MidWinter 2021: I AM
What sets MidWinter apart from other camps is the fact that we have designed this camp to be as youth led as possible. Instead of having a speaker like previous years, youth from around the North Texas Conference were asked to speak on our theme "I Am". These videos were show during our time together at Virtual MidWinter. We have collected those videos and posted them here for youth and adults to watch, rewatch, and share!
* We have also included the questions for discussion that were used by our MidWinter Family Groups.
I AM more than what I seem
Zoe Mertz - Flower Mound UMC
1 Samuel 16:6-13
When they arrived, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, That must be the Lord’s anointed right in front.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Have no regard for his appearance or stature, because I haven’t selected him. Goddoesn’t look at things like humans do. Humans see only what is visible to the eyes, but the Lord sees into the heart.”
Next Jesse called for Abinadab, who presented himself to Samuel, but he said, “The Lord hasn’t chosen this one either.”So Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, “No, the Lordhasn’t chosen this one.” Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord hasn’t picked any of these.” Then Samuel asked Jesse, “Is that all of your boys?”
“There is still the youngest one,” Jesse answered, “but he’s out keeping the sheep.”
“Send for him,” Samuel told Jesse, “because we can’t proceed until he gets here.”
So Jesse sent and brought him in. He was reddish brown, had beautiful eyes, and was good-looking. The Lord said, “That’s the one. Go anoint him.” So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him right there in front of his brothers. The Lord’s spirit came over David from that point forward.
Then Samuel left and went to Ramah.
Discussion Questions:
What is something about you people wouldn’t know by looking at you?
Who are some people you trust to be there for you?
I AM here for a reason
Daniel McCowen - St. Paul UMC
Esther 4:12-14
When they told Mordecai Esther’s words, he had them respond to Esther: “Don’t think for one minute that, unlike all the other Jews, you’ll come out of this alive simply because you are in the palace. In fact, if you don’t speak up at this very important time, relief and rescue will appear for the Jews from another place, but you and your family will die. But who knows? Maybe it was for a moment like this that you came to be part of the royal family.”
Discussion Questions:
What does it feel like to know your purpose?
What is a time when you felt you were God needed you to be?
I AM known and loved by God
Will Peterman - FUMC Plano
Isaiah 43:1-4
But now, says the Lord—
the one who created you, Jacob,
the one who formed you, Israel:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched
and flame won’t burn you.
I am the Lord your God,
the holy one of Israel, your savior.
I have given Egypt as your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your place.
Because you are precious in my eyes,
you are honored, and I love you.
I give people in your place,
and nations in exchange for your life.
Discussion Questions:
Who is a person who loves you even if they know the not-so-shiny parts of you?
What does it change about your choices or how you act to know that God knows every part of you and still loves you?
I AM because we are
Jillian Jackson - Hamilton Park UMC
Romans 12:4-8 (CEB)
We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.
Discussion Questions:
What is your talent? What can you do to use your gift in the best way possible?
Who supports your gift and helps you?
Have you ever seen a gift in someone else and helped them?
We are because I AM
Haven Emery - Lovers Lane UMC
Matthew 28:18-20 (CEB)
Jesus came near and spoke to them, “I’ve received all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”
Discussion Questions:
We are because I am.... ?
What do I have to offer for the betterment of my community as a child of God?
I AM because GOD is
Addie Hicks - FUMC Plano
1 John 4:7-12 (CEB)
Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love. This is how the love of God is revealed to us: God has sent his only Son into the world so that we can live through him. This is love: it is not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as the sacrifice that deals with our sins.
Dear friends, if God loved us this way, we also ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. If we love each other, God remains in us and his love is made perfect in us.
Discussion Questions:
Describe a time someone has shown you God’s love or you have seen someone showing someone else the love of God.
How can God’s love show us who God is?