The Start of a new Standard

This is a little look into the direction of the youth program here at Grace Presbyterian in Temecula California.

There is yet again another energy crisis in California.  The crisis I speak of has nothing to do with electrical surges, power outages or home energy conservation, but the lack of reflective and transformational learning within the youth of this generation.  It is evident that young people’s lives are being consumed by routine, expectations and pressures put on them by our culture to be the best.  Competition takes over their hearts as approval is sought after from friends, parents, coaches and teachers.  Evaluation is becoming a constant in the lives of our students, and in their attempts to please everyone else, it is easy to forget who they are.  Students are beginning to define themselves by their grades, rank, positions, appearance and friend groups.  This is a scary thought.

             Our youth program “Outlet” is taking a break from society and redefining who we are, and who we are meant to be in the image of God.  It is our goal to take away the evaluative nature of our culture and instead of “do” we will just “be”.  We are working hard to create an atmosphere where students can gather and simply be themselves without societal pressures to be what is expected.  Christ tells us again and again that He is enough and He wants us just as we are.  It is our duty as the bridegroom of Christ to establish a strength and confidence in our youth and in ourselves so that we may be the salt of the earth. 

            This month, we are working towards taking our Jr. High students to a weekend retreat February 24^th-26^th so that we may amp up our desire to discover who God is and what that means for us.  We are also looking into a similar event for the Sr. High in March where they can escape and take time to grow their own relationships with Christ through practicing solitude, prayer, and group discussion.  Please be praying for our youth as we are continuing to pray for the congregation as a whole.