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Information from Youth Ministry Team

2012 is going to be a year packed with Gods work, especially in the youth ministry. We are praying for deep spiritual growth amongst the teenagers. Please join us in prayer for your teens. We are however sad to say that Alfred will be leaving for Durban permanently. We will miss him tremendously and we truly appreciate all he has done for the ministry. Ons gaan jou mis Frikkie!
Machiel & Alfrieda Greyling Associate Minister/Youth Leader terie_jarbe@hotmail.com 0769708738 Alfred Van Eeden 0833083175 Elroy Snell 0834461732/0832550484 Ian & Tracey Kitching 0827819695/0833006801

Youth Newsletter
Edition 1 - February 2011

Personal Goals for a New Year

I think everyone wants a second chance. Everyone would like a blank page now and then to restart something, or to do things differently. Many people look at the beginning of a new year as a second chance, clean slate or blank page. They then set out goals to accomplish, attitudes to adopt and things to change in the new and upcoming year. New years resolutions they are called. Some say it is a bad idea to make such resolutions since you would have forgotten them two weeks into the new year. But to those who commit their plans to God there will be success and fruit (Pr. 16:3). I think it is a good idea to reflect on your life, they way you think, behave and what you spend most of your time on and then to challenge those old habits with a vision of what you want to be during the course of the new year. I would like to challenge you to revolve your new years resolutions around God. Losing weight, getting six As, finding the perfect girlfriend or making first team hockey are great resolutions, but such things should be secondary in nature. Think about the following resolutions: What about reading the red in your Bible (the words of Jesus)? You can read all the words of Jesus in one month. Therefore you can read what is on the mind of the Son of God twelve times this year. Can you imagine how that would change the way you live your life? Or what about skipping one meal once a week and taking the money and giving it to the poor? What about saying a kind word of encouragement to someone everyday? Walk into class in the morning and choose someone randomly to encourage and just be friendly towards. What about writing down your prayers and recording every two weeks whether God has answered your prayers or not? You will be surprised how faithful God is. What about becoming a friend to the person at school who seems lonely? You can probably summarise all these suggestions into: simply be a real Christian in 2012. Proverbs 16:3 says Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. Too many times we have plans, and these plans we commit to ourselves because they are selfish. I will do this or that this year, because I want to accomplish this or that for myself. But if the focus changes from me to God and His Kingdom it becomes so powerful. I want to be a part of Gods work to change the world. And If I am part of Gods plan to change the world then He will give me whatever is necessary to succeed in doing it. Therefore, go and make some new years resolutions, but choose those which fit into Gods plan, and then you commit them to God. We speak again at the end of the year. Love Machiel

Yuf
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New Years Quotes

Can't we, when we are working and drop something, instead of getting mad about it, say thank you God for giving me the strength to pick this up? -Earl Merrit You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving. -Amy Carmichael Love is unselfishly choosing for another's highest good. -CS Lewis Going to church no more makes you a Christian than standing in a garage makes you a car. Garrison Keillor I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need. Charles Spurgeon Prayer is when you talk to God; meditation is when you listen to God. - Diana Robinson "I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self." -Aristotle "He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent." -John Calvin "Tomorrow I plan to work, work, from early until late. In fact I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer." -Martin Luther Dont be angry that you cannot make others like you wish them to be, since you cannot make yourself as you wish to be. -Thomas, A. Kempis. God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference. -Kristone. You decide Saturday night what you will do Sunday morning. -Fred North Joining the church will not save but the saved will join the church. -Rick Scarbough. Some people go to church because they think they are better than others and some go because they think they are worse than others. Why do you go to church?

Growing in Christ
Why does Bellville Youth Ministry exist?
It exists to fulfil five major purposes namely Evangelism, Fellowship, Discipleship, Ministry and Worship. Or to put it in other words: We want to reach non-believing teenagers in our community. We want to connect with our fellow Christians as often as we can. We want to grow in our faith together around Gods Word. We want to discover the gifts God has given us in order to serve Him. And lastly we want to honour God for who He is and praise Him through worship. This year we want to connect much, reach out much, honour God much and more specifically serve much and grow much in our faith. In order to increase spiritual growth we will be readjusting various new aspects to the ministry: Small Groups. When we speak of small groups it simply refers to house to house relevant bible studies and discussions. We will all get together one evening in the week at someones house and gather around Gods Word. At these studies we can be open about our struggles and receive the necessary mentorship and biblical guidance to deal with teenage life. These studies will commence soon. Wednesday Night Bible Study. Wednesday evening Bible studies will as always continue, but we will be working through specific courses designed to increase your biblical knowledge. If you want to know more about the Bible, the teachings of the Church and the most important theological topics then Wednesdays are important studies. The first classes (GRO 101) will start Wednesday 7 March. I am going to encourage everyone to go through these classes since they will provide the answers to the most important questions you have. Sunday Evening Lesson. Jon-Derek will be leading the Sunday evening lessons about specific teenage topics that is relevant to your lives. These are important lessons for you, please be there as a commitment. Here are the topics till end of February:
Words to live by...... Alphabetically 15 Jan (Assurance- Gods Tattoo) 22 Jan (Beauty- Gods loveliness) 29 Jan (Courage- Giant in the Land) 5 Feb (Disciple- The upward call) 12 Feb (Encouragement- Heartbreak Hill) 19 Feb (Fellowship- As the goose flies) 26 Feb (Gods will- Night driving) 2 7

