When I get requests to do devotions, first I think of my 4 favorite verses, and as I look at each of them this time, I see a common bond.

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31….God is there for you, and it is His strength that gets you through all the obstacles that you might encounter.

Then I turn to another verse, a very special verse for me and friends of mine, I can to all things through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13….. What comfort to know that in any situation, if you turn to God, he will give you the strength to get through it. I often think of that verse when I’m nervous, unsure, or when I need encouragement, and I know I can do it because of Him.

Each of these verses I have used many times as illustrations for the youth that I have worked with over the years. Often during a difficult situation or when they have to be on stage, all I need to say is "Philippians 4:13" and they know they will be able to get through it because God gives them the strength. I have given out Mustard Seed pins to youth as an illustration of how tiny the seed is and how small their faith can start out and how big it can grow.

The last verse, also from Philippians, is I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3. This became special to me years ago at one of the NAPF conferences I attended. I have used it often and DO thank God every time I remember each and every one of the lives that have touched me and I may have touched through the NACCC. Without God’s strength and friends I have made through Him, life would be more difficult.

Joanne Simpson, HOPE Co-Director

First it needed a name, the same night that all of this was in the works the three founders thought of the name H.O.P.E. Each letter stands for it’s own explanation. H = Heritage, which acknowledges our roots in Christian faith. O = of (that’s pretty self explanatory). P = Pilgrim, which denotes our adventurous attitude. E = Endeavor, which reminds us again of our roots in Christian Endeavors (it also shows that being a young Congregational Christian takes an effort). Later on came the Bible verse that would be the slogan for HOPE. It is found in Hebrews 6:19, "We have this HOPE as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure". Finally the idea was brought to the adults and the youth sub committee. The idea was a hit and HOPE was a new group ready to face the world.

Who knew that forty years down the road HOPE would still be functioning as planned. It is still a place where college age people can come and share their experiences. We come from all over the country but in one way or another we all can relate to each other. It is a place where for four days we don’t have to deal with the challenges and harshness of reality. HOPE is a place where you can’t help but be surrounded by the Spirit. HOPE is a family!! It is at HOPE where we are all surrounded by love and friendship. It is the kind of love that is pure and heartfelt. HOPE is a place where you meet your life long friends, friends who love you for who you are. I have met some of my best friends at HOPE and NAPF. They will be with me for the rest of my life and if I ever need them they will be there. I love them more than they will ever know and they are so special in my life. Besides, there aren’t many places where you can see someone for four days, then not see them for a year or so and still have the same connection as if you never left each other’s side. We are truly lucky to have a place like this where we can feel like we are home when we arrive. Though we all may not know what God has planned for us in the future, and we might not even know what road we are lead to take we always know there is a place for us. God has a purpose for each one of us and I know he has good things in line for us all! We have been blessed with a place like HOPE and friends there who we call our family. Besides if we ever get lost we can always follow the road back home to HOPE. It will always be waiting for us, and if you ever get lost you can just follow the yellow brick road to Kansas for HOPE 2005 (Sorry I had to make my reference to The Wizard of OZ, it is my favorite movie and it works since we will be in Kansas next year).

Here’s to another 40 years of HOPE…

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The December 2004 issue of Ananias will be on the NACCC Website. You will receive a notification that it is there and the location will be e-mailed to you. Please make sure the NACCC office has your e-mail address if you have changed addresses since last year’s HOPE in Rhode Island. Or, if you haven’t been in touch for awhile, you will want to make sure the office has your correct address, also.

Send any corrections to Melissa Schelling at: TinyHandsLissa@aol.com. Melissa will make sure the office is aware of the address change.

I’d like to also mention the forum on the NA site (www.naccc.org). There are HOPE and NAPF forums (chat rooms) for you. It’s a great way to contact some of your friends in the NACCC.

Karen Frazzell, Director of Youth Ministries

NACCC Office - Oak Creek, WI

This year’s speaker Reverend Doug Gray from Beloit, Wisconsin led our conference on the message of Mark 4:31-32. Through the week we learned how from small seeds we can accomplish big deeds.

The first day of HOPE was spent reuniting with our old friends, and welcoming new people to the HOPE family. Through ice-breaker activities and small group discussions we got to know each other better. Our study that day was based on the idea of planting our small seeds of faith in the soil.

