On the morning of March 7, a group of excited young people gathered in the Fellowship Lodge for the annual Winter Tabernacle Meetings youth breakfast and devotional. Their time of food, fun, and fellowship opened with prayer and was soon followed by a delicious meal of fluffy pancakes topped with syrup, berry compote, and whipped cream, served with eggs, hash browns, sausage, grapefruit brûlée, and orange juice.

The tasty meal was followed by a game where the young people were split into groups based on their birth months. The game involved attaching marshmallows to strands of spaghetti to build the tallest standing structure, and their efforts were likened to building a firm foundation in Christ. Just as the spaghetti/marshmallow structures would fall over without enough support, people are in danger of falling away from Christ if they are not firmly grounded in Him.

After the game ended, everyone gathered for a time of singing and worship led by Azaria Charles. Then Alex Wilson from our church in Seattle, Washington, led the group in prayer before the lesson began. The devotional was entitled “Built to Last: Choosing with Purpose,” and was given by Jeff and Melissa Downey of St. Louis, Missouri. The seminar focused on marriage and finding the right spouse, with emphasis on the role Christ plays in a godly marriage. Topics covered included defining the concept of marriage, becoming a person ready to be married, praying for the spouse God intends you to have, knowing your non-negotiables, defining red and green flags, putting purpose before passion, and waiting patiently for God’s timing. Brother Jeff and Sister Melissa offered helpful insights on godly marriage and the impact that prayer has on a relationship. Sister Melissa led the young people in a closing prayer, which was followed by a time of personal prayer.