Can you believe it? September is already here! Do you know what that means? Accelerate is back! Our team is super excited about what the Lord has planned for our youth. As a leadership team, we have taken the last few months to refresh, reflect, plan, and pray.

As we launch out into this new season of Accelerate here at Koinonia, our vision as a team is: “We are committed to making disciples of Jesus Christ and seeing the power of God unleashed through the lives of our youth.”

As youth leaders we are here to model, mentor, and equip our youth in Christ-like character, sound doctrine, and effective methods to reach the lost and make disciples of their own. To do this we will follow the model given to us in Scripture found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

And the model given by Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20:

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

Our 1st youth group meeting of the season will be on Wednesday night September 6th at 7pm. The youth leaders are: Christian and Carrie Schamberger, Mark and Melissa Dannunzio, Brandon and Courtney LaBarbera and Anthony and Sarah Salvaggio.

We want to thank everyone for your continued prayers and support of this vital ministry within our fellowship. Our children are a heritage from God, and in these crucial years of their lives we must come alongside them to keep them plugged into God’s word, connected to other young people who love Jesus, rooted in God’s never ending love for them, and encouraged to use their God-given gifts and talents for His glory. We want our youth to be filled with the Spirit and on fire for Jesus Christ. We also desire to come alongside the parents and aid them in this mission.

Lastly, as I have been praying, I asked myself and God, “What is Accelerate?”

This is what the Lord put on my heart. Accelerate is a place –

to worship God;
to grow;
that is safe to share what’s on your heart;
for God to work and move;
to cry out to the Lord;
to fellowship and break bread;
of prayer;
to laugh and have fun;
to learn and teach;
to be with good friends;
to be who God made you to be.
As we approach September 6th let’s continue to pray and wait on the Lord because it is our belief that He has great things in store for Accelerate!