Actscelerate.com

Ryan Metzgar

Premier Winterfest

New Member Posts: 23 **2/1/16 1:54 pm**

This is just a question as I am trying to show the leadership and speakers grace in this matter. As leaders and pastors we are encouraged year after year to bring youth to Winterfest so youth from around the country can have an encounter with God. I am totally on board with this. In fact we go as far as asking our youth to invite their "unsaved" friends to come along for the weekend. However, here is the problem I encountered this weekend. Why did it take 2 services, 2 alter calls for the speakers to even give a call for salvation? We throw these words around like "revival" and "freedom" but how can either even occur if they haven't been given the opportunity to accept Christ into their heart? As leaders and pastors these conversations are always happening and are always ongoing. But, can we agree that inviting youth into an emotionally charged atmosphere like Winterfest can be damaging to young men and women if they have never stepped foot into a church? Again, let me preface I am trying to be understanding of all thoughts and perspectives in this matter. But, I have also been around the block a bit and the same format we are using now is being used 25 years ago when it was in Lancaster PA. I do believe a REVIVAL is happending, it's actually a reformation of the church but the COG has an idea that "Revival" is supposed to look like something 50 years ago.

Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **2/1/16 3:34 pm**

I would think that you would want one altar call at the end of the whole thing. It gives them time to decide if they are believers instead of an emotional experience not even knowing what they are doing. Especially with kids. I guess everybody has an opinion.

Nature Boy Florida

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **2/1/16 7:37 pm**

Someone will come up with a new idea eventually.

remember Winterfest started by just a few youth pastors wanting to do something different.
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