Three years ago, on April 21, 2021, Coldwater Youth set out on a mission with just three youths and one college student. Last Wednesday night, we had a total of 64 youth, college students, and leaders present, each a testament to the incredible movement God is allowing us to be a part of.
Our mission has been clear from the beginning: to help youth and college students find and follow Jesus.
We believe each is created on purpose, for a purpose, and with a purpose.
As Zechariah 4:10 (NLT) reminds us, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” This verse has been a pillar of hope and encouragement, guiding us through our journey.
I am profoundly thankful for our incredible youth leaders who generously give their time, talent, and treasure. This movement, empowered by the Holy Spirit to achieve incredible things, wouldn’t be possible without their dedication or the support of our church community.
As we continue into 2024, our hearts are filled with faith and anticipation for the best year yet. I write about this because I believe God has called you to a life of mission for Him.
To anyone with a mission laid on their heart by God, let this be a reminder: pursue it with all your might. Grab a few friends, have fun, and change the world for Christ. Even if it starts small, with just four people, do not underestimate what God can achieve in such a short span. From April 21, 2021 - February 28, 2024, in just 1,043 days, we’ve witnessed a miracle unfold.
Let’s continue to be used by God and show others love and purpose. Here’s to never giving up, believing in the power of small beginnings, and anticipating God's incredible plans for us all.
The main point of today’s article is that we are not designed to do life alone. Community is essential when it comes to our faith journey. We’ve read about the importance of prayer and reading God’s Word for the past two weeks. Today’s article is all about community.
We need each other. There are things in life that people shouldn’t have to go through alone.
No one should have to suffer through depression alone. No one should have to wait in the hospital alone. No one should have to deal with a broken family alone. No one should have to go through their entire day feeling like they have nobody who truly loves them.
When someone you know is hurting, please help them. I’ve had the privilege over the past 15 years of being in full-time occupational ministry to help stand in the gap for others when they are hurting. God has equipped His followers to use the resources He has given us to help others. Prayer and reading God’s Word over others is a key start. When you are hurting, seek help. Community is God’s answer for a crisis. WE NEED EACH OTHER.
“Human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability; it comes through the tireless efforts of men willing to be co-workers with God, and without this hard work, time itself becomes an ally of the forces of social stagnation. We must use time creatively, in the knowledge that the time is always ripe to do right.” - Martin Luther King Jr.
Positive change will never be inevitable. It will not happen on its own. We must become co-workers with God. We must help be the change to see the change happen.
1 Peter 2:5-6 CSB [5] you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in Scripture: See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.
This passage teaches us that Jesus is building His church - with us in mind. There are three valuable life lessons we can learn about community.
ONE | WE ARE BETTER THAN ME.
You are most vulnerable when you are alone. To the early church, this was so much more than meeting up for an hour once a week - almost daily, they prayed, ate, celebrated, and worshipped.
There is power, safety, and provision in community.
We are here to be a community. We are here to reflect Jesus. We are here to do life together. The church is a lifesaver. We must allow the church's original design to be authentic today as it was in Acts 2.
TWO | THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS.
Relationships matter, especially in times of hardship. When you get bad news, your friends will comfort you.
When you go through a tough breakup, your friends will help make it easier. When your emotions are too heavy to bear, your friends will be there to laugh with you. Your friends will take you far, so seeking a life-giving community is crucial.
Relationships matter, especially when God has laid a mission on your life.
As I wrote earlier about Coldwater Youth. There is no way that what God has done in the past 1,043 days would have happened without others partnering with God's calling for Coldwater Youth. You need to do life with others to accomplish God’s things.
THREE | PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE FOUNDATION.
Jesus is our firm foundation. Jesus is our firm foundation. I wrote it twice. This wasn’t a typo. We cannot build our foundation on anything else. Jesus is faithful.
He’s holding us all together. “The Church” isn’t built on a pastor, programs, or politics. It’s built on a person named Jesus. If you build your life on the foundation of Jesus with the support of a faith community, you will be able to withstand anything.
God doesn’t want you to live a small or isolated life. He wants big stuff for you - and that starts with a community. Constantly put yourself in situations where you can be a part of a Godly community.
What’s God been asking you to do for some time that you just haven’t committed to yet? Find a group of friends, have fun, and change the world for Christ. The best thing about doing things for Jesus is that He will never leave you. He’ll be with you until the end.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything or someone to talk to. 901-515-6450. God never called us to walk through life alone. The best is yet to come in your life.
