we Acquired the Fire
March 21, 2009
The “Acquire the Fire” youth event just ended a few hours ago, but I wanted to give some of the youth who attended a chance to share and reflect on their experiences.
For those of you who were not able to be with us, just know you were missed.
For those of us who were there we heard the gospel proclaimed that God’s love for us has no end and that God desires to be first in our lives. We experienced powerful music and concerts that rocked the house, rocked our hearts and rocked our world.
For me personally, I come away from this conference with the desire to deepen my relationship with Christ. “Intimacy with God” is something that has been lacking in my life. I feel that I allow too many distractions to steal away from me precious opportunities to draw nearer to God and be filled with God’s presence in my life. So when you see me, ask me if I’ve been distracted lately or what I’ve done to set aside distractions. I’d appreciate your prayers as those in our church should know that I often think of you in my prayers, asking our God to bless your life and give you the desire to seek God’s face.
What were the meaningful parts of the weekend for you? How do you think God wants to move in your life? Share some thoughts here as a way to proclaim God’s goodness, share with our community of faith and to allow us to encourage and pray for you as well.
<><adam
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March 21st, 2009 at 7:59 pm
this event was simply amazing…it was powerful and emotional for all of us that went and i think that brought us all closer together…this also has helped me to learn how to worship…up until now, i hadnt realized it but i didnt really know how…i was kind of like a robot just singing the songs and daydreaming during the sermon…but now i got so much out of the songs and words that i was overwhelmed…the drama also showed me just how much jesus truly sacrificed for us…i hadnt really truly realized that before either…it made me look at something as simply as the cross necklace that i have with much more respect and reverance…i felt so close to God this weekend and i hope i can continue this in my everyday life.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Dude this was Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you missed it you missed a once in a life time experience with Unhindered, Leeland, and Decyfer Down. but not only were the music acts awesome but they had great speakers who could be hilarious one minute and touching the next. you had to be there just to experience it I’m defiantly going next year if we go. I’m going to say bye even though i’m not talking to anyone right at this second at 9:04 pm.
bye.
March 21st, 2009 at 8:42 pm
when i signed up for the event, i didn’t really know what to expect. when i got to the church, i was struck with how many teenagers were there all for the same reason. with the bands and the speakers, i got way more out of the conference. It was a super emotional event for me. when we had the talk about parents, it really touched me, because i am having a hard time at home right now. it felt good to give everything that was bothering me to Jesus. I was also touched by how much other kids in the youth group cared. I definitely feel closer to most of them. I just love how i am blessed to be with kids who care so much about me.
March 21st, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I need to Say GOD IS GOOD…Adam, Arty, and I really felt strongly about ATF from the very beginning and spent time in prayer before this convention asking God to bless those who were attending from all over California and especially from Hope… praying that God does whatever it is he sees that these young people need in there lives. And our Prayers were answered. This weekend put a lot of us back in-check with the reality of GOD and how great, awesome, and generous he is, through Worship…holding our hands High to him, praising, and worshiping the one and only God. Experiencing a heart felt drama that brought tears to people’s eyes to realize the pain and agony that Jesus Christ suffered on the cross, all for us. I’m praying for every single person that attended ATF … that something during this weekend spoke right too them. I know things hit right at home with me. It’s sometimes difficult being a Youth Leader (Intern) and having to always look alright and put together… and the reality is we all have our issues and with many of you guys this weekend those issues, troubles, and temptations were given to God they are out of our control, we Can’t Handle it all, it wasn’t intended for us to have to handle… Our God is amazing, forgiving, and unchanging. As Followers of Christ and experiencing what we did this weekend together we must stick through it keep each other accountable to what we experienced, check up on each other, pray for one another, and in the end love and spread the word and Live your life as God would want you to. And Leeland rocked the house … totally awesome…
March 22nd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
I would say that this comment will be hard for me to type, because it’s always a difficulty saying what i got out of something. Some o f the stuff i learned id rather not speak of on here, but i did learn things. i feel very alienated as a Christian, even with my youth group, because not only do i have trouble communicating, i feel very differntly from other Christians. People want to know why i headbang, well when i was up there with Decyfer Down, i felt great worshiping God that way, when the music flows through you, you’re in your own little world. I’ll be honest with you too, at the last mini setlist with unhindered when everyone was raising their hands, at parts i was screaming it, and not like yelling screaming, i mean metal screaming, and you know what? I felt even better like that, than when i was just singing there. I know that it seems scary to you guys, but it makes me happy. Its not the only music i listen to, but its the genre that i feel the most from in the Christian area. I also had not as much a realization as a larger reassurance of something I had realized before. Most people probably won’t understand it when they read this, and im not asking to mimic me, but just understand what i’m saying. When we were in the aisles kneeling i knew that I don’t need Jesus, I need to HELP him, I shouldn’t ever try to convert people, I need to spread his unconditional love to everyone, no matter who they are, as hard as it can be. That’s why I want each and EVERY one of you guys to know that I love you, and that every time I hug you I want that hug to take away all the pain and sadness you have and let it be transported into me instead, and after it letting you feel happier and comforted.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:43 pm
i never think ur weird andrew i love that u hav ur own way of worshiping…its taken me a long time to really learn what it truly means to worship and feel God’s presence…and let me just say that i understand what u said and i think its wonderful…u give the best hugs ever lol
March 25th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
I’m thrilled to read all these posts and to see how God is using each of you (and those who didn’t write, too!) in some way. There is no ONE way to worship or to experience God, but rather, God comes to each of us in the way we need so that we can experience God and his incredible, nearly indescribable unconditional love for us.
For me, the closest I can get to understand this is when I walk in the door at home at the end of the day and my daughter, Amy, runs up to me with her little arms outstretched and a big smile on her face as she says, “Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!” No pretense, no “whaddya bring me.” Just “I love you, I’m glad to see you, and I want to hug you.” This is my image of God, and it nearly overwhelms me at times.
Thank you, all, for sharing your faith here and wanting to know Jesus better . . . you’re awesome!
April 3rd, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I, too, was excited to read your comments from the “Acquire the Fire” event. I’m glad God touched your hearts! I’m an old lady and I love Contemporary Christian music. It speaks to me and grabs my heart and soul. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.
I want to thank those of you who will be serving in our community this coming week. I’m so proud of you and know that you will be blessed for being a blessing to others. I know that your lives will be changed in some ways. I will continue to lift you up in pray asking God to strenghthen your relationships with others as you work side by side with other Christian brothers and sisters. Also, I pray that you will walk away knowing God in a deeper and more personal way.
Please know that the entire staff at Hope prays for our youth regularly. And we all know - God answers prayer!
Be safe, be well, and have fun too!
July 29th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hello Everyone!
I am an intern right now at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy and work with Acquire the Fire Operations. I just want to say thank you for posting all of these comment, and just pouring out your hearts before others. I want to let you all know, we were encouraged to hear of how God is working in your lives and are so excited for your youth group and how he will continue to draw you closer to himself. I went to my first Acquire the Fire when I was fifteen and just knew that God was going to use the ministry to work mightly in my life and the life of others!
God Bless you guys! And thanks again!
In Him
Kortney