Young Filipino youth Leader enjoys the seminar.

There is nothing better than seeing pictures of those who receive our trainings and to hear the testimonies of those who have received the trainings we offer as well. In Manila (Quezon City), Philippines, the GYMN-Asia team recently completed a training of 33 youth leaders (27 in Level 1 and 6 in our Level 2) trainings. How important it is to equip and send leaders so that the Gospel is heard!

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” – Romans 10:14-15

Leaders usually impact at least 20 youth per year, so the impact from this training should be over 600 youth impacted in this area of the globe.

Thank you for praying for and supporting these great young leaders!

“…It emphasizes strategies and plans on how to minister [to] the youth in line with God’s Word…I attended a lot of leadership trainings when I was in high school and college but the GYMN seminar made a lot of impact on me.” – Ruby Lucilla

“The seminar got us to think strategically and aligned [us] with the biblical process. Giving priority to the family and gives us a greater burden to play our part in the great commission.”  - Abigail Felix

“It gives me a clear view of God’s direction. It reveals God’s purpose for my life. I understood what and where God call is for me and it gave answers to my confused mind regarding my calling.” – Jonah VC. Bonafe

L.M. leads a training session. L.M. is a GYMN volunteer trainer who was a youth in Alvan Tauli's youth ministry (GYMN - Philippines Training Coordinator, seen behind L.M.)

Entire group of those trained in Manila. Including at least 6 local trainers.

Eric Pantig (GYMN Asia Director) leads a discussion with the youth leaders.

Leaders at the seminar write out the plans for one whole year. In this photo our staff, Alvan Tauli, works with the leaders and their written plans.

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Nepali Youth Leaders Worship: Their Passion for God and Others Was So Obvious!

I am always amazed at the great people that God allows us to work with in these developing countries. During this trip to Nepal we talked with and served leaders who traveled over 17 hours by bus each way to be trained (I am sure their buses are not like our comfortable touring buses we see here). Others are hiking 8 to 10 hours a day to reach villages that have never heard the name and Gospel of Jesus Christ. Others are leading youth groups that regularly have over 200 in attendance and could run up to 500 and beyond in potential. I was able to counsel the leader of this group about how to reach the ministries full potential.

Chris Davis - GYMN Founder and Executive Director Training in Nepal

The other thing that struck me on this trip was the real movement of God in this country of Nepal. God is clearly raising up passionate, young, committed leaders to insure the Gospel goes to the far corners of this country and beyond. The church here is very young and needs additional quality leaders for now and the future. You will see their passion from the pictures of worship and study that we did together. Our trip included training of over 110 youth ministry leaders! (Each will impact around 20 youth each year...annual proposed impact will be 2200 souls for Christ!) Part of this group was our Level 3 training to develop additional trainers in country. Nepal now has over 14 potential GYMN seminar trainers! Some time was spent with Koshil Thangsha and his wife Ruth. Koshil is starting on GYMN staff part-time. He plans to take the trainings to his home village and other regions of India later this year!

Future GYMN Trainers for Nepal Receive Prayer and Commissioning by Wendell Anderson and Larry Lemaster

We had numerous times to pray with these leaders for personal struggles, ministry career decisions and a variety of other concerns including how to understand finances from a biblical view (through two seminars led by Wendell Anderson, “God and Money”). A special thanks to Wendell Anderson and Larry Lemaster for coming along on this trip. (Opportunities for others to travel to Nepal, the Philippines and/or Kenya are coming soon!). Your heart for Nepal and the ministry of Global Youth Ministry Network was so evident. Your teamwork made the trip a huge success and a lot of fun as well.

Trained Nepal Youth Leader/Pastor Receives Soccer Equipment For Evangelism

We also delivered two full suitcases of soccer equipment and uniforms to partner youth ministries in Nepal that they will use for evangelism. The items were provideed by the Kuenzli family who run a daughter ministry of GYMN (Soccer Kicks 4 Kids) www.soccerkicks4kids.com. 

 Jomesh Tamang and the GYMN Nepal staff did an incredible work with us as hosts and leaders there in Nepal! There were so many great pictures of the mission that could not all fit here. Go to www.global-youth.com to see a short video slideshow or visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSqjt37um7c.

