During a youth leader training weekend, a young Romanian woman recognizes God’s call to start a youth group in her church.
Nazarene Theological College in Manchester, England, has helped
Eurasia Region NYI develop training for youth leaders by allowing Rev Louise Kenyon
to design and tailor a training tool called Nexūs. Nexūs is an intensive course over a
minimum of two-weekends in which people are invited
to prepare themselves better for youth leadership.
Our most recent Nexūs was held in Manchester.
Alexandra Marinescu, from the Bucharest Blessing Church of
the Nazarene in Romania took part. She says that
this training opened her eyes to God’s calling to youth
ministry, while also providing her with the tools to
answer His call. The following is her story.
A call to youth ministry
By Alexandra Marinescu
Nexūs was a wonderful
and unique experience. It
was the main reason why I
understood the importance
of the youth group, so,
after the course; I started a
youth group in Romania.
Not only Nexūs helped me make this
decision, but it taught me to appreciate
and give more importance to young
people. I have learned that they also
have problems and they face difficult
situations, despite being young. I have
learned that they need someone to be
there for them to encourage them, to
tell them: Don’t worry. Jesus is in control
of your situation!
We live in a tumultuous and hurried
world and I know that today’s
youngsters are running for the values
of this world and not the values of God.
That is why they need guidance. I was
not convinced, however, that I, a still growing
Christian, may be a youth leader
and can lead these children to God.
But God spoke to me first through a
youth leader at Nexūs. Then, when I was
on my way back to Romania, God spoke
to my heart in such an overwhelming
way that my only reaction was to cry
for two hours continuously and to write
down what God was telling me.
After experiencing God’s presence,
and in light of the course I attended,
suddenly my life made sense. I do not
mean to say I suddenly became the best
youth leader, but my life made sense in
that I discovered myself.
Questions such as: How can God put
someone like me at the head of the
youth group? Am I worthy to serve this
important ministry? How does God
speak to us? How can I make a spiritual
awakening and stay awake?
The Lord spoke to me, and oooh…how
my heart was listening to His answers!
There would be a lot to write about my
confession, but in short, God told me
that by His will He is preparing me to
serve.
So, I have returned to Romania, full of
the Holy Spirit like I have never been
before, and I proposed to my church
to have a special room for our young
people. I found some donations and
bought everything they needed. I
wanted young people to feel like they’re
coming to their second home, so we
decorated the room until it felt like a
comfortable living room. The young
people liked it! They said they feel
comfortable and happy.
We started the youth group for a month.
I asked God to send 40 young people
to the youth group. I now have seven;
33 more to go! I trust the 33 are on
their way. I love those kids who come to
youth meetings. I don’t know how, but I
also love the other 33 I haven’t met yet!
I look forward to see them on Friday
evenings, to eat together and discuss
social issues and how God sees them.
God was the one who really put my
desire in my heart.
republished from Where Worlds Meet, May 2018
Pray for the new youth group in Romania, that God blesses and increases it.
