Mar 29

Written by: Landa Lew
3/29/2009 7:11 PM 

As changes are taking place in the young adult ministry, I wanted to provide an update on what's happening and what I've learned along the way. It's been almost a year in planning and six months of actual launch of the YA group with not much success. That being the case, I've enlisted others to help. We want to conduct additional research and look at different avenues to promote growth. If you have ideas we would love to hear from you. But at this time, meetings will be less frequent as we plan and evalute ideas to enhance the YA ministry. I encourage you to continue looking on the College and Career Web site for meeting dates, as we hope to have some exciting meetings ahead.

Many of you may not know that I'm a doer. I take on many responsibilities and carry a lot on my shoulders, and not incline to ask for help from others (except God) during times when things get tough. But as Pastor Louis had shared last Sunday about those who carry many burdens, if other caring people are willing to help, unload some of those burdens so that our own loads are a little lighter to bear, then we feel we can cope better with what we have remaining and won't get discouraged or crushed under its weight. I didn't realize I would have to take that message to heart so quickly.

Sometimes we don't ask for help for various reasons. Maybe it's not wanting to admit defeat, embarrassment, weakness, shame, pride, being self-reliant, or, in my case, being a firstborn, who had been expected to take on additional responsibilities from an early age, that may prevent us from asking for help. We want to rely on ourselves to prove that we can do it, or we are just over-achievers or workaholics or thrive on a challenge. And although we have every reason to acknowledge our own self worth, we are humans with limitations and weaknesses. That's why God put other people in our lives to help us with this journey called, "Life". That is also why there is a higher being, God himself. God knows, once those human limitations max out, His infinite mighty powers steps in to help shoulder some of those burdens. But we (humans) need to have the humbleness to accept help and the foresight to realize when help is needed and to ask for it.

So as I enlist others with expertise, diversified ideas and experiences, and who have the same passion as myself to see the YA ministry succeed (Pastor Louis, Ted, Michael, Mei and others, you're awesome!), I feel a sense of teamwork and a lifting of weight that can help me be more effective and productive in coordinating the young adult ministry. I'm more excited than ever to explore creative ways to promote a fellowship group where you can look forward to a place to hang out and participate in fun events/outings and enjoy the camaraderie and form friendships with other young adults who are in the same stage of life as yourself.

So piggybacking on Pastor Louis' message and learning from my own experience, I encourage you, in times when burdens seem too heavy to bear, reach out to friends, family, caring individuals, to God. We don't have to go it alone. There are those out there willing to help another human being, all we need to do is look beyond ourselves and ask. Letting go . . . change, is not always such a bad thing. And as you know, God is there, always looking out for us.

" . . . They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone."
(Numbers 11:17)

Landa Lew, Coordinator
College and Career Fellowship

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