“ALL IN” 2023 POTOMAC DIVISIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL INSPIRED TEMPLE CORPS MEMBERS
By Lt. Schelika Chisolm
Every year, Potomac Division’s Youth Council continues to inspire a new generation. This year was no exception.
The theme was “All In” and that was made special with featured guests Commissioners Kelly & Donna Igleheart, Majors Tim & Cheryl Gilliam, Captain Jervonne Hinton, and Guest Speaker Tommy Nixon. Potomac Divisional Youth Council was held at Eagle Eyrie conference center in Lynchburg, VA from March 10 through March 12th.
Baltimore City’s Temple Corps had the privilege to send five special delegates to the conference. Our youth delegates such as Mariah, a Morgan State University student who majors in Health Education with a concentration in Pre-Professional Physical Therapy, was one of our youth workers from last summer who continues to volunteer for our Boys and Girls club in Franklin Square. Also, Talia, 17 years old, and Zakiya, 14 years old, who are daughters of Temple Corps member Shanna Smith, also attended. Karl Reese, a bass drum player and a sophomore from Connexions Community Base Academy, who also volunteers at our Boys and Girls Club. And lastly, LaShai, 19 years old, a Baltimore Temple Corps member, who is majoring in psychology in Catonsville Community College and who is also an active member of the National Federation for the Blind.
On Friday evening, as we reached the top of the mountain, the worship experience began. We checked in at the conference center, had dinner and then scouted our house for the weekend. Throughout the entire time, our group formed a spiritual bond. We waited for each other, saved seats for one another at every event, laughed as we walked up the hill, and prayed together. During late night devotions, we shared our favorite parts of the evening and that fostered an even stronger bond.
The scripture verse featured for the weekend was Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
“4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
Council sessions were inspiring and filled with the Holy Spirit. The music and performances enhanced the guest speaker’s message. The guest speaker, Tommy Nixon, encouraged youth and adults with wise advice.
He says, “Here are four things Youth Leaders need to do.
1. Show up. Be around the people of God.
2. Know up. Get into the Word of God and do the work.
3. Grow up. Step into who you were created to be and stop waiting for someone else to do the work in order for you to know.
4. Throw up. Share what you know about God and what His doing through you.”
Commissioner, Kelly Igleheart inspired us and closed the conference on Sunday with an awesome message on centering our lives around Jesus. Being in His presence. And resting in His love.
During Youth Council’s weekend, I witnessed young people accept Christ for the first time and others demonstrate Christ’s actions to their peers. Every aspect of the weekend was a result of intentional planning and much prayer from our Divisional leaders and their staff. They kept the main thing, the main thing. Because it’s all about Jesus and choosing to be "All In".
Come to Temple Corps every Sunday. Our Sunday School is at 10 am and our worship service is at 11 am.