GRADES 8 - 12
UNITED METHODIST YOUTH FELLOWSHIP
A Bible believing youth ministry that uses the word of God to build authentic friendships... and to slap around the everday challenges we face in life.
Developed by students. Designed by students. Named by students. Led by students.
BETHESDA UMC
1435 KINGS HIGHWAY
SWEDESBORO, NJ 08085
(Corner of Kings Highway & Railroad Ave.)
Use entrance on Railroad Ave.
"TARGET PRACTICE" BIBLE STUDY:
Every Wednesday 7pm-9pm
SUNDAY SCHOOL:
Sunday (obviously) @ 9:45am
SUBZERO:
SMALL GROUPS & GIRLS' BIBLE STUDY:
Inquire about day, time, and location in person... creepy people might be reading this
Zero (verb) - To Aim; To Focus
"How can they call on Him who they have not believed in? And how can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear unless someone tells them?" - ROMANS 10:14
The Bible has two very opposing examples of youth "groups". The first, found in 2 Kings 2:24-25 has a gang of kids who are old enough to know better who get together to hang out without any interest in encouraging each other to act maturely, respect other people, or more importantly, even attempt to live a life that would glorify God. "Then he (Elisha) went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him 'Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!' When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Two bears came out of the woods and tore up forty two of the lads of their number."
The main thing to consider with this group of kids is that they were only focused on amusing themselves and making each other laugh. There was no desire to keep each other accountable or to help one another “grow up”. Sadly, the minute they faced a crisis, they didn’t have a foundation in God or even in each other to stand on, and they didn’t survive their problem. But, it seems like they at least had some fun and a good laugh or two before all of the getting torn to pieces stuff happened, though.
The second group of youths is found in the Book of Daniel. This group of friends are taken away from their homes and families and everything that mattered to them at the start of their teenage years, and they still chose to encourage each other to live for God and to keep their faith in Him. They constantly pushed each other to live right and to work toward maturity and thinking spiritually. Because of this, they survived every terrible thing they faced and were able to show the power of God to people who were even much older than they were. They were thrown into furnaces and fed to lions and they survived all of it because they were interested in more than just having a good time and hanging out. They were interested in living for God and encouraging each other to do the same. Their friendship had a purpose. They weren’t a youth “group”… they were a youth “ministry”.
We’re faced daily with the pressures of fitting in and being accepted. It’s easier to make people laugh and have a good time without being responsible than it is to do some of the things that God asks us to do. The difference is that if we focus on the things that matter to God and start to mature in our thinking, we can overcome the craziness that comes our way in this journey we call life.