Congreso de Jovenes

"Young People Of Influence" ...  Youth Conference

In March, I was invited to go to a youth conference held at the Charismatic church in Palmira.  It was an amazing three days of gathering with other young people to worship God!  It was so wonderful to see lives getting touched... including my own!!!

One of the bands from the Charismatic church...

Two of my friends and youth leaders in the Charismatic church.... Christian & Lida

Pastors Jhon Jairo & Andrea

One of the guest speakers... from Barranquilla 

With Lida and Leonardo Mateus, a famous singer in Colombia

Some friends from the conferences...... me, Ruth, Marcela, Christian & Sarai

Leonardo Mateus singing with the Charismatic church band

Lady & me

Leonardo Mateus and the Charismatic band singing "Llueve" or in English... "Rain Down"

Taking Jesus to the park!

Young people from the Bethania Ministries in Palmira set off to one of the large city parks to evangelize.  They had prepared some music and a skit to reach out to the people and teenagers that were there on a Saturday evening.

my "Colombian brother" ...  Christian & me

My amiga Katherine... she represented "witchcraft" in the skit.

The skit was about being set free from the different "spirits" of the world... like alcoholism, witchcraft, pornography, idolatry, loneliness... AND IT PROCLAIMED THE FACT THAT THERE IS FREEDOM IN JESUS!!!

The people gathering to watch the skit.

Even the ice cream man stopped by to watch!!!

The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

La mentalidad que proviene del Espíritu es vida y paz.

Romanos 8.6

SARAH PREACHING IN SPANISH!!!

This would be proof to my American friends that I can actually speak the Spanish language and even preach without a translator! AAAAAAAAAH!!!!  I still can't believe it!  It's far from perfect, but God's helping me with that (and a few patient friends)!!!

This wasn't exactly the happiest message I've had to give, but it went really well and the people received the Word.  I spoke from 3 different Bible passages:

1. Revelation 3:15-17  --  You think that you are alright, that your life is just grand... "but you do not realize that you are wretched, poor, blind and naked.  Your relationship with God is not what it seems.

2. Jonah 1 --  There are some people who are running away from their calling on their life, from the instructions God has given them.  Running away not only affects yourself, but also the lives of others.

3. Revelation 2:2-5  --  And finally, the hardest Word I had to share:   That there are some of us who have forsaken their first love... in other words, there are some who's relationship with God has disintegrated to practically nothing.

This video ends with a song called "Perfume A Tus Pies" (Fragrant Perfume).  Because I had been sick for a week, I really had no voice to sing... but the boys learned the song really fast that morning to help me out!!!

Youth group!

I was given the great honor to share a message at a youth meeting in Pastor Carlos' church, Fuente de Amor y Paz.  God gave me a message from the Bible passage: Revelation 3:15-17, and the question was how "hot", passionate, on fire, excited for God are we???

I shared several examples of what God can do with us.... even us "young people" when we are on fire for Him and have surrendered ourselves to His great plan.

And because I'm crazy and don't like to do anything "normal" (especially in the church), Miguel was stuck cleaning up the mess I made after one of my illustrations....  hehe!

This was so fun to watch!  Claudia (the pastor's daughter) made all of the kids get on stage and do a dance with her!  They did great for trying it for the first time!!!

An evening in La Pampa

On Friday, February 25, I was invited to speak that the new church in La Pampa.  La Pampa is a neighborhood of Palmira where many poor families live.  I had visited them the year before, and they instantly became very special to me.  In fact, this was the first place that people started calling me "Pastora Sara"!!!

(I'm still waiting on more photos from Pastor Daniel)

Pastora Lida opened the service with a time of prayer

First ones there!  :)

Julian lead the worship

Prayer and worship

Singing a song before I spoke

With the gang after service

 Pastora Lida, Sarita and Pastor Daniel Vergara