The world is in a terrible state and yet the Bible speaks of a multitude from every tribe, people and language that no one can count gathered together around the throne and in front of the Lamb.
How will a lost world be saved? That’s the question to which around 100 young people (aged mostly between 15 and 25) sought the answer at a weekend called Saved2Serve, which took place at All Nations Christian College, 8–10 April.
Lost in sin, needing the gospel
The aim of Saved2Serve is to glorify God by propelling young people into the Lord’s service for the strengthening of the churches. The theme for 2016 was Mission – how ‘lost’ the world is and how the gospel provides the answer. The speaker was Matt Gamston, a young pastor from Gloucester who had served for a decade with local churches in the Philippines. He spoke with authority from the Bible, illustrating his talks in relevant ways for the young people and sharing stories from his time abroad. We looked in depth at the problem of sin before seeing the wonder of the gospel and how mission finds the lost, using Ephesians 2 and Paul’s first missionary journey in Acts.
The main teaching was supported by a number of workshops, including how to lead someone to Christ, how to live missionally and how to love and support missionaries. There was also a separate strand for those considering training for Christian ministry.
Back to the churches
A number of mission organisations were on hand to talk to the young people about serving opportunities, including Latin Link, Operation Mobilisation, United Beach Missions and Grace Baptist Mission – plenty of literature to pick up in addition to a well-stocked bookstall run by Christian Books, Dunstable.
There are many conferences open to young people across the country, but Saved2Serve is perhaps unique in its aim to encourage young people to go back to their local churches with a servant heart and to continue testing their gifts and seeking the Lord’s place for them in his kingdom, in conjunction with their church leaders.
Most mealtime conversations at the weekend conference touched on these crucial matters. Please pray that Saved2Serve will continue to prompt young people to consider how they can serve God in their lives, whether that be in their church, in the UK or overseas.
