Serving Youths in the CCR (by Christof Hemberger)
Hi all, Just to share this. We got to know this guy briefly, in Kkottongnae. There was a joke, coz of his name was misspelt - as Christ of Hemberger -- so we called him Christ OF Hemberger.. hahaha!
Article taken from the quarterly ICCRS newsletter (International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services. http://iccrs.org/nl2009-4abtgoil/NL09-4_E.pdf
Serving Youths in the CCR
by Christof Hemberger
The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement of the Holy Spirit that appeals to all generations. All over the world, the young and the old have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in a very personal way. Many of the men and women who lead the CCR today got a personal relationship with the Lord in their young years.
Young people have always been on God's mind and heart—he desires to reach their hearts and lives. God desires to be close to the young generation. This is not because God loves the young more than the older generation—no way! I guess it is due to the fact that the young ones are in a time of the journey of their life where essential decisions are to be made and major questions arise. The roots for their whole life ahead are laid.
It does not matter in which culture, nation or background someone grew up—one thing matters to all young people. Who am I? Why am I as I am? Where will I go? These questions—spoken or unspoken, consciously known or unconsciously lived—guide us through our whole adolescence. Young people are searching the means of their lives, they are curious what life will bring at all, and they are open to anyone who gives answers to them.
It is God himself who is the perfect answer on these kinds of questions: “I am the one who created you, who knows you from the inside out. I am the one who has plans of life for you, plans of hope and plans of joy!” The whole Bible is telling us: God loves each and every one of us in a very special and personal way. He is longing to reveal his love to us! Indeed the Bible is a letter of Love to mankind!
Who am I? God tells us: “You are my beloved son/ daughter!” Why am I as I am? God confirms us, “because I created you as you are!” Where will I go? God assures us, “wherever you will go—I will be with you. I will guide and protect you while you are searching for the way. I will lead you, just go close with me!”
Through all the years the CCR has existed, it has worked on helping the young (and old) to better know God in this special way—as a personal and living God, as the one who loves each and every one as we are, as the one who guides us throughout our whole lives—and of course as the one who has sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us and to equip us with his charisms.
In this way the CCR’s message and effort has been a great help to many young men and women in the entire world! While searching for the means and purpose of our lives we have been told about the one who truly is the meaning and purpose of our life—God, the loving father, together with Jesus Christ our redeemer and the Holy Spirit.
Though methods of communication have changed during the last centuries, this message never will change, “I am the way and the truth and the life!” In proclaiming him as the way, the truth and the life of everyone, we will be a great help, especially to young people! It is our dream that all over the world people would be reached by this message: God loves us—and He sends his Holy Spirit to empower us and to be with us in our daily lives! In order to see this fulfilled, we need people of God everywhere to pray for them to be open to experience God in this personal and loving way in their lives! We need leaders and staff (especially those who are young) to reach out to these young men and women who need to hear about God and experience Him in their lives!
I am very grateful about ICCRS and the CCR doing so much and working so hard in reaching out to the youth! All over the world we can see men and women of God working in the mission–fields amongst young people. I was very glad with the many young people attending the last International ICCRS Conference in Kkottongnae in South Korea! We definitely will work on further possibilities for young people to meet and network amongst each other in the CCR all over the world! And we also will work on empowering young men and women to become well equipped and trained leaders in the CCR worldwide! ICCRS is doing a wonderful job in supporting leaders, especially the young, to be enabled for their ministry amongst the young generations. Just now there has been again an “Institute of Formation” that was held in Rome—several others already have been held throughout the world during the last few years.
God loves all generations—and everyone is important to him! But it is very important to pray for and invest in the young generation! They are in deep need to hear answers on their questions. They need discipleship, mentoring and formation. And, they will be our future!
Article printed in - http://iccrs.org/nl2009-4abtgoil/NL09-4_E.pdf
