Jesus’ Fishermen

[Los Pescadores de Jesús]

Jesus calls us, like He did the Apostles, to be “fishers of men”.  [Matthew 4:19]  Youth Group’s goal is to teach our younger generation how to fish.  Like adult cell groups, Los Pescadores, spend time each week learning how to hear and obey God’s voice so that they can share His plan for salvation with their peers. 

The group is mostly led by Mexicans who have themselves graduated from our Club and Youth programs.  They are now ready to pass on what they have learned to those younger in life and faith.

Saturday afternoons find 15-20 youth between the ages of 11-16 and their leaders eager to see what Jesus will do among them.   The stated purpose of the group is to:

Honor God as living sacrifices

Grow in faith

Reach those who do not yet know Jesus as Savior

An icebreaker game opens the time together.  Who doesn’t love a bit of fun and this time is important for bonding among youth and leaders.

After a time of worship, the goals of the group are then reviewed and followed with a lesson.

The youth are encouraged, like our Club kids, to hide the word of God in their hearts and Scripture memory is always a part of the time together. 

Many adults fail to recognize the prayer potential of youth.  The final portion of the time together is spent in this spiritual discipline.  Sometimes the youth pray in pairs or groups; while other times, they sit quietly meditating on the Lord.  Soft Christian music is played, as the leaders go from one to another and pray for the youth who are soaking up the presence of their Savior.  

As with all youth groups, a time for refreshments is seen as mandatory.  It is also a time for the youth to encourage each other to stand firm in what they have just received that they might be a light into their colonia [neighborhood] and a counterbalance to the pull of drugs and gangs.

Fruit?  Jesus says you will know His disciples by their fruit. [Matthew 7:16]  We feel honored and blessed that the Lord has shown us the fruit of this program. Three of our most faithful youth have decided to join the 8 a.m. Sunday morning adult Bible Study.  This is no small commitment for any teen but most Mexicans do not go anywhere that early unless there is a strong purpose for them to be there.  God’s call is that strong purpose in these young lives.  We pray that they will stand firm in their faith and become our next generation of church leaders.