What is going on? God is moving...

Listen to a letter from a YL student about what God has been doing in her life.

Before I knew Christ, fear ruled my life. Every day I let it control who I was. I was afraid for my family. That divorce, unfaithfulness, alcohol and gambling would show itself to me again. I was afraid for my friends. That out group was falling apart and we wouldn't have each other to lean on anymore. I was most of all scared for myself. I think a lot of us find it easier to look for all the negatives in life. To just call it quits and throw yourself a pitty party. I almost gave up on dance which was my true passion and outlet. But then god showed himself to me when I was at my lowest point. Life had tried to rip me down and it succeeded. But I realized reaching you bottom is when you desire Jesus the most. I was screaming for God. I needed someone to tell me it was gonna be okay. I needed someone to be there for me cause I felt like everyone and everything had left me feeling empty. Though s actions God started showing himself to me though. He was showing me a lot of love and patience. After I went to YL camp for the 2nd time. I learned a very different message then the 1st year I want to camp. My faith in God became so much stronger. I have found myself in him. I pray every day that I can become more like him. I know he has a plan for me even in my days of doubt he is there and will never give up. He's put people in my life who I can walk on my journey with. I'm so blessed and proud to have friends who want to pursue God as badly as I do. He has given me people like Tracee Cobb who give me so much encouragement and who I honestly don't know what I would do without because she has gotten me through so much. I am so in love with god. I am ready to start fresh and live my life fully dedicated to him. Even if I hit a couple speed bumps along the way he's the only one who can completely get me past those and satisfy me. Through my struggles it has made me run to God. I choose to completely surrender myself to the Lord. To know him and be known. I am no longer alone.

Movement

Wow... Lee's Summit!  God is moving.  The invisible God is visible and at work.  There are so many things I could share that God is doing in LS and in the students of LS. 

1.  YL kicked off its first club with 115 students.  So many new faces showed up to have fun, hang out, laugh, sing, and hear TRUTH.  I asked a senior from LSN who had never been to YL before, "What did you think?"  She replied, "I love it here!  I just wished it didn't take me 3 years to come."  

Or second club was strong with 99 students.  One junior from LSW said, "I just don't know why yet, but after leaving YL  I just feel better."  Students are showing up.  YL leaders are pursuing students and earning the right to be heard.  Hearts are being shaped and TRUTH of Jesus is being spoken.  

2.  I just left Fields of Faith- FCA puts in on and all the schools come together to worship, share truth, and hear a message.  Over 300 LS students came.  We sang "How He Loves Us" in the stands at LSN football stadium!  They had a time of open mic and some YL students whom I'm so proud of- got up and shared to the crowd their story of saying yes to Jesus.  It brought me to tears.  Seeing new life in them and other students is inspiring.  One YL student shared that following Christ isn't easy her life didn't just get magically better.  However, she knows that God is not invisible and He will never leave her.  She cannot make it without Him.  Another shared of how giving her life to Christ made her feel loved and finally good enough where as before she was lost and searching for love.  

I texted them as soon as it was over and here are two of their replies:

"I just want to thank you for all that you've done.  Young Life has seriously changed my life.  Jesus is awesome and I love talking about Him and to Him.  Thank you for showing me that!"

"You and all the YL leaders have made a huge change in my life for the better!  I don't know where or who I would be without YL and God."