We're already halfway through 2006, if you can believe it. Opening the doors of our generation. Are you beginning to see it happen? How many doors have been blasted open? How many are still locked? Wherever you are, there's still more to be done...

This Wednesday be prepared for another night of ENCOUNTER.
What does it mean really? To encounter?

• Do you come to catch up with friends? (Nothing wrong with that.)
• Do you come because you really need someone to talk to?
• Do you come because you are in need? Physical sickness maybe? Emotional perhaps?

Or look at it another way...

• Do you not come because you don't have the time?
• Do you not come because it's a waste of a precious night that could be been better spend doing.... whatever?
• Do you not come because there are barriers - spiritual or physical?

The reason for Encounter: we're there to encounter God!!
"We can't encounter God in just 2 hours," comments one. Really? Then look at it this way:

• What if you're one step away from God breaking through in your life?
• What if you're just one more prayer away from a miracle?
• What if you're just one more leap of faith from God showing you your calling?
• What if...?

Perhaps an attitude change is required. Encounter and Networks isn't just another event. It's a chance to draw near to God. Not only that, it's your chance to encourage someone. Make it a point: CHOOSE to take one step closer to God and to be a blessing in others lives. It is guaranteed: you will be blessed more so than with a "what's in it for me?" mindset. Some of you (me included) would be thinking: "Young Adults can be so much more, and I don't want to settle for where we're at right now."

Well, guess what? We need to BE THE CHANGE TO SEE THE CHANGE.

It starts with us.

We've learnt over the John Bevere weekend, that we determine the level of intimacy in our relationship with God. I'd like to see Young Adults draw closer to God, and to begin to see the level of faith and intimacy stepped up. There's always room for improvement.

Below is a little testimonial of Young Adults since I first joined. Sit back, relax, have a good read, and feel free to add some suggestions how Young Adults can improve. Remember you're part of it too - and I'm sure you'll understand that we're here in the now, but the future holds so much more.

I joined what was called "Campus Team" in 2001, under the leadership of Brad Jones. I believe that the main focus during his time as our pastor was discipleship. Because during those years I have seen many people being trained, and many new leaders rising up. It was awesome!!

When Clayton took over from Brad, the focus has shifted to unity. There were two major challenges at that time. Firstly, the name change from Campus Team, to a more generic Young Adults (YA) 18-25 (and 23-30+ ...but we'll concentrate on the 18-25, cos that's where I'm at). Campus Team was great, but it focused only on those going to university. The new name gave a more diverse focus. Hence it didn't matter if you attended university, or working - it's the age groups rather than where you're at in life. The other major challenge was the move from meeting as Life Groups (then called Cells) in church following a corporate meeting (similar to the current Networks meeting format) to meeting in homes (Cells-in-Homes). What happened naturally, was that whilst people in Life Groups became more firm in their relationships with each other, the identity of Young Adults as a whole was diminishing, as there was less integration, despite the once-a-month meetings now known as Encounter (was called STN - something totally new - in 2003; and STR - something totally real - in 2004). Recently we've established the Networks meeting - so we all corporately meet at least twice a month. Together with events like YAMO (badminton and netball), I can really see the identity of Young Adults come back. Claytz has done a lot to foster the identity and the unity of YA. Now, YA is bigger than ever, and I can see the family environment come back!! Mind you the discipleship is still happening! Praise God!

Now, as for suggestions on how we can do so much more:

• let's keep this up, and encourage intermingling between Networks during Encounter, and between Life Groups during Networks
• I reckon speaking from the pulpit is not easy, especially if it feels like talking to a wall. Let's get our "Amens", "Yeps" and "Mmhmms" up - ENGAGE and ENCOURAGE the speaker. Actually, encourage and thank those who help out - hospitality teams, etc....
• CONTRIBUTE!!! How easy it is to let others do the work. However it's way more rewarding if you are part of it too!!
• OUTREACH. Sometimes it's hard to actually talk about outreach from the pulpit. Why? Perhaps to the non-Christians that visit that night, it seems like we're all targeting them? In a way... but better than from a pulpit, we need to understand it for ourselves: we have a mission!!!! It's not necessarily about bringing people to church, it's about connecting people to God. Easier said than done: but why don't we challenge each other in this?
• PRAYER. I think prayer is important. Don't you? If we want God to do awesome things in Young Adults, we've gotta ask Him! He's eternally patient and He won't intrude if we don't allow Him! Just open your hearts, cry out to Him and invite Him in! Not just into Young Adults - but into your Life Groups, pretty much wherever you're are - in the car, at uni, at work.....

So there you go - now it's your turn. What other things should we do to see the Young Adults reach higher and draw closer to God our Awesome Father? Let's set the example in our Life Groups - then as a Tribe - then as a corporate body: GO Young Adults!!