High School Based Australia Conference 2011: Living Free
What does it mean to live free? This was one of the main questions posed to the 200+ youths that attended the 2nd Annual High School Based conference in Sydney Australia. The stage was set for an afternoon of talks, sharing’s, activities, and the all important praise and worship.
The atmosphere of freedom was set at the very early with brother JC Roventa leading the service team in their opening praise and worship. When worship finished, the service team was in a frantic rush in a bid to get the room ready for the many youths waiting to enter those doors and take a step towards freedom. While stress and emotion filled the air, a quiet confidence in our God’s providence settled the hearts of all involved.
Finally the time came, 1pm Sydney time, and it was time to Live Free. From the creative elements to the heart felt sharing’s, the uplifting talks and the empowering praise and worships, God presence was well and truly felt as the shackles of this world were slowly removed as we learnt about freedom.
Session 1 entitled ‘Choice’ – Free to Choose questioned the youth on their perception of freedom. What type of freedom do we aim for? A freedom of indifference where one is free to do whatever they wish, or a freedom of excellence where one is free to live a life of excellence, pleasing to God. The session was complimented by 4 brave sharers who shared their experience on how they achieved freedom in different areas of their lives.
Session 2; ‘Dare’ – Free to be then explored the hindrances to freedom and how we can go about achieving freedom. The challenge was then put forward to the youths, “Live a free life, I dare you”. At the conclusion of the session, the youths let go of the shackles and burdens that were hindering them from being free. Finally, session 3 ‘Imagine’ – Free to Live capped of the day with the youths being
encouraged to imagine a life lived in freedom, and again challenged to live free.
Words do little to truly describe the true essence of freedom that was witnessed during this short conference. Each youth walked out of there with a choice. The freedom to choose a life that is free. No longer will we have to live under a yoke of slavery. No longer will we be subject to what the world tells us is right. No longer will our lives be ruled by pride, laziness, vanity and the like. We have the freedom to choose.
As the anchor verse says; “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)
Guided by Christ, we can choose to live a free life. So live free, I dare you.