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Salvationists and friends will gather June 10-11, 2005 for Commissioning weekend events which will include some exciting elements celebrating “2005—A Year for Children and Youth.”
On Friday morning at Crestmont College, after Commencement for the Preparers of the Way Session, teams made up of youth from eight divisions will play off in the Territorial Bible Bowl competition. The top teams will go on to compete in a final championship round on Saturday morning at the Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena.
This will be the first Bible Bowl event held on the territorial level in over 10 years—brought back in response to requests by soldiers across the territory for a revival of this important discipleship program. “We’re excited to see the grassroots rebirth of Bible Bowl in our territory,” states Captain Lisa Smith, assistant territorial youth secretary. “This is so much more than a competition—it’s about our young people diligently studying to hide the Word of God in their heart! Who wouldn’t be excited about that?”
Kids Live ’05
Another widely-anticipated element of the weekend is “Kids Live ‘05” which will take place on Friday evening at the Church of the Nazarene. This expansion of the traditional biennial territorial singing company competition will celebrate the diversity of talent in our territory’s youngest Salvationists. Divisions have been given the opportunity to send representative groups reflecting different cultural expressions, creative arts and musical styles—the best of their corps youth music and creative worship arts groups. “Performances may include timbrels, cultural dance groups, singing companies singing Gospel music with choreography, hip hop, rap, junior brass bands, junior praise teams, and vocal or instrumental solos,” explains Captain Kyle Smith, territorial youth secretary. “The possibilities are endless!”
Kids Live ‘05 will not be a competition, but rather an exciting festival of worship and praise led by the children and youth of our territory.
This Commissioning weekend we will affirm and celebrate children and youth, recognizing them as the gift of God that they are. Come show your support and encourage our young people at the territorial Bible Bowl competition and Kids Live ’05. You’ll be glad you did.