Wall-Post
Mission Impossible
29 September to 7 October are THE dates for 2012: Mission trip to Lesotho. What do you have to do? Search your heart first of all and decide if you are willing to make some sacrifices to go on this trip to preach the Gospel. If you have made your decision there is no turning back (Luke 9:62). The money you will have to raise is R1000 and you will obviously need to get your passport. We personally guarantee you that this will be a life-changing experience.

So, whats News?

Farewell
It is sad to say that Robert and Carla Ross have moved to Somerset West. Carla, who finished school this year will be working and Robert will be completing his schooling at Drostdy. Ons is lief vir julle, en dit was great om deel te wees van julle lewens.

Boys Camp @ Beaverlack

The boys that went on the Beaverlack camp came back as men. There were eleven of us in total that took the risk of a rusting two days in the heat of the Porterville mountains. The elements challenged us severely as we took on a hike about 4km from camp to Die Langat which is a wide river with a current flowing off the one side. We were going to slide down the current, and we did, and it was fun. But the heat of the day and the rough terrain made it too daunting to return to camp by foot. So, Machiel had to run to camp to fetch the car to pick everyone up. It wasn't the most exciting experience, but everyone laughs at it now

NB. Contact Details

Communication to you goes via sms, email to parents and Facebook. Please make sure your cell number is on the youth phone, that Machiel has your parents email address and that you are signed up with the Facebook group.

BoereDay
The official date for the BoereDay will be 28 April. Planning has already commenced. Please take note that this event is one of the main events aimed at creating awareness of our mission trip. Matriculants
A handful of parents can be truly grateful that their teenagers did so well with their matric marks. Well done JD, Carla, Jacques, Xaria, Kayleigh, Clint and Ruan for finishing your school years so well. Congratulations especially to Kayleigh for receiving five As and two Bs. All the hard work was worth it. JD will be studying theology at UWC. Clint whas already been accepted as a student in the mechanical of a gap-year. Ruan will be studying Psychology. Xaria and Kayleigh will both be studying as well. We wish you the best for your futures. We are secure in our belief that you walk with God and if you walk with Him, He will walk with you. May your future be bright and blessed.
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and there were many spiritual lessons learnt. The best about the heat was that the rivers and rock pools were filled with extremely cold water, it was so refreshing. We enjoyed rock climbing and rock jumping. At one stage we jumped off cliffs that stand about three stories high. Even Xylon did it. Robert received a new nick name: Dunlop, or Continental. His feet was like rubber, he could walk on the most rugged terrain bare feet without flinchrugged terrain...guess where he spent most of his time??? Guys, it was a great two day trip and lots of fun. Next year we will go again, but a little wiser and more prepared to make the most of that beautiful piece of Gods creation. The world without girls, deodorant and showers can do wonders hey?
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T-Shirts
Bianca Rose is currently working hard in designing some awesome Tshirt logos for us this year and our mission trips. There will be two different T-shirts. Please start budgeting for them, they will probably cost about R100 each and will be of good quality.

field. Carla and Jacques will be working as part ing. Ricardo was the only dude too cool for the

True North

Youth Events Calendar

Friday 20 January (19:00-22:00) Bring-a-Friend Friday @ Church Friday 27 January (19:00-21:00) Parents Evening (Movie for youth @ Church) Friday 3 February (19:00-22:00)

Time for a Youth Camp!

When: 2426 February Where: Camp True North (see details below) How Much: R250pp

Bring-a-Friend Friday @ Church Friday 10 February (18:00-21:00)

Hike up Lions Head (Parents welcome)

Friday 17 February (19:00-22:00) Mr. & Mrs. Bellville CoC 24 February - 26 February
Mission Camp @ True North (Elgin, Grabouw)

2012 will be a big year for the Bellville youth as we will be planning and executing a mission trip to Maseru, Lesotho. To get our hearts and minds right we have decided to have a Prayer, Praise & bonding weekend away. We will be having some great activities (zip-line etc.) and also some great praise with Noel, a weekend not to be missed! Make your booking and payment a.s.a.p. Camp forms are available from Machiel. Closing date is 14 February.
More Details: Check out the campsite on www.tnorth.co.za. We will be staying on the Apple Creek campsite. It is about an hour to drive there, close to Mizpah. Only 70km from Durbanville. If possible own transport need to be arranged. We leave Friday afternoon and come back Sunday afternoon.
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Birthdays
JD Beukes25 January Amy De Walden Holmes30 January Angelique Bonthuys31 January Jacques Rose20 February Vaughn Visagie10 February
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