Illuminate 2007

This past weekend the Rochester Church hosted the first Illuminate. Illuminate is a youth conference designed for today's youth. We offered sessions that included a drama workshop, a song writing workshop, beat poetry, a prayer labyrinth, and classes with Patrick Mead and Sean Algaier. Pat Pugh, a minister from inner-city Cincinnati, brought some powerful messages. Friday night included performances and worship by Minor Measure (a band consisting of Rochester youth group members) and Ekklesia (a praise band from Rochester College). Ambassadors communicated effectively through drama and Jason Tomlinson shared God's message in a unique way through Spoken Word Praise. Almost 200 students and dozens of adults came together for an uplifting weekend of spiritual growth. And we had the joy of witnessing the baptism of a young lady on Saturday night. (For more about Illuminate and to see videos from the weekend, visit www.shoutlife.com/illuminate.)

I am grateful to the dozens of people who sacrificed hours and hours of their time to make this event a success. Hearts were touched and lives were changed because of the efforts of these tremendous servants. Many of them make my ministry a joy not just for one weekend, but all year long. The hearts of the people at the Rochester church are huge and their desire to serve is incredible. God has blessed me with a great body of followers of Jesus to serve beside.

As I reflect on the weekend, one thing continues to come to mind. It is amazing what God can do when we get out of the way and let Him work. People were free to express themselves in worship. Teenagers were able to explore different ways to live out their faith. God's word was preached without restraint. The Holy Spirit was unleashed and people were impacted.

Today's generation of young people often does not understand the constraints that previous generations have placed on God. This is not to condemn or criticize previous generations. Each generation experiences God in a unique way. But when the church tries to force every generation to experience God in the same way - their way - there will be struggle. This has been the story of the church for centuries. Whether it is Martin Luther questioning indulgences or Martin Luther King, Jr. attacking the racism of the church in the 20th century, there have been innovators in every generation that cause us to reconsider where we are and where God wants us to go.

Today's youth have an important voice that must be heard in the church. They will cause us to examine life-long beliefs and consider new ways of expressing our faith. They will challenge our presuppositions and question our reasoning. And in the process - as iron sharpens iron - we can all grow in our relationship with God.

The new ways of the younger generation do not have all the right answers. But neither do we. Every generation must be willing to work alongside those with different views and different ways of doing things. Only then can we become the body of Christ working together in unity. Unity is not the presence of conformity, it is the absence of division. Jesus did not want cookie-cutter churches and Christians. He wanted a chosen people, a holy nation, His very own possession. We are called to be Christ-shaped followers of Jesus who don't find our identity in our style of worship or list of doctrines. Rather, we are called to seek our identity in the One who gave us life, Jesus Christ.

shine!
Jason