It was last year that some NYMC'2k6 Core Leaders thought of pursuing another missions congress in Bacolod. A good discussion right after a mini-reunion at Ate Leah Aguirre's place stirred up the group to share what happened after the last congress.

We were all excited about the crazy idea and looking at how everyone have grown (spiritually & in size), we believe it's something worth to pray for and try doing after five years of the "dessert years".

2012 comes and the congress didn't happen. 

Everyone became busy and the excitement died down. I have to agree at one point that there were only a few of us who continued on praying and sought the Lord's direction for the congress. 

It was at that juncture that I prayed and sought the Lord's will for the congress and NYMM as a movement, it led me to say "YES" to help out plan for the congress and with whatever I can do for the movement. 

A long discussion with Ate Leah, Ate Joy and some other close friends led me to think about "missions stuff" once more after 3 years. I personally looked at the idea as a stepping stone for something deeper for the movement. 

Deeper, in a sense, that for the movement to reach the younger generation, a congress is not enough to deeply impact our cause. There has to be more than just workshops, plenary sessions and exposures. 

We have to do something solid, gradual and surefire. 

The think-tank meeting in PMA last April taught me a lot of things about mobilization. For one, mobilizing churches is both fun and challenging at the same time. And that there were only a handful of young recruits for the past few years.

The movement's focus should not only be to establish a strong connection of networks but also to fully support these networks by working together in training, supporting and mobilizing fellow youth for intentional crosss-cultural missions.

Also, it dawned on the group the reality that reviving the youth movement is something we can do if we want to but will also be a challenge specially that the movement has been silent for quite some time.

Lastly, a movement like NYMM would need to start somewhere and it needs to start with the youth.

The intention here is not just to raise up new missionaries but also push the youth to capture God's vision and pursue their destiny to the next level.

With this in mind, I'd like to invite and perhaps challenge you to think where you are right now with your personal walk with the Lord. I pray that God will also open your spiritual senses and join us as we once again establish a movement for the NOW Generation.

Let's try to build once again the Youth Missions Movement and work together in "raising generations of Filipino Youth for cross-cultural missions".

That is why National Youth Missions Movement was born, and I guess the same reason why even after how many years of silence, the reality of God's faithfulness to use the youth for HIS GLORY has remain true to this day.

Thank you for reading and be blessed!