CNY: Homecoming for the YGM Team
YGM stands for Younger Generations Ministry. Something that i was part of since... 1992? Of course we kinda disbanded in 1998. They went on to become the Frontliners, i think.
In those early years, there were 12 of us, i was reminded. It took me a while to remember who were the "original" 12 because many others were being brought in as leaders. Let's see if i can recall:
Kevin and Edna, Ken and Val, Raymond and Sharon, Paul and Selina, Lileng, Bryan, Bernard and me.
Along the way, as far as i can remember, our additions include:
Glordia,Joanna, Pearly, Shien, Minyee, Bee Bee, Martin, Victor...
Those were the golden years of youth ministry for me. We journeyed together through those 6 years and watched how God bring us through every stage of growth. We were a bunch of jokers(still are) who were slowly being moulded and had our "butts kicked" from time to time. We prayed, played, worshipped, wepted and laughed together.It's no surprise then that no less than 5 couples emerged during those days of serving together.
Camps were fantastic then.From "The sheep and the goat", Frasers' Hill, Port Dickson, "FM2002" to "Stand alone on Solid Rock", we learnt about Missions, Last Days, BOHS, Deliverance, Evangelism...
Some scenes from these camps have been immortalized, sketched in my mind forever. Like the SBC "Common Scenes", Capstan ball, "drop the blanket games", Raymond's birthday in 94, the "tapping fingers-spiritual" encounter in Desaru, me dropping into the sewage hole in '90, 24 jam praise and worship on bus rides back from M'sia, guys trying tambourine dancing, "Pei-de, this is Baolin"-SDU introduction.
Besides camps, special events like Christmas and Easter also saw us having fun. We did lots of caroling and had overnight table tennis sessions late into Christmas mornings. Then we will zonk out during the service.Those were the fun moments.
Needless to say, God strengthen the bond among us. We gave each other the right to speak into the other's life and challenged each other to very real terms in our faith.
By 96, we were getting pretty serious. I remember visiting City Harvest to find out how to run a purpose driven youth ministry.I also remember how Kevin and i wept,under a tree outside my house after that visit, asking God to use us like he did with the CH leaders. We stopped programs and just gathered to pray and the intensity increased.That led us to Yishun.There we laboured for a year and a half. (7 years for me)We used to go to church at 6am in the morning to lay hands on the chairs to pray for the church. Some of the most memorable moments were those prayer sessions during our leaders' meeting on weeknights. The growing dissatisfaction in our hearts brought about cries in our prayer and greater accountability. Buzz words then were: accountability, simple life, giving up rights.
Anyone remembers "Shut Up and Pray?"
Whether it was late bus rides/car rides home or over the public phone in army camps at 3am in the morning, we spoke destiny to each other. You become what your leaders are.Along the way,some of us took the mold of Yvonne and no one had any lack of exposure in missions. At first, we were leading teens. Soon, we were leading teams in villages,schools,orphanages...Today, 2 of the 12 are missionaries and the rest can't rest. Not without knowing where and why God was going to, or had placed them where they are. This restlessness stirs up once in a while when we get too comfortable. It's happening again i think.
This CNY, we may be getting together for a photo shoot. Yvonne wants to write a book. I think she should. I'm not even a full time minister and i want to write a book. Haha. You're reading the prologue. I guess she wants to feature the YGM leaders in her book. I would, in mine, if i had one. After all, we went through so much together.
It'll be nice to see everyone at one place again. I hope everyone makes it so we don't have to photoshop anyone. This time the place will be crawling with kids. I know i won't be the only restless one next tuesday.
welcome back, team.
In those early years, there were 12 of us, i was reminded. It took me a while to remember who were the "original" 12 because many others were being brought in as leaders. Let's see if i can recall:
Kevin and Edna, Ken and Val, Raymond and Sharon, Paul and Selina, Lileng, Bryan, Bernard and me.
Along the way, as far as i can remember, our additions include:
Glordia,Joanna, Pearly, Shien, Minyee, Bee Bee, Martin, Victor...
Those were the golden years of youth ministry for me. We journeyed together through those 6 years and watched how God bring us through every stage of growth. We were a bunch of jokers(still are) who were slowly being moulded and had our "butts kicked" from time to time. We prayed, played, worshipped, wepted and laughed together.It's no surprise then that no less than 5 couples emerged during those days of serving together.
Camps were fantastic then.From "The sheep and the goat", Frasers' Hill, Port Dickson, "FM2002" to "Stand alone on Solid Rock", we learnt about Missions, Last Days, BOHS, Deliverance, Evangelism...
Some scenes from these camps have been immortalized, sketched in my mind forever. Like the SBC "Common Scenes", Capstan ball, "drop the blanket games", Raymond's birthday in 94, the "tapping fingers-spiritual" encounter in Desaru, me dropping into the sewage hole in '90, 24 jam praise and worship on bus rides back from M'sia, guys trying tambourine dancing, "Pei-de, this is Baolin"-SDU introduction.
Besides camps, special events like Christmas and Easter also saw us having fun. We did lots of caroling and had overnight table tennis sessions late into Christmas mornings. Then we will zonk out during the service.Those were the fun moments.
Needless to say, God strengthen the bond among us. We gave each other the right to speak into the other's life and challenged each other to very real terms in our faith.
By 96, we were getting pretty serious. I remember visiting City Harvest to find out how to run a purpose driven youth ministry.I also remember how Kevin and i wept,under a tree outside my house after that visit, asking God to use us like he did with the CH leaders. We stopped programs and just gathered to pray and the intensity increased.That led us to Yishun.There we laboured for a year and a half. (7 years for me)We used to go to church at 6am in the morning to lay hands on the chairs to pray for the church. Some of the most memorable moments were those prayer sessions during our leaders' meeting on weeknights. The growing dissatisfaction in our hearts brought about cries in our prayer and greater accountability. Buzz words then were: accountability, simple life, giving up rights.
Anyone remembers "Shut Up and Pray?"
Whether it was late bus rides/car rides home or over the public phone in army camps at 3am in the morning, we spoke destiny to each other. You become what your leaders are.Along the way,some of us took the mold of Yvonne and no one had any lack of exposure in missions. At first, we were leading teens. Soon, we were leading teams in villages,schools,orphanages...Today, 2 of the 12 are missionaries and the rest can't rest. Not without knowing where and why God was going to, or had placed them where they are. This restlessness stirs up once in a while when we get too comfortable. It's happening again i think.
This CNY, we may be getting together for a photo shoot. Yvonne wants to write a book. I think she should. I'm not even a full time minister and i want to write a book. Haha. You're reading the prologue. I guess she wants to feature the YGM leaders in her book. I would, in mine, if i had one. After all, we went through so much together.
It'll be nice to see everyone at one place again. I hope everyone makes it so we don't have to photoshop anyone. This time the place will be crawling with kids. I know i won't be the only restless one next tuesday.
welcome back, team.
"stir it up in our hearts,
a passion for Your Name"
posted by ch-eology at 1:57 PM
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