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Check out all of your favorite stores like Old Navy, Target, Walmart, Apple Store, Best Buy, Office Depot and many many more on our YMJA Online Mall. By shopping in our online mall, your purchases will allow the YMJA to expand our youth ministry, as we push forward in connecting Messianic Youth and Young Adults across the nation with one another and to deepen their faith in Messiah Yeshua. Your support will allow us to continue with our life changing retreats and provide more resources for Youth Leaders, Parents, and Congregations. Support the rising generation of Messianic Leaders today!
 YMJA Wish List The following is a list of non-profit organizational needs of the YMJA. This is an opportunity for businesses and individuals to make tax-deductible gifts. Anyone who wishes to make a contribution should contact the organization directly.
Check out this month's devotional by Northeast Regional Representative, Gio Serebro You want me to be a Leader? This the same question I asked myself and God when He told me that He desired me to be a leader. I thought that being a leader meant you had to stand in front of lots of people to give speeches and tell them what to do. I was wrong. God showed me that he wanted me to learn more about leadership by applying for the position of YMJA Northeast Regional Representative.
God first spoke to me about leadership at Messiah Conference '08. It was my first time going to Messiah conference and I was excited because I had heard that it was really fun. At first though, I only wanted to go because I knew I was going to meet a lot of people. I thought that it was just going to be another event like a youth trip that was 'meh'. Man was I wrong about that. And I thought I knew everything! Anyways, about halfway through the conference I really started getting involved spiritually in all the events. The night before the YMJA Service in the main auditorium, I was praying and God said to me “leader”. At first I said “What?” Then the Lord replied “I want you to be a leader, a strong one.” I still didn’t understand what He was saying but I said “ok.” YMJA night rolled along and I was getting really into the worship and praise. It wasn’t until Blair came on stage talking about YMJA Regional Representative that I heard the Lord speak to me again saying “That’s it”. I was like “what’s it?” Once again, the Lord clarified for me “I want you to be one of them.” At first, I was really surprised and said, “Lord, but how can I do that? They have so much responsibility and decisions to make. How do I do that?” But what He said next helped me make up my mind quickly. He said “It’s fine if you don’t want to do this because I will find someone else who can.” Right then I said “Ok Lord I will do it, but I don’t know what I am doing.” Once again the Lord reassured me saying, “I will lead you. Do not worry.”
The rest of the conference went normally, but when I got home I emailed Blair and asked her if I could be a rep. She was excited about my interest and told me to apply for the position. I was happy to find out the YMJA Leaders accepted my application. The next thing I did was buy a book about youth leadership to help me understand better this new area in my life. What really surprised me was that the author mentioned that being a leader meant you had to be a servant first. I learned that being a leader was not to give orders but to take them. This is to help others follow your example. One example the author gave was if there is trash on the floor after an event don’t just walk away in hopes of getting out of synagogue before someone comes to ask you to pick it up. Instead, you should help pick it up without being asked. This just helps set an example for your friends and encourages them to help too.
I believe everyone is built to be a leader. One verse that really encourages me to lead is Joshua 1:6: "Joshua, be strong and brave! You must lead these people so they can take the land that I promised their fathers I would give them.” In this case, Joshua is leading the Israelites over the Jordan River into enemy land. Even though it says for Joshua to lead, we can all be like Joshua and lead people to take enemy land because God promised us this land. And like I said before being a leader doesn't mean ordering people around it means to be a servant. When you are being a servant you become a leader because you lead others to do the same thing that you are doing. Being a leader also means you need to stay connected with God through prayer and reading your Bible. I know that sounds boring but once you get yourself into the routine of reading it becomes a habit…a very good habit! It’s also important that as a leader you encourage people instead of bringing them down and that you stop gossip before it spreads further.
In conclusion, being a good leader means you need to have a servant-like mindset, faith, and a connection with God. If you want to be a leader but don’t know how to lead, try praying the beginning part of 2 Chronicles 1:10: “Now give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead...” This prayer can help give you guidance when you don’t know how to lead. I pray that after reading my story you will allow God to touch you and mold you into a strong leader in Messiah!
YMJA International Section
Check out our latest YMJA fun wear and accessories! We have now captured all the fun of YMJA events in our baseball caps, and other great accessories. What better way to support this prophetic ministry than to wear our logo proudly! Check out these great pieces and start your collection today! If you have ideas for new products, please email us at: info@ymja.org.
The Purpose of this scholarship is to assist Messianic individuals obtaining a higher educational degree in any field of study. (Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate).
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