On Sunday our worship, lectures and discussions focused on how to develop a closer relationship with the Lord. Light is required for all growth, like plants use sunlight we should use the "Light of the World" to cultivate our spiritual growth. Using John 8:12 for inspiration we studied how His light acts in our life, and how to incorporate it more into our lives. Along with light, water is necessary for growth and development. Through the theme of John 4:4-15, Doug taught us how our relationship with the Lord can act as water for our parched souls. Doug taught us what the "Kingdom of God" means according to the scripture, and how we can, through the Living Water and our good deeds, grow to reach it.

Sunday evening we joined together with the adults and the NAPF youth for an intergenerational time. We enjoyed a BBQ, and played volleyball, basketball and Frisbee before gathering to worship. The band Souled Out inspired us with music, and Kenny Meehan delivered the message during the worship service about freedom and how his faith has changed and grown since fighting in the war in Iraq. We all enjoyed being able to spend some time, share a meal, and worship with the other groups. On "Mission-Day Monday" we focused on putting our gifts and "seeds" to work. NAPF and HOPE volunteered in the community through visiting the sick and elderly at nursing homes, or cleaning up local streets and parks. When we met for prayer and lectures at the end of the day, you could see the satisfaction in everyone’s tired faces knowing they had helped the people of greater Kingston, Rhode Island. That evening’s lecture and discussion focused on the theme of Mark 4:26-29, and how our faith has grown through our life, and how we can continue to nurture its growth. This discussion was fitting for us, after we spent our day spreading our seeds of good will.

Our final day was spent learning how we could leave HOPE to go on to great deeds. Doug taught us that through the growing experiences of our day to day lives, we can grow in His mercy. We learned to think of the Kingdom of God as a seed in which we are the soil. When we walk in The Way, we share God’s joy and promote that growth. We learned that God has great deeds for all of us to do, and we left HOPE feeling ready and able to do His work. We now have the tools we need, and more importantly great friends to support us along the way.

The Youth Subcommittee is now the Commission for Youth Ministry (CYM). We still oversee HOPE and NAPF, we still support the YLR and PMV, but now we have a few more responsibilities to the local youth groups. We are here to encourage and assist them in their development of vibrant and effective witnesses of Christ in Congregational ways (our mission statement). It is a wonderful challenge for the 8 of us because we want the church youth programs to succeed in providing opportunities for the youth to thrive personally, spiritually and socially.

We are responsible for offering those opportunities nationally; we take our "job" to heart. We feel that we are asked to be in this position because we respect and care for the young members of our church as well as their adult leaders. We take our position very seriously and sometimes that means we have to do things that we don’t want to.

This fall we had to make a difficult decision. After we discussed, shared emotions, reviewed options and most importantly prayed, we made the decision to release Alissa Gorman from her HOPE officer and Ananias Editor responsibilities. I informed Alissa of the CYM’s decision this week. I pray that you will understand that decision. If you would like to share some of your feelings about this issue, you are more than welcome to contact me.

HOPE has a reputation for caring deeply about those attending the conferences and I want that to continue. I felt that is was very important to let you all know so you can pray for Alissa, as well as for the officers and co-directors so they can develop a Christ centered conference for you to experience.

Who wants a HINGEBUFFEDBINGER?
by Jenny Rouble, Commission on Youth Ministries

The retreat began and the people there and all of the new friends I had made enlightened me. The speaker was dynamic and seemed to speak directly to me. I realized that God had me here for a purpose and it wasn’t something that I was prepared for, it was my turn to be a youth leader. I began to feel BUFFED in my faith and was given a renewed strength by God.

By the end of the retreat after talking to many other people and doing a lot of praying I was hit with the BINGER or stung by the "I can’t wait to go home and teach what I have learned here" bug. What a great feeling that was! God is good!

It is seven years later and I have been working with the youth ever since. I always look back and that first YLR and have been to several since to renew my strength as a leader and keep those friendships that I have had for a lifetime.

So what is your HINGEBUFFEDBINGER? You can find it at the YLR 2005! The dates are set at March 4-6. The retreat is at Wonderland Conference Center in Camp Lake WI. Who should join us? Volunteer and professional youth leaders, Sunday School superintendents, anyone who works with children and youth at their church or anyone interested in being a counselor or counselor in training (CIT) at NAPF or a small group leader at HOPE. Please contact Karen Frazzell at the NA office 800-262-1620 with questions or for registration forms. Some scholarship money is available. SEE YOU THERE!