We were called to a life of freedom in Christ. We were called to create, to laugh, to enjoy being alive for its own sake, to rejoice in the love of our Creator, and who that Creator created us to be. Failures included.
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Two full years ago, a small team from the Youth Ministries family, including teenagers, staff, volunteers, and parents, jumped into a project funded by the Texas Methodist Foundation called the Innovation Lab.
Volunteering with teenagers is not a box you have to check or simply fulfilling your parental duty – we promise that is it not only impactful and worthwhile, but it can be life-changing.
As you all know by now, one of Youth Ministries most beloved long-time volunteers, leaders, and all-around giants, Chris Vardy Sr. tragically lost his life in an accident on February 11th.
As a project for January of 2021, we at Youth Ministries interviewed four students and asked them to tell us about their 2020, in their own words. I encourage you to listen. I’ve gained so much from doing so, and I hope you do too.
I ask that you, in honor of these confirmands this weekend, look at those vows and answer them yourselves, reaffirming your commitment to this community of faith, and to the life of discipleship it invites you into.
When we as a staff made the decision to go all-virtual with our programming, including ending outdoor programs, my stomach twisted with one specific realization.
Right now, I think we could all use a little grounding. Especially because things are constantly changing — between changing with expectations with the pandemic, not knowing who’s in and out of quarantine at any given time, uncertainty with our schedules and seemingly no way to plan for the future.
The fruit born from ministry work is not based on performative perfection but, instead, on graceful reliance on God.