Late this morning, I stopped by a sale to benefit a ministry that will help women transition after being in prison, helping them find God and keeping them from returning to a life of drugs and abuse. As I was sitting there talking to the founder and several others, a teen walked in. A few years ago, he had come to my youth group a few times, mainly for events like movie night and a trip to an amusement park. He had come as a friend of one of my youth.
Awhile back, I ran into him. He had excitedly told me he had been baptized. Then I didn't see him for quite awhile. I didn't recognize him when I saw him a few weeks ago. He looked so much older, more confident, mature.
So, today when he stopped in at the sale, I was happy to see him and catch up. As we began to talk, I asked him about his life and what he was doing now. At first, it was not easy to get him to say a whole lot. But, as we continued and got past the small talk and on to his faith, he got more animated. He was telling me about an event he had gone to last April with his youth group. Somehow, from that conversation he asked me a wonderful question- one any youth worker would love to hear. "Can I share a dream I have with you?" "Of course!", I said. So, he excitedly got up and asked if I would walk with him. We walked around the block about 5 times as he shared his dream to create a youth group experience for the whole city. "It's not about this church or that church- it's about Jesus!" He shared conversations he's had with others and what is starting to happen already with some people who are wanting the same thing. I told him that the youthworkers who meet each week to pray are working towards all youth events on a regular basis. It was so exciting! I have talked to many youth workers about doing exactly this. But, I have never heard from a youth that this is what they want, too!
He said he had another dream. He said he hopes in the future- 30 years down the road- that all of the churches will be connected. Although I believe churches are always going to be different because people are different and therefore worship differently, I would like to see them connect more. I responded by telling him if we connect the youth now, they will be the adults running the churches in 30 years so it's really all 1 dream- short term and long term goals.
So, where was God today? He was in my conversation with a teen who has a heart for God who is passionate about making things better by sharing God's love with the community.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Awhile back, I ran into him. He had excitedly told me he had been baptized. Then I didn't see him for quite awhile. I didn't recognize him when I saw him a few weeks ago. He looked so much older, more confident, mature.
So, today when he stopped in at the sale, I was happy to see him and catch up. As we began to talk, I asked him about his life and what he was doing now. At first, it was not easy to get him to say a whole lot. But, as we continued and got past the small talk and on to his faith, he got more animated. He was telling me about an event he had gone to last April with his youth group. Somehow, from that conversation he asked me a wonderful question- one any youth worker would love to hear. "Can I share a dream I have with you?" "Of course!", I said. So, he excitedly got up and asked if I would walk with him. We walked around the block about 5 times as he shared his dream to create a youth group experience for the whole city. "It's not about this church or that church- it's about Jesus!" He shared conversations he's had with others and what is starting to happen already with some people who are wanting the same thing. I told him that the youthworkers who meet each week to pray are working towards all youth events on a regular basis. It was so exciting! I have talked to many youth workers about doing exactly this. But, I have never heard from a youth that this is what they want, too!
He said he had another dream. He said he hopes in the future- 30 years down the road- that all of the churches will be connected. Although I believe churches are always going to be different because people are different and therefore worship differently, I would like to see them connect more. I responded by telling him if we connect the youth now, they will be the adults running the churches in 30 years so it's really all 1 dream- short term and long term goals.
So, where was God today? He was in my conversation with a teen who has a heart for God who is passionate about making things better by sharing God's love with the community.
Blessings,
Jennifer
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