Years ... several reflections. 
When a birthday is, of course, welcome, it's time we share with all our loved ones: family, friends, classmates map. Not for nothing that we speak of a "happy birthday." But is also an opportune time to reflect, although some may consider that this is an exercise worthy of a spoiler, it is not. Constitutes a critical activity that has the ability to revive what is dead or dying, to turn weaknesses into strengths and strengths steadfast in virtues. This exercise of intellect and spirit, which I intend to invite, have a feature that is unmatched by anything I've written previously for this magazine. It is an exercise sense of soul and heart. Not that the previous articles do not emanate from the same "certainty". No. What happens is that it is the first time I write for this magazine with a sense to "come back." Who
birthday is not a person is, nothing more and nothing less, our beloved youth department. Despite many years in the Church, my full membership to the Juvenile Department was late. It was 2000, when he saw that this medium laRevista Youth Awakening, was failing. It was then I spoke with my friend Cristian Estrada and said that he intended to work actively for the Journal. With him and Pedro Rojas, whose home became a base for meetings and work, more Ariel, who joined this effort, we rise this publication. That same year, our beloved and always remembered Pastora Zulema, I was appointed Officer of the Church of Puente Alto. And hence, did not cease my activities until this year. I have been honored by God and for you to be Vice President for two terms, President, in a furtive period, an International Director, and the last convention I was elected Auditor of Accounts. I was a deputy Secretary-time and rebuild Jetzabel Ariel and important part of the memory of this Department. During these eight years I participated in almost all Board meetings, delegates and representatives, Missions and Events of our group and I had the opportunity to submit as a project and work on them, the Bible School and Pre-University Youth Redemption, these dreams being fulfilled, and opportunities that Providence permitted to offer my life, along with that of friends, rewarding, minimally, it is clear that God had given us and continues to deliver. The Juvenile Department was transformed into my house, literally and symbolically speaking. It was what bound me to the Pentecostal Church Rising. Because when I speak of the Youth Department do not speak of a religious institution, I'm talking about you, the youth of the Church, and I'm talking about my life. Many times I've said, and I hope that is not already a cliche, is in the Juvenile Department, in specific terms, I lived the happiest moments and saddest of my life, jointly. Here we laugh, we had great satisfactions and triumphs, but we also had losses and tears, many of them in silence and solitude of the room. Times when we were accused of being "shameless" or "dangerous" simply for trying to do the right thing. Because you never work by self-interest. We always had a sense of community, family, dreams and aspirations. But thank God he was always with us, not allowing the harsh words break our bones and desires. Longing to speak. I'm still happy, because Christ lives in my heart and today because I can, and sorry to take license to bring up to a certain minstrel, love "a clear woman I love and loves me." That is why I ask the floor to talk about the past, present and future.
The Juvenile Department was created in 1990, after several failed attempts, and its founder intended, in the mind and heart of our Bishop Moses Peralta and some young flagship, was to unite the youth of the Mission in a single organization and which is collaborating with the Pastors in the evangelizing work. These motivations were fulfilled in all these years with interest. We held our forces and voices for these purposes. But these, we have added others. Fundamentally, Christian formation. For our ranks have been generations of men and women tremendously powerful in the Lord, until the day working for the sustained growth of the Lord's Work. Our ranks emerged the pastors of the Church of Talca, and believe firmly that there are others who have felt the call in their hearts. During this has been re-created our minds, leaving you aspire to be defeated crumbs from the table, and transformed into active believers, that we believe to be the church of the future, but the present with and for Jesus Christ. In these years we have achieved the unity of truth. For years, within our department were fractionated by our churches, and from a time now we are one work, which means that we are a body that is attentive "to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3). When we understood that these purposes were fulfilled, and we were setting the pace and, moreover, had experienced tremendous generational shift, work to turn this Department in a "workshop" where we could all learn by sharing knowledge and experiences. It was there, when they re-emerge on the scene the "extracurricular activities": the Youth Choir, Christian Creativity Workshop (improvised name came up in Board meeting), the Bible school, high school, and recently a group that works in advertising ("United for Christ"). In parallel, we have continued to do our missions and events across our country, where our mission is present church.
