'What If God Wanted To Send You A Text Message?'

The song “It’s all because of Jesus” brought 1,800 plus students and adults to their feet to begin the first worship set of Momentum Youth Conference 2009. Steve Fee and his band led the conference in high-energy worship in the Sewall Center Arena on the Robert Morris Campus. The Operation Barnabas teams joined the Fee Band on stage for the last song of the set.

Jeff Bogue welcomed the conference and introduced Ed Lewis, CE National’s Executive Director, who welcomed everyone to Momentum 2009. Ed introduced the theme which is based on 1 Thessalonians 2:8; “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our very lives as well.” Ed emphasized the need for Christians to give their lives and the Gospel of God.

Larry Everett, We Care Coordinator, talked with the conference about the ability of students to touch the lives of people who are in desperate need. Larry challenged students to touch the lives of people in the same way they might have been touched by others.

After the Operation Barnabas students led in the song “God of This City”, Eric Miller, OB leader, introduced Katie an OB student. Katie told a story about how one time on her OB Tour God cleared up rain so her team could do a park program.

Steve Fee took the stage and led the conference in singing a very reverent version of “How Great Thou Art”. Voices filled the arena in worshipful adoration to God. Fee then challenged students that God can do anything this week. Before leading the rest of “How Great Thou Art”, Fee mentioned how much he loves the old hymns and enjoyed growing up singing them in church. Fee concluded the set with the song “Here I Am to Worship”.

Koreem Mack, Minister to Youth at Clinton Grace Brethren Church in Clinton Maryland, introduced the evening speaker Shawn McBride. Shawn is Senior Pastor of the New Life Community Church located in Bowie, Maryland and a conference favorite.

Shawn began his talk by asking the question, “What if God wanted to send you a text message?” Shawn likened the Bible to a text message from God. He challenged the conference that the Bible needs to be read before the Gospel can be given to others.

McBride used passages in Psalm 119, Matthew 4, Job 23, and 1 Peter 2, to drive home his point that Christians need to elevate the Bible and crave it like a new born baby craves milk.

Shawn challenged the conference with the words, “I dare you not to eat breakfast before you read a chapter in the Bible. No Bible, No Breakfast”. “It’s not all about pizza and popcorn,” Shawn went on to say, “We have to get in the Book.”

Shawn gave the illustration of his 4-year-old watching the TV show Dora the Explorer. When Dora is lost, she’ll refer to a map. “Some of your friends are lost and they need a map,” said Shawn. “If you need instruction, look in the Book.”

Shawn closed by bringing out a mirror and saying that God’s Word is also a mirror. He said that the book of James refers to God’s word as a mirror because a mirror will tell you the truth.

Shawn had students with a Bible stand and led them in this prayer. “All mighty God, I humbly ask that you would help me, give me the strength to spend time every day in your Word. May your Word keep me from sin and may sin never keep me from your Word. Transform my life. Transform my mind. Transform my heart through the things I read from this book. In Jesus name.

“Everything in this world will perish except the Word of God,” concluded Shawn. “Invest your life in getting to know the author of this book. “

Students responded with a round of applause as Shawn left the stage.

“It was amazing. Inspirational,” said Sharon from Ohio.

Jesse, also from Ohio said, “It was empowering for me to get into the Bible more”.

Shanda from PA said, “It was something that I really need to focus on. It was able to speak to me and help me grow spiritually now and in the future.”

Laura from PA said, “I have been thinking about not taking God’s Word for granted. I need to make sure that I realize that it’s God talking to me.

Momentum 2009 continues tomorrow morning with Shawn McBride, again, the featured speaker.