The Ada News
Sasakwa —
Sasakwa First Baptist Church celebrates the one year anniversary of Youth Challenge, an every Wednesday evening event to meet some of the needs of youth in the Sasakwa community. One year ago, March 30, 2011, deacon Lorne Bartlett and other deacons recommended the congregation consider the idea of a program they called Youth Challenge. An invitation was extended to youth in the church and the community to come each Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m. for a time of worship, eating a meal followed by opportunity to play games and sports.
The worship service is structured like a Sunday church service with the youth volunteering to open the service with an invocation, followed by special music, testimonies from the youth, scripture reading, hymn singing, prayer requests and a DVD presentation of “His Story,” a presentation by an artist using animation and narrative covering the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, a benediction then dismissal to the fellowship hall for the meal. The DVD presentation is between 7-10 minutes in length and quickly captures the viewers’ attention and interest.
So far, children and youth range from kindergarten age to seniors in high school. Adults assist with the worship service, with the meal preparation and supervising and participation in the recreational activities.
Attendance began in the 30s initially and increased markedly with a range of 34 youth and children to a high attendance of 61 and 17 to 24 adults have been present. The adults in the worship service find the DVD presentation valuable as well. Each week the average youth attendance is between 45 to 50.
As a result of the worship experiences, there have been 17 decisions for salvation made by individual youths. Plans are under way to erect a building on the cement slab the men of the church poured two months ago. The building, in honor of Mrs. Thelma Green, will be a family life center for use with church and church-community related activities.
For more information, contact Ed White, pastor, at 405-941-3381.
