Get Ready for a Crazy, Amp’d Up Year!

Hi everyone and welcome to the Amp’d Live Out Loud blog! I hope you’ll enjoy journeying with us as we (both leaders and students) share our hearts with you. This first blog is written by a middle school leader, Ms. Laura Shambaugh. For more information on Amp’d Youth Ministries or Mount Airy Bible Church visit us at http://youth.mabcmd.org/ or check us out on Facebook

I am so excited to officially kick of this new year of Amp’d Youth Group this week!  Each week, teens will gather, energized to learn more about Jesus. 

One of my favorite aspects of youth group is all of the ridiculous, silly events that occur as we grow spiritually in Christ and encourage on another.  Above is a photo from one such event from when I was in youth group—boy to we look crazy!

Our Amp’d Wednesday night gatherings are a place where everyone is included and welcomed, no matter where you come from or who you are.  Everyone is accepted and loved.  As a leader, I love pointing students to Christ and helping them realize that God has a purpose for their life, including all of our “crazy” qualities for His good. 

Paul writes, “I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.  Yes everything else is worthless when compared to the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Philippians 6:7-8a.  If our identities are rooted solid in Christ, the worldly standards of appearance, possessions, athleticism, talent, intelligence fade away and become worthless.  This is huge for teens today.  It is exciting to see teens (especially Amp’d teens J) grow more towards Him each week and seek His understanding for their lives.  In the end, nothing else matters when compared to knowing Christ.