filled my heart recalling that the happiest memories in my life took place where I was headed today. The last time AJAIC D.O. was here it was under the leadership of President Tony Alvarez in 2001. Armed with my best friends Lizy, D-Lo, Ivy, Yvette, and Chilly, I had to return one more time to the place that not only introduced us to God’s presence, but also our lifelong friendship. Although the memories of those days at Bethel in the Hills Campground seemed far too distant, they slowly peered their way back in to my mind and in to our conversations.
During the drive up, I pondered whether the youth that was assembled here today came up here with those same spiritual desires as me and my friends did long ago. When I took part of the highly anticipated Saturday night service, you know what I realized? Something’s just don’t change! Thirteen years later, there is still that dedicated Pentecostal youth that craves the flame of the Holy Spirit to overpower their lives. Just like our youth did years ago, this one also rushes to claim the first seats of the sanctuary to be as close to the blessing as possible. A new group of talented musicians and worship leaders belt out songs with all of their heart and with all that is left in their throats. Creative souls are given a platform to shine and impart their versions of worship. I couldn’t help but smile at the ruined hairstyles that took so long to prop in place and now seemed to take on a life of their own with the slightest nudge of the Holy Ghost. Through tired eyes, hoarse voices and weary bodies, the youth assembled is still pushing themselves to their limits hungry for every ounce of God they can get.
It is evident that through much prayer and rigorous planning, this leadership staff headed by its President Juan Ventura Jr., yet again has landed the right evangelist to deliver that highly awaited message from up above. Based on Luke 4:16-22 the young and witty David Martinez conveyed in us that we must live by Jesus’ example as he didn’t give himself the luxury to begin his ministry without God. Just as Jesus used his anointing to heal the sick, broken, captive, blind, and depressed, we were reminded that we have the responsibility of that anointing to do the same and impart what we have been gifted by the Holy Spirit to the world. Some of those assembled received new promises, others received reinstated faith and the rest received the simple satisfaction of feeling the grandness of our Heavenly Father’s presence.
I drove back to the city lights that night and recollected that overall, God doesn’t change. He’s the same yesterday, today and always. In the same way He blessed those at Pentecost, in the same way He blessed me and my friends thirteen years ago, in the same way He’ll bless those in the future, God delivered a grand blessing to His AJAIC at Bethel in the Hills in 2010. They say that this generation doesn’t love the Almighty the way the last one did. They claim this generation doesn’t have a desire like the last one had. Well, in my book, this generation sure proves them wrong!
March on AJAIC!
-Shadi
Good job Sandra.
ReplyDeleteAw! I think 3days is not enough! I think they should last 5 days! Or maybe even a week! ;)
ReplyDeleteMay God keep blessing AjAiC!