Youth and Discipleship Adopts Pledge to FINISH Commitment
Church of God Youth and Discipleship International Director Dr. David Blair, and International Assistant Director, Rob Bailey, and their team have moved strategically to align the ministries and goals of the department with the mission and vision of the FINISH Commitment, an initiative announced by General Overseer Tim Hill at the International General Assembly in July.
At the recent Church of God Leadership meeting held in Cleveland, Tenn., Blair shared how Youth and Discipleship intends to filter its ministries through the FINISH Commitment paradigm.
“Youth and Discipleship is committed to raising up the next generation of young disciples who are grounded in the Word of God, capable of sharing their faith, and able to live successfully for Christ in this mixed-up world,” Blair stated. “However, beyond that traditional pledge, Youth and Discipleship is also fully dedicated to align with the vision of our General Overseer and the entire Executive Committee to fulfill the FINISH Commitment.”
Youth and Discipleship has determined to integrate their ministries with the FINISH Commitment in the following fashion:
They will provide ministries that will FIND youth and children who need Christ’s love by:
Enlisting youth & children’s pastors to pursue unreached generations in their state/region
Training youth leaders globally to identify the harvest and reach the lost in their nations, (especially in Africa).
Youth and Discipleship will INTERCEDE by:
Prioritized prayer with youth and children’s leaders
Providing prayer resources and support
Utilizing local leaders to enlist 25,000 children and youth to accept the “Take 5 to Pray” challenge
Accomplishing the goal of youth and children collectively praying for 2.6 million hours each year
Providing life-changing worship opportunities like Winterfest, Kidfest, and Youth Camp
They will NETWORK servant leaders, children, and youth through:
Global training conferences and education
“Winterfest Around the World”
Summer Youth Camp & “Give-Back!”
International Teen Talent and Junior Talent
Online training Initiatives, and the NYLA and NCLA movements
Youth and Discipleship plans to INVEST in the next generation through:
YWEA Building Ministry Centers for education, church planting, leadership, and discipleship
Raising up young adult leaders through Eagles, SYNC Retreat, and Alpha Omega Campus Ministries
Caring for orphans through “Run for Hope”
Providing “Winterfest Discipleship Books” to youth leaders around the globe free of charge
Youth and Discipleship will SEND youth and leaders to the nations through:
“Stateside and Global Expeditions” (STEP)
Evangelism through Winterfest and Youth Camp
International training on discipleship and evangelism
Global soul winners developed through LEAD Institute and Abante’ International
Extended-term missionary internships
The entire Youth and Discipleship team is devoted to reap a world HARVEST with focus on the Great Commission Finish:
By discipling youth and children
With YWEA and World Missions partnerships
By seeing kids saved and Holy Spirit-filled through Kidfest, Girls Clubs, and Boys Ministries
Through new Global Youth Ministry initiatives built on our loyalty, love, and unity for the Church
With the help of the Holy Spirit guiding and leading the Youth and Discipleship Department, the Church of God can continue to trust them to not only reach, win, and disciple another generation, but to also stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the vision of the General Overseer and Church leadership to realize the success of the FINISH Commitment.
(Source: Youth and Discipleship. By B. Randall Parris, who serves as the Int. Coordinator of Global Youth Leadership with Church of God Youth and Discipleship)
