Special to The Mississippi Link
New Hope Baptist Church, 5202 Watkins Dr., Jackson, Youth Ministry recently hosted its first IMPACT weekend. All of the activities were geared towards middle school, high school and college students.
Church leaders hosted the IMPACT Worship Rally as a means to Intentionally Motivate Positive Active Christian Transformation in today’s youth.
The worship rally included a youth praise & worship showcase, inspirational messages from Moe and Sandy Hafeez from “THE IMPACT MOVEMENT” that preceded break out sessions which addressed the topic, “Lost, Confused, Found,” and the Jackson District Missionary Baptist Association Oratorical Contest.
Guest speaker Manuel Scott, Jr., the renowned international evangelist, ended the rally during the Sunday worship service.
During the first night of the rally, Moe Hafeez shared with attendees his introduction to Christianity and how it has changed his life. Born a Muslim, Moe Hafeez said he knew that his mission in life was to not only live a Godly life but to spread the Word to others.
After joining the IMPACT Movement, he met his wife, a native Mississippian, Sandy, and the two are committed to assisting with hosting IMPACT rallies to help build spiritual awareness among youth.
The Impact Movement began as a conference for college students founded by Tom Fritz in 1991. The movement now reaches thousands of African American college students.
In 1986, Fritz made an unforgettable visit to Kenya. Spotting Fritz, a native ran up to him proclaiming, “You’re Negro; you’re Negro from America,” embracing Fritz enthusiastically. “Are there any Negro Christians in America?” the native asked. When Fritz answered yes, the man inquired, “Then why aren’t they here?” The affect this encounter had on Fritz was mammoth. He saw first hand the great need and potential advantage of African Americans in the mission field.
In response to his experience in 1991, Fritz had the idea to host a college student conference where Bible teachers would challenge conference attendees to live a life devoted to Christ. The result: more than 500 students attended this conference and their lives were significantly changed.
Five years later in 1996, the Impact Movement, a movement of evangelism and discipleship among those of African descent and African American college students, career professionals, and high school students was birthed. Changing the focus from a conference to a movement was needed in order to fully encompass the mission and vision of Impact.
The Movement participants want to see God redeem the African American community and feel that this can only happen as believers interact with communities and allow God to use everyone as agents of change.
For more information about the Impact Movement visit, www.impactmovement.com
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