Welcome to the Journey!

Welcome! Last night was our first official youth group gathering at the Manhattan United Methodist Church (MUMC). My wife Kate and I have decided to start a weekly program on Wednesday evenings (6-8pm) for any youth interested in attending. Our focus is Jr. High youth currently.

We introduced the name of the youth ministry as "Journey". We will be exploring the journey that the youth will be taking in the next few years of their lives, and how critically important it is that God be the center of their lives.

After some fun games, we watched a clip from the movie "Lord of the Rings; Fellowship..." to introduce that each of us are given a mission. We can't stay where we are. We must move to grow. And, there is an enemy that we must be aware of (like the dark riders in the movie).

A particularly profound quote from the movie was from Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit.
"It's a dangerous business, going out your door.
You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet
There's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

We are all stepping onto the road, no matter what age. We need to know where we're heading. Our heading should be toward Jesus. He has traveled this road and will lead us in the right paths.

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own.Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)