Thank you so much for impacting thousands in Nepal for His sake! Your continued prayers and support are deeply appreciated!

Chris Davis
Global Youth Ministry Network

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Larry Lemaster (House Church Pastor - Crossroads) prays with Nepal youth leaders.

We are having a great training event here in Kathmandu Nepal. We are getting ready to start our last day for the first event (Level 1 and Level 2 trainings). Leaders are worshipping with their whole hearts. They are seeking us for prayer on family matters, on ministry needs and personal issues as well. Larry Lemaster and Wendell Anderson have done an incredible job of teaching and shepherding these young leaders.

I (Chris Davis) have been busy with our team teaching 6-7 hours each day.  

As I sit in Nepal for our training of over 100 youth ministry leaders, there are times where we may ask is all of this worth it?

Leader prays as he enters the first session and worship for the day.

We traveled close to 40 hours to arrive, raised thousands upon thousands of dollars. We leave our families and friend for close to 2 weeks. The temperatures are colder than we are used to throughout the day (the training sites do not have have heat for the most part and the temperatures are from about 40 to 55 degrees).

With all of that we would still say with a resounding YES! That this is well worth all we do. 

Worship

You can see by these pictures that this event is not just a sit down conference with a stale notebook. We have over 100 dedicated leaders here. These young leaders are so passionate to do things for Christ. They sacrifice immensely in finances, lack of comforts and many other challenges. They face the need to help young people whose parents are against them being a Christian and going to church (most of the people here are Buddhist or Hindu, with only about 3% being Christian). They work in churches that have few resources to help them reach youth. 

They have the passion and zeal to learn and are committed to make a real impact for the Kingdom! So, Yes…Yes…Yes…this is all worth it.

We get to do this ministry that has an exponential impact for this generation and the generations to come!

Leaders work on their goals and ministry plans

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Wendell Anderson and Larry Lemaster talk with and encourage youth ministry leaders in Nepal.

I am amazed at what God can do and is doing! 

We had our first full day here in Nepal. I am sure we are all feeling a bit overwhelmed by God’s power and goodness. We are having a training of Christian youth ministry leaders from all across Nepal. We planned to have a Level 1 training and a Level 2 training, we had hoped to have at best 60-70 youth ministry leaders. The last count was 104 youth ministry leaders! 

Some of the stories of these leaders include Santos, a youth leader who traveled 17 hours by bus from the very far west part of Nepal just

Chris Davis with Koshil Thangsha (Koshil is from India and came to Nepal because so few people here are Christians, +/- 3%). Koshil is now working with us (Global Youth Ministry Network) as we train and equip youth leaders.

to attend the trainings. Others shared about how God was speaking to them even in the first session. One leader mentioned that God had been dealing with them about their need to not go ahead of God in their ministry and to stop doing ministry for themself, but to take time to seek God more before they move ahead in ministry. This may seem like a small thing, but there a many people and leaders who may not be really following God’s leading. This leader is now being reminded of this and is now ready to have a ministry led totally by the Lord. 

We also had great times of worship. Amazing to see young Christian leaders worshipping all-out! The sincerity and enthusiasm in worship was a real blessing. 

Larry Lemaster preached a short devotion to the leaders. This was Larry’s first experience of teaching with a translator. God used him in a great way to encourage the leaders. A few of the leaders sought out Larry for personal prayer or counseling/advice as well. Wendell was busy encouraging leaders during our breaks and assisting the leaders to write purpose statements

I am thrilled that 104 youth leaders are being encouraged and equipped. They will all go out to impact many others for the sake of Christ.

We may never see all of the impact until eternity. One thing we know is that His Word working in and through available leaders will expand His Kingdom here in Nepal and to the ends of the world. 

Thank you for supporting and praying for this His work and ministry!

Chris Davis
From Kathmandu Nepal 

Nepal Christian Youth Ministry Leaders work on their updates about the growth of the youth ministry since their last training with GYMN. They reported having several outreach events of over 60 young people.

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Chris Davis, Larry Lemaster and Wendell Anderson (left to right), prepare for their mission to Nepal.

