Perceive Street

by Joel Orellana, North Central California MOP President

When you stop and look at a building, a person rarely takes time to ponder on how its existence came to be. No one bothers to think about the integrity of its structure or how it would serve people. Fewer people pause to perceive the motion, energy, and work that is taking place inside of the building. Yet, every building started with a vision. Indeed, without that vision, the building and all that happens within would never exist.

I’ve witnessed this very phenomenon in my work as an educator. I had the privilege of teaching at a newly constructed high school. This high school had no name. No mascot. No traditions. No expectations or values.

In my three years there, I have learned that a unified mindset and a set of goals help cultivate the realities we envision. What was once just a big, state-of-the-art building with the latest technology is now home to resilient minds and an array of athletic, academic, and social clubs. The community and culture that we have cultivated began with a vision.

My secular experience has become a metaphor for how the Lord has guided our district board to lead the NCCD MOP.

Building with the Right Perspective

When building for the kingdom of God, our vision must be tied to our faith. As I entered this new role and season, I started by meditating and praying that the Lord would guide me in building with the Messengers of Peace in our district.

The first thing I had to do was to change my frame of reference on how I perceive young people. I had to align with what God’s word says about the future. Hebrews 11:3 (NIV) mentions that “by faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Dealing with 150 teenagers five days a week, you realize young people can be vocal and bold; they do not take “no” for an answer. This could have convinced me to make assumptions and generalizations about the future of the church.

However, I began to dwell on the power of that which is “not made out of what was visible .” As I pondered my journey as a young person and how I viewed my role in the church, I was reminded of youth pastors who believed in me. Church leaders who gave me a shot, even when I didn’t have enough confidence to believe in myself. It moved me to open up my mind and know that God is in control and has never forsaken his people. Perhaps some view the church’s youth as a challenge to its future. However, I began to shift my perspective in faith and view an opportunity to teach and instruct this generation in their purpose and calling.

Building with the Right Information

To build well, you must be informed about what you are building and for whom you are building it. The first and primary source of information for our building efforts is the Word of God. Yet, being informed about the needs of his people is vital for effective building. Indeed, the Word of God is infallible and does not change, but the needs of every generation are unique to the times they are living in. Knowing their unique needs and challenges helps us develop relevant programs and resources. In order to build with perspective, as a district MOP board, we decided to gather data to inform us of the issues our youth were facing in this age, specifically Gen Z.

After reviewing data from a BARNA study titled “Gen Z and Morality: What Teens Believe (So Far)” (2018), we had specific data on what resources we could provide to our young people in establishing the role they have in building the church. The study addressed different ethical and moral issues the church has faced over the years. However, it specifically tracked the perspectives and attitudes of Gen Z (people born between 1997 – 2012). One of the results of this large-scale study was that “Gen Z as a whole are generally opposed to challenging others’ beliefs, likely driven by a desire to avoid offense or to acknowledge the value of other perspectives” (barna.com, 2018).

As I read this data, I was curious to see where apostolic young people in my district stood on these issues. We selected 9 questions from this study for our own survey. We invited all our youth from our district to participate anonymously in our NCCD MOP Survey. We received a total of 48 responses. Our survey results identified our predominant demographic: young people aged 13-22.

For the most part, most of the questions had a common consensus on what our young people considered moral. However, the one question that had no consensus was, “It is not okay to challenge a person’s beliefs.” 64% of respondents said that they were neutral on the matter or disagreed on the matter. As leaders, this statistic helped inform us what we needed to do to ensure our youth were equipped to defend the gospel and have healthy dialogues about the Word of God in the spaces and circles they influence.

Proverbs 23:12 says, “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” Our focus was to reemphasize the Great Commission and guide the younger Gen Z in realizing their potential for the Kingdom of God.

Building with the Power to Perceive

Our first goal was to recalibrate and establish strong biblical foundations for our young people. We based this year’s theme on Isaiah 43:19 so that our young people could truly see and perceive beyond their current situation how they can use their gifts for the Lord.

In this passage, the prophet Jeremiah prophesied a promise that the people of God would have to cling to and know that it would be fulfilled. To help our youth perceive, we plan on creating tools for them to step into different facts of ministry, the first being evangelism.

This year at camp, we will provide spaces for Gen Z, Millennials, and minsters and Gen Z youth leaders to begin a dialogue on the unique perspectives each generation brings to the church. Through this collaboration, we aim to influence our young people to lean on the instruction of the Word and know how to defend their faith when the world challenges it.

In April, we will be taking a group of NCCD MOP to the streets of Fresno to be the hands and feet of Jesus and spread the love of Christ to those in need. We will connect with local organizations and pastors to pray over the city’s needs and connect souls to apostolic churches in the area.

We also plan to emphasize the importance of prayer discipline and reading the Word of God. In June, we will be hosting our first Edify conference. This conference aims to equip young people with new tools, strategies, and technologies they can apply to different ministries that are active in the church. However, emphasis will be given to small groups, platform ministry, and resources for aspiring young preachers.

We plan on bringing small group experts to help young people start a small group at their church. We will have pastors connect with aspiring young preachers on how to build a sermon. Also, we want to create spaces for young women to discover their role in ministry and how they can operate meaningfully in their ministry in the church.

With the help of the Lord, we know that this will be a generation, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that continues to speak the truth of God’s word and spread the message of salvation to those around them.

Blessings,
Joel Orellana
President, North Central California District

Dwell & Develop

Vision and Foundation — Reflecting on the metaphor of building a structure that begins with a vision, how do you see the importance of having a clear vision in your personal faith journey and in ministry? How can you contribute to or help clarify the vision within your community or ministry group?

Changing Perspectives on Youth — The article discusses changing perspectives to see young people through the lens of faith and potential rather than challenges. How does this perspective shift change the way you interact with or think about the younger generation within the church? Can you think of ways to actively support and uplift the youth in your church or community?

Informed Building through Data and Research — The leaders used data from a BARNA study to inform their ministry strategies. How can using data and research about generational attitudes and challenges enhance ministry efforts? Are there areas in your ministry or personal outreach that could benefit from a more informed approach?

Equipping for Defense of the Gospel — With findings showing a need for youth to be equipped to defend the gospel and engage in healthy dialogues, what are some practical ways you can strengthen your own understanding and defense of your faith? How can you encourage and support others in doing the same?

Perceiving and Stepping into Ministry — The year’s theme is based on Isaiah 43:19, focusing on perceiving and stepping into ministry opportunities. Reflect on your current situation and the gifts you have. How can you use your gifts for the Lord? What steps can you take to better perceive and act upon the ministry opportunities God is presenting to you?

About the Author

Joel Orellana serves as the president for the North Central California Messengers of Peace. Joel is a passionate leader and servant at his local church, Clovis Apostolic Church, where he serves as church secretary, youth leader, and worship director. In addition to his ministerial endeavors, Joel is dedicated to education. He is a high school science teacher. He is currently furthering his academic pursuits by working towards a master’s degree in natural science education, alongside an associate’s degree in theology. He serves alongside his secretary, Corinna Ruiz, and treasurer, Elias Ayala II.