YOUTH CONFERENCE IN
COLUMBIA
In accordance with the program of the Youth Department of the Colombian Union, a youth conference was held December 22-27, 1998, in San Francisco-Cundinimarca, a town about an hour from Bogotá. Such a conference is held only every two years for the young people of the entire union.
Brother Orlando Flores, president of the union, opened the conference under the motto, “Christ, the Hero of the Youth in the Final Conflict.” We first completed the orientation and introductions. Brother Daniel Ortíz presented our initial topic, “Why We Exist.” We know that God is the Creator, and we are called “human beings.” Does this not make us think? Did we ask to be born? Who brought us here with the characteristics we have–height, color of skin, etc.? To obtain the answer, we analyzed the following points:
• Knowledge of the world we live in
• Description of our environment
• Description of the things we have at hand
• Our living situation
• Our relationship to things in life
We are placed in a “world” with certain racial, social, religious, and historic characteristics. For example, the participants’ world could be described like this: America is our “world.” America looks as it does, because it was discovered by Europeans. People are often identified by the things surrounding them; for instance, we say, “The man wearing the black jacket,” etc. Most of the things we have around us can be used to create something. Human beings operate within a more open system, while animals are confined to a closed one. This means that we can take advantage of our environment to produce things, while animals are very limited. We concluded that the almighty God has placed each of us in this time and place and thus it is our duty to serve Him in love, using everything around us. Knowing ourselves is an important part of knowing why we exist.
The next topic was “The Influence of Friendship.” Questions such as, “What does it mean to be a friend?” “Am I a friend, or do I first expect to have friends?” were discussed. Texts showing Jesus as a Friend included John 15:15; 14:13; Matthew 11:19. Characteristics of a friend included the following:
• Always loves
• Is a friend in time of need
• Is like a brother
• His wounds are faithful (Proverbs 27:6)
After analyzing these points, we studied about influence. 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16. There are many kinds of influence, such as parents, music, universities, etc. But more important than even these is the influence we exert upon each other.
Another topic we studied was “Great Promises to the Heroes in Jesus,” presented by Brother Gabriel Porras. We looked at the different kinds of promises there are and how the fulfillment of all of them is dependent on our obedience to Him who is the Lifegiver. We young people have thousands of promises just waiting to become reality for us. Are we going to accept them?
There was also a topic titled, “What Should We Do at Christmastime?” The real (pagan) roots of Christmas as opposed to the actual time of year Jesus’ birth likely occurred, and other related topics were discussed. A concrete example of helping others was also presented.
This gives you just a little idea of how we spent this wonderful time together. May the Lord help all the youth who attended the youth meetings as well as all the youth around the entire world to be united in one spirit, is my wish and prayer.
–Oscar Oviedo Estupiñan, Colombia
JAMAICAN
YOUTH CONFERENCE
December 24-27, 1998
“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” Matthew 24:44.
There was great joy as the believers gathered at beautiful Camp Curtis, St. Mary, Jamaica, for the 1998 youth conference. Everyone had a feeling of togetherness and a need to share God’s love as the conference began in the early afternoon.
Brother George Gowie, Jamaican Field president, opened the conference with 1 John 3:1-3: “Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God....” He made it clear that by nature we were sons and daughters of the devil; but by accepting Jesus, by surrendering our will to Him and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we are now the sons of God.
The conference was blessed with a variety of presentations on the lives of people of God and the requirements He makes of His people. Included in these workshops, entitled “The Faithful Few,” the true people of God from creation to our present time were shown as those who have stood firm for the truth and been obedient to God, while they were surrounded by apostasy. These people were always in the minority. “Caring for the Temple” was a workshop dealing with how we should care for our bodies as the temple of the Holy Spirit. Especially stressed was the importance of caring for the colon. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, periodic cleansing, fasting, and regular exercise were described as ways to take good care of the colon. Otherwise, illnesses can enter the bloodstream and affect the entire body.
There were lively discussions on the ceremonial laws and how they were fulfilled in Christ. Another discussion was on children, God’s heritage, and how they should be cared for. For children to be properly trained, parents themselves must be trained and well disciplined so their children can safely follow in their footsteps and live exemplary lives.
Praise rose to God in heaven as both children and adults lent their voices to make this conference a memorable event.
There was even more spiritually nourishing food, inspiring us to serve our Lord. For example, Sister Marline Campbell related the story of Daniel’s experience in the royal court of King Darius. Faith in the Lord and obedience to Him–no matter what the cost, giving our all to Him–is the only way we will be able to stand as did Daniel.
The Sabbath school and divine service were filled with warning, reproof, and encouragement. The participants were very attentive.
In the afternoon and on into the close of the Sabbath, there were two workshops–“I Have a Dream” and “Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” The first one dealt with spiritualism and its effect on religion. We should be very careful of how we look at the things we dream and especially of attaching meaning to them, for we can thus easily be ensnared in Satan’s trap. We should also learn how the brain works and what influences our dreams. The other workshop took us on a mental journey to observe the lives of the martyrs of the Middle Ages as well as the persecution to be faced by the remnant people during the time of the Sunday law. We were encouraged to make our hearts right with God now and live a consecrated daily life, for by so doing the Lord will fill us with His Spirit and enable us to pass safely through this period of persecution.
Early Sunday morning, we traveled to a river, where we witnessed the baptism of two dear sisters who had decided to dedicate themselves to the Lord. The service, performed by Brother Gowie, was wonderful and solemn. Later in the morning, these sisters were extended the right hand of fellowship, and then we all had the opportunity to welcome the new sisters.
This wonderful, blessed conference came to a close as testimonies were given by brothers, sisters, and visitors of the wonderful working of the Lord in their lives. May the Lord continue to bless us as we desire to be faithful to Him.
INTERESTING FACTS
ABOUT THE BIBLE
The New Testament contains 260 chapters. That is exactly 5 times 52, the number of weeks in a year. Thus, if you would read 5 chapters in the Bible every Sabbath, you would read the New Testament through in one year.
Furthermore, if you subtract the 52 Sabbaths from the 365 days in the year, that leaves 313 weekdays. The Old Testament contains 929 chapters. So, if one would begin reading the Old Testament on January 2, 2000, and read 3 chapters every weekday, he would complete the Old Testament on December 29 by reading only two chapters that day.
Thus, regardless of the order, if one reads three chapters in the Bible every weekday and 5 chapters on the Sabbath, he will read the entire Bible in about one year.
Answers to Bible Teaser in Youth Anchor, Vol. 4, No. 1, January 1999:
Two chapters of the Bible are nearly alike, namely, 2 Kings 19 and Isaiah 37. The first is divided into 37 verses, and the latter into 38; verse 15 in the first is the same as verses 15 and 16 in the second. Sixteen of the verses read exactly the same in both chapters. There is also a striking similarity between Psalm 14 and 53. Also, Psalm 40:13-17 and Psalm 70 read almost exactly the same. Psalms 57, 60 and 108 have some passages that are very similar.