On Thursday, January 26th, our team of Larry Lemaster, Wendell Anderson and Chris Davis (myself) will begin our mission journey to Nepal. We have some great opportunities in front of us to impact thousands of youth for Christ through up to 100 youth ministry leaders that we will be training and pastoring during our 12 day trip. 

We will do three youth leadership trainings (Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3). Part of our training team will be Jomesh Tamang and Koshil Thangsha (Nepal based staff for Global Youth Ministry Network-Nepal). By the end of these three trainings leaders will be encouraged and will have a one-yer strategic plan for their ministry. In addition, several local new trainers will be developed to assist the Nepal based training team. Developing additional trainers will enable 100′s and eventually 1000′s of youth leaders to be discipled in the years to come, not just in Nepal, but in India, Bangladesh and other regional locations. 

Most of these countries have a very low percentage of Christians (1 to 3%), which means the development of local leaders is the key to the future growth of His church there!

In addition to the above, Wendell will be leading two “God on Money” seminars and we will be distributing soccer equipment for our daughter ministry, Soccer Kicks 4 Kids. The equipment will be used by youth ministries in Nepal as tools to reach youth for the sake of Christ!

Thank you for praying for us as we travel and train for the sake of Christ! (Prayers for our families remaining home would also be appreciated). We hope to be able to keep you posted once we arrive there (electricity is very erratic, so we will do our best). Follow us on FaceBook, Twitter and through our Feed (all available from our website www.global-youth.com). If you are to support, we have some additional funding needs still to be covered for this trip. (Funding cane done via online (PayPal) or contacting our office 419.756.4433). 

FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Youth-Ministry-Network-International/113884545343551)

Chris Davis (on behalf of the training teams).
Global Youth Ministry Network 

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Training incredible youth leaders in Nepal.

As I consider the past year, it has had some incredible joys for us as a family and a ministry. On the other hand we have been hit with losses through some Christian families that surround us. These losses, though tragic and difficult at the time, have allowed (ok…forced) me to put my eyes even more on the eternal and less on the temporary of this life. Sure we may even have things to rejoice about, but the reality is that even most of these good things could be gone by this time next year. Life is interesting as we do not know for sure what tomorrow or next year brings to each of us.

I am so glad that we do have assurance that we can stand on through Christ. As I look back over the past year my eyes (and I hope yours) can reflect on the eternal things versus the positive or negative temporal things. This is the source of hope that we as believers can stand

upon whether in the sunshine or in the rain. We have hope in Christ that He is ours and we are His. We have hope that He will never leave us or forsake us. We have hope that one day we will be with Him where there is no more death and dying. Where there will be no more tears from sorrow. There are several ways that help me to keep my eyes on the eternal that may help you as well.

First, the Word of God keeps things in perspective for me. God’s heart is the eternal. In fact, He even shapes what we see as the temporary in this life to meet the eternal impact of His great plans! His Word keeps us calibrated upon the eternal and allows us even to see the temporal in light of the eternal plans. Secondly, by seeing His plans work out through others across the world. This helps me stay focused on what rally matters, the eternal souls of people around the globe. When I reflect on the impact that I see missionaries having around the globe it keeps my eyes on what really matters. Maybe I can help you (and myself) here by reflecting together on the impact we together have seen globally through Global Youth Ministry Network in 2011.

God’s faithfulness through this year is extremely evident as we reflect on this past ministry year and the eternal work that we get to do together as seen in here in this chart.

I am looking forward to two things as I approach 2012. First, to see how God wants to continue to work with us around the globe to impact the millions of young people who are yet to know Him through the leaders we train. Secondly, I am looking forward to having my eyes set more often on the eternal in 2012. I desire to keep my eyes set on Him, the author and finisher of my faith, so that I may more fully enjoy Him and long more and more to be with Him both here now and for eternity!

Passionate youth leaders in Nepal worship.

Maybe the above would be two areas that could assist you and I both in keeping our eyes set on the eternal in 2012. Thank you for being eternally focused in 2011 by supporting GYMN and it’s wonderful group of staff and volunteers around the globe.

