New Teaching Series

We are in a transitional stage right now with lots of kids who have moved and now it's that time again to get the word out to the new families that have moved on the base about Selah Youth.

We have new graphics to display all over

We are also starting a new teaching series dealing with the basic essentials of Christianity and our understanding of who God is.

Really soon, Chris will be showing up at the 29 palms high school campus to do a study called 'vintage Jesus'

Please pray for all the new that is happening

I AM

I AM...the bread of life, the light of the world, the door, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way, truth, and the life, and the true vine is what we studied up in Big Bear June 15-17. It was a lot of fun and very personal, our group grew a lot together and with the Lord. It is a must to do again in the Fall as we will focus on the creator God and thank him for his many wonderful works that are hard to keep count.

Now we must do a survey os Paul's letters with a study called 13 Letters.

Where Have We Been?

Man, I haven't updated anything in awhile, but he we are into summer and just finished graduations. Time flies like usual and it is a wonderful thing to see some of these teens grow up to be mature adults and watch how the Potter fashions their lives.

This last month in May we took some 29 kids to Spirit West Coast, that was pretty fun and challenging for me, because I got to preach a sermon the next morning knowing I was going to get 4 hours of sleep, praise God for his strength.

This month we are trying to spend as much time with some of the kids we have had the privilege to know this last year because they are moving soon and some of the kids are heading off to a month long vacation, so June is packed full of stuff; with a little retreat in Big Bear, Knotts, and 13 letters study with pool time. We are still working on July, but I will be back to talk about that, hopefully!!

More Chop Chop

So we ended the Chop Chop this last tuesday March 10. There was a lot of note taking as we chopped it up in 1 John. What is exciting about this, is that these youth now have their own commentary on the book of 1 John and are learning the value of examining the scriptures. 

The next stop is JS on March 17th in room e5 at 6pm to chop it up with the yucca kids again in 1 John. 

The next study we are working on for the summer is a curriculum called '13 Letters' which goes over the letters of Paul. We are really looking forward to that.

First Day of The Chop Chop

We have been anticipating awhile about our new Chop Chop series. I know, your thinking 'The Chop Chop', what is that? Well, it's our new series of in-depth Bible study through different books of the Bible. We started our first course tonight with an introduction and part of the first chapter of 1 John. There were four solid young people who came with Bibles, notebooks and pens ready to write notes as they analyze the scriptures. This is my favorite thing to do with these teens, to teach them the word of God, help them understand the scriptures and challenge themselves to live by it daily. Let us pray daily that these kids would continue to have a hunger stirring inside to know Gods word and stand in His presence.

Chop Chop

I feel we as Selah Youth ministries are moving forward with more strength and depth than ever before. After the Holy Culture retreat, the idea had sparked of how we need to build the individuals who have committed to serving Jesus. One of the first things we are doing as a youth leadership is gathering together on scheduled Thursday evenings and watching DVDs from the Preach the Word conference and having a time of Q&A afterwards to concentrate what is the need for the youth and how we can build them together. Also, I am currently working on a Bible note taking course through the book of 1 John called the Chop Chop, which the title was an inspiration from Ambassadors latest album called 'The Chop Chop' as we will take the word into bite size pieces and chew on every bit we can so we are thoroughly saturated with Gods nutritional word. I believe this will help build these young people in the knowledge of Gods word and stir that hunger for His presence and His will. We ask that you will continue to pray for the youth of this desert community of this whole Morongo Basin.

Holy Culture Retreat

Hey Family, 

We just got back from one of the best youth retreats we have ever been a part of. It was very solid and full of a lot of commitments to Jesus Christ and the study of His word. Our theme was Holy Culture which sprung from the verse in 1 Peter 2:9 that tells us that 'we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation'. The challenge was to learn about the Holy God we serve and how we to live a Holy life, totally set apart and unique unto Him. All the teachers from Pastor Pete, Evan Wickham, and Billy Weaver were on point and left the teens very challenged every time. 

At this point I feel very compelled to seek the Lords will on what to do to continue this stirring going on with these teens by building them in the word of God. It is very true how Paul said, 'Paul plants, Apollos waters, and God brings forth the increase', because that is what has been happening. It blew me away to wake up in the morning before the sunrise and head over to the chapel and see teens that were up and dressed before the sunrise meditating on the word before I was. I rejoice in all this and pray that this change will become contagious to all that hang around these hungry teens for the living God. 

Be Inspired,

Chris 'Wags' Wagner

Great Gain

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain" 1 Timothy 6:6 When we think of great gain, we may think of money, status, bling, and power. But, true gain is godliness, this means 'likeness of God'. In everything we do we should reflect His glory by hearing His word and acting upon it. This is also mixed with contentment, which means 'being satisfied with what you have, not desiring anything else'. Godliness with contentment is the great gain. When you are content only in God and giving Him glory you are truly satisfied. It is when you have come to the place of only thirsting for the living God like Psalm 42:1-2. It is when you understand and believe the words of Jesus, "What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?". What is your great gain? What will be your great gain this new year of 2009? Selah