But we have not achieved everything. In my conscience harbor the great sadness of not having done everything he should do. Sadness that I have gradually been changing by the certainty than others and achieve other unfinished work in dreams and, of course, have the strength and the ability to create more dreams and concrete work. Briefly, let me say that We are in debt. First of all, that our group is central in the churches of the Metropolitan Region, despite being active in various churches from other regions. These young men and women must not only participation, but their views, aspirations and dreams must be represented in leadership positions from the Juvenile Department. It is true that it not only requires the efforts of the Department but also the willingness of our pastors to not be mere spectators of this work. They, like those who are asked to feed and protect the flock of God, must come to us. Must understand not only who disciplined we must obediently follow them, but as brothers in the Lord. As believers redeemed by Christ. As believers we understand that the Church is a community of faith, and that we work together to growth and building, to occupy the Pauline terms. That does not exempt of responsibility to our group, since we have to keep working on strengthening ties. We must open the way to go. We soon get our regulations, essentially, that which is intended to eliminate discrimination. Quitted How can a young man or woman makes a mistake because the opportunity to participate in the means of grace? Specifically, this discrimination becomes latent in women, who "easily" be recognized as "single mother", leading to the Church's attitude has gender implications. This would not presume to take away the authority of the Church to regulate itself, but rather to remind the Church that the Christian discipline rather than punishment, is essentially education and restoration. Just look at the grace that Christ acted after Peter's denial. Another thing that is pending in the draft regulation and that is tremendously important is the participation as collaborators of former members who are now married, freeing these from misuse and disuse their skills and talents, leading in turn to them and keep them turning their talents and virtues. One can not forget the past. But we should be operating, drawing the necessary lessons from the past, working to become not make the same mistakes, and what once was empower weakness. I know many young men and women, passed today by the Church forced the adult range, which could continue contributing to the Juvenile Department, not from positions, but with their experiences. The dreams of them and they can not be truncated. So we got rid of the weaknesses of the resulting generational changes, which has become a historical problem of "long duration" and get rid of the "idleness" Church "we stray from the road. In terms of activities should be continued as well and we need a process that allows us to realize our strengths and weaknesses and allows us to guide our future. Fundamentally, we must look at the world with their needs and work for full redemption of humanity, bringing to reality the "oracción" that spoke some time ago the sociologist Christian Humberto Lagos. All this while what has been done: To evangelize, teach, and give grace we have received from the Almighty.
If there is anything I learned in the Juvenile Department was to be faithful. True to God, Youth and my friends. That must be maintained and strengthened day by day. This in order that the Church has spent several months studying the book of Acts. In my opinion, essential that we should learn and practice of the early Church is the way they relate to faith and with other believers. The early Church had no temples or a clear hierarchy. Neither had a set liturgy or rites. The brothers first met in homes, and while breaking bread (which they did-mates, in the literal sense of the phrase - "with whom you share the bread"), read the letters of the apostles and reminded the Christ that lived incarnate with them. Perhaps we can not have everything in common like the early Christians, but we have to solidify our bonds of unity, solidarity and fraternity, seeing as a real family. As we are: children of one Father. Only then can we grow as we quantitatively and qualitatively. One last word. I have never believed in coincidences. Yesterday, before writing, I was privileged to participate in a discussion with the Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff. He said in his lecture: "The heart is the fundamental niche of the world of excellence." And so. This department grow because with the help of God, and because a group of hearts working for the same cause, for a same dreams, for about the same work. So I spoke from my heart, as a believer in Jesus. From my heart I wish you a happy anniversary. But with my heart I ask you not falter, keep working, working, dreaming and scale new heights.
Luis Rodrigo Pino Moyano.
(Text written for the magazine "Youth Awakening", referring to the 18 th Anniversary of the Juvenile Department.)
