How does our youth group go on after the death of Pastor Roger Templeton…?
Our youth are so important! They are the future of our church. They will be the ones that tell their friends and family about how our church has helped them build a relationship with GOD. We can only hope and pray that more youth will want to join in on this amazing experience. Today’s youth are not the same youth from 10 or even 5 years ago. We are competing with social media, sports, and other extracurricular activities. So how do we inspire them? How to we keep them connected?
These questions were all I thought about when I planned out my youth classes. How could I do this? I was struggling with not having enough youth in my class. I was feeling defeated and discouraged. I was questioning myself and questioning Kandie and Pastor Roger for appointing me to do this. So, with all these questions, I met with Pastor Roger the week before he passed away and I shared my thoughts, asked him questions and asked for guidance. He just smiled and said… “It’s not about how many youth are in your class, it is about how you have moved them, connected with them and shown them how to have a relationship with GOD”. His last words were, “GOD has chosen you for this, you were meant to do this. I believe in you, I am here to encourage and guide you”. So, leaving this lunch I felt like I could conquer the world and I was going to regroup and start fresh.
The news of Pastor Roger’s death the following week, devastated me as it did everyone else. All those questions and doubts that I had before came rolling back. How could I possibly do this without him? His encouragement. His guidance.
So, after about 2 weeks of going back and forth. His words kept repeating. “GOD CHOSE ME”. GOD did choose me, and I am confident that my group will only become stronger and we will continue to grow.
Confirmation and all other activities that Pastor Roger had scheduled will be revisited after the first of the year. For now, we will build a stronger relationship as a group and with GOD and strengthen our hearts after the loss of Pastor Roger.
Jessica Villemarette; Youth Leader GUMC