The ADD Program - Family Services India
In May 2006,
Family Services India launched a new outreach training program for young
people, aged 12-17 all over
In October, the Add Program culminated
in a 5-day camp and training seminar for 130 young people who had participated
in the program and had achieved their goals. This exciting camp, which the
teenagers had eagerly anticipated for many months, was known as “The Add Fest”
The Add Program, a 5-month outreach initiative, which began in August, was instrumental in coordinating a network of 98 young people in becoming more active in their communities and gaining experience and training in youth counseling and missionary service.
During the
course of this 5-month program, over 15,390 people were led to Christ in cities
all over
To commemorate the success of the Add Program, and to help give them further insight and training in being professional missionaries and personal counselors, we organized a 5-day camp filled with exciting group activities and programs to strengthen their interpersonal skills and development and training modules to help them learn more about missionary service.
The attendees each created and demonstrated a live presentation of their experiences, observations and discoveries over the period of the Add program. We were pleasantly surprised to find that in addition to their dedication to the social cause, these young people are extremely talented, well versed, creative and outgoing. Presentations ranged from live musical performances, dances, speeches, and multimedia presentations. It was clear to see that a certain sense of pride and exhilaration was felt by all present at this camp.
The young people have testified repeatedly that their lives have been greatly enriched by the satisfaction of giving back to the community, and helping others selflessly. Their perspectives have changed too, to where they now think of others’ needs before their own and have a greater desire to want to help others.
We would like to thank Activated Ministries for their support in sponsoring Activated Magazines, which the young people distributed. This made a big difference in the number of people they were able to reach out to, and helped to motivate them to distribute even more Activated Magazines than they thought possible.
We know that each young person who is positively motivated to help others will in turn influence many others to do their part to change the world.
Comments from ADD Participants
While on the road in Kodai, we went witnessing around the
lake. As we were walking, we passed a couple of guys and one of them was
carrying a guitar. I (Tara) commented on it and asked if he played. He said yes
and I told him I did too. “Cool, wanna play us a song?” was their reaction.
Realizing that it was a good opportunity to witness, I decided to play them a
song.
They were totally
awestruck with our music, lifestyle and what we do. We found out that they were
college students studying in a nearby city. The guy with the guitar (Sam)
signed up for the Activated mag and after taking their number, and agreeing to
meet again, we said our goodbyes and left. After a couple of days we met them
for a class. The very next day we met them again and invited them down to our
house for lunch, a class, and soccer. One of the guys we met, Ciryl, sent this
in a text message a few hours after they left:
“Hi guys, it was
really great being with you all. Thank you so much for the lunch and thanks a
million for your love and care and all the rest (especially the soccer). The
kids were simply awesome. I learned so much from your ministry too through the
words we read. I want you to know I’m signing up for Activated to change my
life and change the world. Thanks a lot once again. God bless you all––Ciryl”
––Fiorella and Tara,
The day had
started slow; five minutes before I lost my partner at a college we were
witnessing at and I was on my own, meeting a few people here and there, getting
out some magazines …etc. but not the exciting witnessing I was hoping and
praying for.
But I didn’t give
up and in the last half an hour before heading back to where we were staying,
when I was walking on the road outside the campus, I suddenly spotted a group
of four girls fast approaching me. After shooting up a prayer the Lord showed
me to approach them with the Activated subscription.
Immediately they
were quite interested and jumped at the magazines. They grabbed the mags...I
pulled out the pens…and all four got subscribed right there!
Upon leaving the
college, I saw a guy in car waiting for someone. Immediately I was at the door
of the car and the Activated magazine was in his hands.
In the process of
talking to him, he told me that he didn’t believe in heaven and that he
believed that life was a dream we will wake up from when we die. I was able to
give him some answers from the Bible. At first he had some bitterness from his
past and had some negative thoughts about “religion”. But now he saw how much
he needed and wanted Jesus as a friend and the Activated magazine as a
guidebook. Then, he and his girlfriend got subscribed right there. It was a rush!
––Danny, age 16, Mumbai
On our first day
in Nagaland we saw what lengths the Lord will go to reach one of his children.
Two of us were witnessing to some young people on the street when a young guy
suddenly stood out to us, but when we turned around he was leaving. It was
strange that he didn’t look like he’d be really interested, but we ran to catch
up with him anyway. Then he ducked into a store and when we followed him it
suddenly registered to us that we were supposed to meet the owner of the store
later that day!
So we changed
plans and offered Activated to the owner who was a really sincere man. He’d
been actively preaching the gospel when he was young but now he felt guilty
that he hasn’t been much good to the Lord. He said that he felt he was losing
his connection with Jesus and that it was hurting his spirit. He was so
receptive and we were able to encourage him, pray with him, and give him tracts
to give to his friends.
He subscribed to Activated right away and said to contact
him if we needed any help. It was like the Lord was giving him a second chance
to come closer to him and receive the blessings that come with obeying His
Word.
–– By Nick, age 16,
One time when I
was out witnessing, I met this one guy who was selling these Job Networking
forms. He actually came up to me and explained what he was doing and what he
had to offer. I told him I was only a student, but I would let him know if
there was anyone I met that would need it. I started to explain about Activated
and he was really excited. He wanted to subscribe but he said that he didn’t
have a permanent address since his job takes him around many cities. But he
said that he would subscribe for his godfather in
He had to go but
he promised to be in touch. Later that night at 11 p.m. he called me and said,
“That was such a beautiful magazine you gave me! I want to buy some more from
you before I leave to another city!” He then started coming over for classes
and really loves the Word. Praise The Lord!
––Emmanuel, age 14,
