I am utterly fatigued, dehydrated and my body aches ALL over. But if this is what it means to put your body on the line for Jesus Christ... I will do it in a heartbeat! In 2013 a beautiful dream was placed in the heart of a visionary which birthed the first #imagine gathering in 2014. One in Gauteng, the other in the Western Cape. The aim? Bringing together young adults all over our nation with one purpose: starting a movement to empower a generation for God. And what a gathering it was! At the break of a rather chilly, Friday morning, Gauteng, Western Cape and Jefferey's Bay waited in anticipation for the generation of 2015 #imagine campers.
Dream. Believe. Do. The motto for #imagine. It was truly one of those goose-bump moments to witness so many young hands reach for the sky to praise and worship God. To hear voices raised with declaration and love. To see young adults sold out for God and ready to take up the dreams placed in their hearts to lead their generation for their Creator. A highlight for me, which I want to share, was Sunday morning at the last teaching session and official end of the camp. We had a fun time breaking some ridiculous (but extremely fun) records throughout the weekend and Sunday morning was no different. Each one was armed with a red, green, blue or purple balloon and they asked that you find a friend with another color. (Red finds green for example). They would then pose a question you ask the friend. My question was "What do you believe God can do, which you did not believe before?" Without blinking the very tall, young man in front of me answered with a smile: "I never believed God can heal me, and this weekend He did!" I still think marking that occasion with tears was quite appropriate.
Dream. Believe. Do. The key verse for this amazing gathering was Luke 5:17-26 "One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem) And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn't reach Him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Young man, your sins are forgiven" But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, "Who does he think he is? That's blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand up and walk?' So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins" Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick your mat, and go home!" And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe and they praised God, exclaiming, "We have seen amazing things today!"
Dream. Believe. Do. Throughout the teachings and group sessions, the theme of the key verse were presented and worked on from 4 different views: the paralyzed man, the Pharisees, Jesus and the four friends. God used each point of view to sow seed in the heart of our youth. Watering it with wisdom and leadership for them to understand how to use the Word of God in their daily lives. Work-group sessions driven by amazing ministries crowned Saturday afternoon where they could interact with the youth, breaking ground for a Spirit-filled, God orientated generation ready for the day of tomorrow.
With a warmness in my heart, I can look back at #imagine 2015 and truly say: "We have seen amazing things today!"
Shalom, shalom!
Iriza
Note: You are welcome to Like #imagine on Facebook. There are life changing testimonies and stories from our youth creating a bubbling excitement in ones heart.
Dream. Believe. Do. Throughout the teachings and group sessions, the theme of the key verse were presented and worked on from 4 different views: the paralyzed man, the Pharisees, Jesus and the four friends. God used each point of view to sow seed in the heart of our youth. Watering it with wisdom and leadership for them to understand how to use the Word of God in their daily lives. Work-group sessions driven by amazing ministries crowned Saturday afternoon where they could interact with the youth, breaking ground for a Spirit-filled, God orientated generation ready for the day of tomorrow.
With a warmness in my heart, I can look back at #imagine 2015 and truly say: "We have seen amazing things today!"
Shalom, shalom!
Iriza
Note: You are welcome to Like #imagine on Facebook. There are life changing testimonies and stories from our youth creating a bubbling excitement in ones heart.