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On Saturday, October the 10th, about 20 youth leaders from the district gathered for the leaders’ day organized by the district NYI council and the district youth pastor. It was the first time that the district organized such an event. Intention of the leaders’ day was to conclude the leader support year of 2009 and move on to a new leadership support plan for 2010. In the beginning months of this year we divided the district into clusters. Since there are 12 churches in the Dutch district we created 4 clusters each consisting of three local youth groups. Most of the clusters met two times this year to discuss how they could support each other. Most of them exchange material, teens and youth visit each other’s events, leaders are helping out in each other’s youth groups, youth- and outreach activities are organized together. All in all the clusters helped the district NYI to get some of their district awareness back. The church in the Netherlands works within a very individualistic minded society. This mindset also found its way into the church. Therefore we try host many opportunities for leaders in the church to experience the opposite.

The leaders’ day will from now on be an annual event. The leaders present enjoyed the fellowship and the themes discussed. Everybody was glad they participated. It is good to be together and see that we all struggle with the same things and learn together how to overcome our struggles.

Together we explored the theme the General NYI convention introduced this year during General Assembly in Orlando, Florida. The theme is: “CALLED to be like Christ, loving others, in our world”. We also introduced and talked about the vision statement of the district NYI, which assists to the global theme. The district vision is based on Matthew 5:16: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” As the district NYI we want to love our neighbor, imitate Christ, make contact with others, help where we can, and be present in the world.

With the global theme and the district vision statement in mind we participated in several sessions talking about the various aspects. District youth pastor Dennis Mohn talked about the importance of being spiritual fathers and mothers and investing in relationships in a world that has almost no natural desire anymore for role models. Psychologist Lara Mohn talked about our personal vision and motivation, exploring how desire feeds our motivation, what influence expectations have on our motivation, and how our evaluation of the effect of our youth work effects our motivation. District Superintendent Arthur Snijders and youth worker Wouter van der Zijden co-led a session about being a mission-minded youth work that focuses on being an extroverted church. The last session was led by pedagogue Mirjam Top who summarized the day for us and gave a couple of questions to discuss in groups. Later the groups came back together to share their answers.

It was amazing to see how the day had a good flow from Global theme, to district vision statement, to personal vision and motivation, concluding with applying it in the different local youth works. I am thankful that we pursued this leaders’ day. It was helpful and encouraging for everyone who attended. I am glad to see that we did the right thing and am looking forward to what God will do and is already doing through the youth work of the Church of the Nazarene in the Netherlands.

Check out more pictures in the Media Gallery.

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