• Over 700 Christian youth ministry leaders were trained.
• Leaders from 5 different countries were impacted from 3 different continents.
• Over 14,000 youth impacted from this years trained leaders alone.
• The GYMN – Nepal office was fully established and showed incredible ministry growth.
• Ministry in Africa was re-established at a lower cost and higher impact.
• New staff integrated into the Philippines, Asia office.
• We saw the completion of the first “Heart of the Leader” ministry to pastors and leaders.
• We completed our first online training (pilot project).
• Over $1000 per month was committed in additional support for GYMN for 2012 (still need additional $3500 to meet our vision and needs goal).
• An incredible celebration event was held in Mansfield, Ohio for GYMN’s 15th Anniversary.

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YMCA football team (Levi is 4th from the right, me (Chris) in the back))

One of the keys in Christian ministry and for the church of the 21st century to continue to grow globally is based on one word-involvement. I had some recent dealings with involvement myself recently. This fall, Penny (my wife) and I signed our son, Levi, up to play flag football at our local YMCA. Just like all youth sports programs they had a box to check if the parent(s) wanted to coach, assist in coaching, etc… Being a caring father and one who likes to coach and teach, I marked the box to assist (knowing I may not be available for all of the games, etc…).

As the parents meeting finished the league was holding a separate meeting for coaches and assistants. I was thinking, “well this will be good to meet the coach and see how I can be involved”. Well, you probably know what is coming…right? They gathered the coaches and handed out the rosters. As I looked on the sheet I noticed that I was listed as “THE coach”. I sat as patiently as possible through the meeting details. Afterward, I approached the league leader to see if there was a misprint. He said there were not enough coaches. I knew what that meant. I would either coach or there would not be a team for some great kids that wanted to play. I needed to step up and be involved. Mind you, I have never coached football nor did I ever play organized football. But, involvement was more important even than my lack of experience at this point.

Team work taught at young age- everybody is in.

We are now into the fourth week of the 4 through 7 year old flag football (chase the boy with the ball) league.  They also want to be involved. After just one week together, on their own, they huddle and put their hands in and yell out “Go Badgers”. At their second game all six of the boys scored either a touchdown or an extra point! Sure there are some kids who are faster, some who can pass, some who can catch and some who cannot. But, they were all equally involved in something bigger than themselves.

In the team based ministry of Global Youth Ministry Network, involvement is the key. I could be the “ball hog” and just do trainings myself or even some of our highly gifted staff could do that as well. But we continually involve others. We seek out those who can take our place and lead trainings. We want involvement. As dear young leaders learn Christ-like principles for youth ministry the real “learning” comes in the doing, in being involved, involved in their local church and involved in training others. I love how involving them to train others makes a huge impact.

Jomesh in Beni, Nepal Level 2 training (far left second row and one of his training sons in the faith, Michael—far right second row).

Another by-product of continuing involvement is that as they stand to teach they are reminded of the principles again and again in their own life and ministry. It is like the saying that when we point a finger at others more fingers are pointing back at us. They are teaching and learning due to their involvement. 

Involvement by everyone is so important for this ministry to move forward. You, as supporters and partners with this ministry are given the opportunity for involvement. You get to support us financially which enables us to involve more leaders who reach more and more youth for Christ in places you and I may never see or get to go to.

I am reminded of the words of Jesus when He spoke to His disciples in John 15:15-16a “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain….” .

We get to be involved as the very friends of Jesus and of His global works! – Chris Davis

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I am so excited to say how proud I am of the GYMN-Nepal team here. We have staff and volunteer trainers all working together to equip youth ministry leaders here.

I am finishing up my trip here where we completed a time of training 10 additional minister/trainers to go out and further develop youth groups aroundd Nepal! In addtion, we had a great Level 1 training in the capital city of Kathmandu. Here there are some very talented, intelligient and gifted leaders who will impact Nepal and other countries for generations to come! Here below are a few quotes from youth leaders in Nepal:

The ministry should not be our God but his love compels to do the work of His to disciple others-Suraj  Basnet

Before this seminar I had no plan on how to run youth ministry, but I experience that now onwards I can run my ministry smoothly and can improve on my mistakes. – Rabindra Shahi

Thank you for supporting us in this ministry. More details and pictures to follow when I return (and have faster internet).

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