Two weeks ago, our congregation played host to 57 visitors, 45 of them teenagers, who traveled to Cleveland to participate in the first annual Cleveland church of Christ Youth Rally entitled, “Become the Righteousness.” I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those of the Cleveland congregation who helped me in the planning and execution of the Rally to include those who; cleaned the building and fellowship hall both in preparation for and at the conclusion of the Rally, those who helped with setup and tear down, those who bought, brought, cooked and served all the food (especially as this was the most expensive part of the Rally and was all privately funded), those who helped with chaperoning and leading activities and those who prayed for the success of the Rally. I also cannot say just how thankful I am to all those from other congregations who made the journey to support this initiative. Your participation helped encourage our young people and the congregation as a whole.

Due to the tremendous success of this first Youth Rally, the congregation has already agreed to host the Rally again next year, hoping and praying for even better results than this year. This year we had 45 teenagers attend. My challenge to both the Cleveland congregation and to our sister congregations is to have no less than 55 teens at next year’s Rally. Let this serve as a shot of adrenaline to both the young and old. Let it remind us that there is a future of and for the Lord’s church and provoke us to take seriously the work and challenge of teaching, training and transitioning our young people from being the church of the future to becoming the church of today. You are only guaranteed one life on this earth (Heb. 9:27). Can you truly say that when you die, that you have trained your replacement to take over your work and service in the church? If not consider the command contained in 2^nd Timothy 2:2, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also,”(ESV) Remember, “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” Hebrews 10:39 (ESV)

~Alex Brown

Bring your youth group to help celebrate and participate in Cleveland’s first ever, now-annual, one-day youth rally!!! This year’s event is entitled, “Becoming The Righteousness” and comes from II Corinthians 5:21. Get all the relevent information  for this great, Biblically-sound and exciting one day event right now and don’t plan to miss it! For further details, you can click on our blue “Youth Group” tab above, or follow our direct link at: http://www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=2646