‘On Course With God’ at youth convention

By Christopher Tobutt

‘On Course with God,’ was the theme of the 9th Annual Cayman Islands District Wesleyan Youth Convention. It was a great chance for the young people to glean words of wisdom from older folks who have already plenty of experience in walking down the road of Life, hand in hand with Jesus. But the young people learned plenty from fellowshipping with one another too, and they led each of each session’s three evening services, on Wednesday 20, Thursday 21 and Friday 22, and Sunday 24 October. While on Saturday 23 October there was an all-day workshop, starting off with breakfast and prayers before going into the other presentations and seminars.

Rev. Conway E. King, Cayman Islands District Wesleyan Superintendent, said, “The theme is for this year’s convention is not only a fitting theme, but a timely one. There are so many things in the world today that are vying for the attention of our young people that are not good. These things have led them to the path of hopelessness and destruction. However we are thankful that there is another path we can take, and that is to stay ‘On Course with God,’ For the Word declares, “The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, but I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

Cassandra S. Ebanks, Cayman Islands District Wesleyan Youth President said, “Our desire is to see the youth of the Cayman Islands experience an encounter with the God of the Bible, and know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, while digging deep into God’s Word so that they will be able to determine truth and error in an increasingly confused world.”

Naomi Johnatty led the Saturday morning prayer workshop: “Part of being in a relationship with God is that we take responsibility for our end of the relationship. When God made us, he gave us freewill. That means the ability to think on your own, and make your own decisions,” Ms. Johnatty said.

One of the participants had one of God’s promises in a scripture, Jeremiah 29.11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” Ms Johnatty commented, “If someone says they have great plans for me, then I engage them. I say, ‘what do you know about me that I cannot see?’ God didn’t make you thinking, ‘This is my big mistake.’ No, God made you thinking ‘This is my creation, and I think that this is good.’”

Kenna Kelly, 16, said, “As a young person I feel like these sessions have really helped me understand what I need to be doing to get on course in my faith, with God. There’s a lot of things going on in everyday society, so I that that as a teenager it is important that I be here, and listen to what they have to say, so that I can grow in my faith. So far we have heard about On Course with Prayer, with the Word and in Relationships.

“On Wednesday Miss Naomi taught us about how to be on course with God in prayer, and she really helped us. Miss Kaitlen Bush presented, ‘Being on course with God in the Word,’ and on Friday Miss Dawnee McCoy spoke about ‘Being on course with relationships,’ and how our friends can lead us astray if we are not picking the right ones. It put everything into perspective and I am taking away a deeper understanding today.”