Youth discipleship programme draws 39 young people from 11 churches
TRACKERS 2008, a youth discipleship programme (organised by the Board of Youth Ministries, Trinity Annual Conference), was held at Bedok Methodist Church from Jan 2 to Feb 29.
This year, a total of 39 youths from 11 churches, including one Chinese Annual Conference church, took part.
Over the two-month programme – full day, Monday to Friday – the lives of more than 40 pastors, mentors and missionaries were invested in the Trackers. The highlight was the final two weeks when participants in four teams were sent to Cambodia, India and Thailand for practical experience through cross-cultural missions.
Trackers offers a two-month intensive mentoring programme to give the young people an opportunity to encounter God through Word, Spiritual Disciplines and Trackers participants in small group discussions.
Mission. Its goal is to effect value change in the young people – i.e. from the world’s values to Kingdom values.
For the participants, aged between 16 and 21, Trackers was a time to re-evaluate their lives and faith, as well as to seek God’s will for their purpose and destiny. An important spin-off of the programme is networking – building strong bonds a good 15 to 20 years before these youth become pillars of our churches.
Look out for Trackers 2009!
The Rev Lai Kai Ming is a Pastor at Pentecost Methodist Church, and one of the Assistant Youth Directors of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC).
STORY AND INTERVIEWS:
LAI KAI MING
PICTURE: TRAC
What the participants say
HERE are snap testimonies by participants from the 11 churches:
“During the first few weeks, I regretted joining Trackers, thinking that I could have done other things … But after going through the whole course, I have no regrets now. Instead I feel very thankful … to be able to learn so much more about Him, to grow in the likeness of Him,
and most importantly, to serve Him.” – Da Ye, Christalite Methodist Chapel.
“These two months of Trackers have been the most serious in my spiritual life. It’s the first time I dedicated every day to God, being in contact with Him … as if I was working in full-time ministry for two full months.” – Keith Chang, Agape Methodist Church.
“Trackers is a good time to just unwind from studies and also a great time to draw closer to God in the Word. Also, it is good that I can get to know the youths from the other sister churches.” – Kevin Wang, Christ MC.
“Trackers meant to me a life-changing programme. It is also a programme which taught me how to have a more intimate relationship with God.” – Meng Jun, Sengkang MC.
“Trackers has helped me grow spiritually and emotionally. Trackers allowed me to learn to really make time for God and not just give Him my spare time. During this period, I have learnt to put my 100 per cent faith in God and let Him give me strength each day and not use my own strength.” – Ronda Tan, Wesley MC.
“Trackers has indeed been a journey of faith. Everything was very, very meaningful and I have learnt to defend my faith and really experienced God in a personal, up-close and intimate manner.” – Jonathan Kum, Bedok MC.
“Trackers has been a time where I can re-evaluate my life and to spend quality time refreshing and examining my walk with God. It has changed the way I see and do things and has caused me to really put God first in my life.” – Xiaorong, Trinity MC.
“Trackers was a journey of discovery about God and myself. It was also an eye-opener for me and provided guidelines on how to lead a life more closely aligned to God. It was a journey of spiritual faith and growth and it showed me that God was ever-present and that He could speak and reveal things through us.”
– Valerie Tham, Paya Lebar MC.
“Taking time to find the ‘long lost sheep’ back to God and the ‘lost sheep’ refers to me. Trackers has helped me to know God much deeper than before and that I should “track” with God always.” – Michele Tan, Pentecost MC.
“Having seen glimpses of God’s glory in Trackers, I now desire to be set apart for Him.” – Shawn Ang, Aldersgate MC.
“Trackers helped me explore the areas of my faith that I have left dormant in my life and reaffirmed me of my destiny and purpose in Christ.” – Mei Ping, Faith MC.