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2000

IN HIS SPIRIT

It seems just like yesterday that we returned from Colorado and the National Gathering of American Baptist Youth, held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. Eight youth from our church spent the week along with 2,000 other youth and adult sponsors worshiping together, in small group Bible studies, attending workshops, enjoying concerts, sightseeing and enjoying God's creation in the mountains. During the week they explored the theme: ID2K. ID for Identity and 2K for the year 2000. It was about who we are and who God calls us to be. It was about where we're going and where God is leading us.

Who am I? I am a child of God with a purpose. (Psalm 139) We are children of God and God has created us for a purpose and is concerned for us and our future, a future filled with hope.

Where am I? I was lost…but now I'm found. (Luke 15:11-32) We are lost as humans, because of our sinfulness-we don't have the power to save ourselves, but we can be found when we put our trust in Jesus Christ who searches for the lost sheep.

What does God want me to do with my life? I am called to follow Jesus. (Luke 10:25-37) We are invited to come before God with a humble spirit to seek and to listen and to make a decision to follow. And then, as we explore the parable of the Good Samaritan, we also hear Jesus' invitation to "Go and do." It is in doing that our faith is made real.

Who are we? We are the Church. (I Corinthians 12) Christians are not isolated individuals; part of our identity is in our participation in the Body of Christ-the Church. One Spirit gives each of us gifts that we must open and find out how to use for the benefit of the Church and to the glory of God. What does God want us to do? We are called into the world. (Matthew 5:13-16) We are called to be the "salt" and the "light" of the world. We are called out beyond our circle of friends and beyond the limits of our own experience into the world. This is the mission and ministry that Jesus has prepared us for.

It was evident in our back home time and dorm devotions together that our young people got a lot out of their exploration of this theme. It was a theme that spoke to each of us and also challenged us. And it is a theme that can also speak to all of us here at First Baptist.

Again, thank you for your support of our young people and their trip to ID2K.

Pastor Bob

Click here to view Pastor Bob's collection of pictures from the trip!