(Today’s guest writer is David Telfort, AoP ‘12. David attends Occidental College in Los Angeles and participated in the National Festival of Young Preachers this year for the first time. Here, he shares his take-away from the experience.)
As I came home and tried to explain what I had experience at the National Festival of Young Preachers, I was left with inadequate words and phrases.
It was more than an opportunity to preach a finely crafted and divinely inspired sermon. It was more than a gathering to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. It was more than a way to reassure that the future of preaching was safe or that there were in fact young vessels being used by God in an age where young people seem disengaged with the church.
I found in those four days in Louisville an “on time” word from God, spoken not only to me, but to every person in attendance. We were being assured of our call and our paths, but even more than that, we were being challenged. Challenged to be prophetic in our words and our actions to articulate systems of privilege that marginalized those who did nothing but be born poor.
We were challenged to step away from the seductive paths of the “successful” ministries of old that rewarded comfort and passive love. We were challenged…to be like Jesus. The Festival poured into me a fiery word that will fuel my 2012 and beyond.
It cemented the understanding that Jesus is seeking women and men of all hues, classes, sexual preferences, denominations and educational backgrounds who will “heal the sick there, and say to them, the kingdom of God has come near to you” (Luke 10:9, NKJV).
(Want to share your Festival experience in writing? Email charissa.acree@gmail.com.)
