I feel like I haven't even gotten started!! Last night was the last club night for Young Life this school year. The seniors were SO sad! I really wish I had time to connect and get to know them. Lots of them are going to camp, so hopefully I'll be able to spend some time with them there.
They played a few silly running around games in pairs, sang a few songs and jumped up and down (I actually felt the floor in the room bouncing..scary!). The director even jumped into the crowd 'mosh pit style'. Later they 'retired' this year's YL shirt and hung it from the ceiling. They showed a clip of Tom Brady (New England Patriots) being interviewed on 60 minutes. He said that he had 3 superbowl rings, fame, etc., but he feels like there's got to be something else, that something is missing. The interviewer asked him what he thought that was, and Tom Brady replied, "I wish I knew." The director talked about how things of this world will still leave you with a void. Even those we look up to are still lost and feel a void if they haven't found the Lord. He said to remember John 10:10.
Lots of parents and committee were there in support, and I got to take pictures the whole time. The director spoke about how much he really cared for each person student over the past 4 years since YL has been in Allen. Two students sang a song about how awesome camp is going to be, with each verse ending with "that's funny, because hoot rhymes with 'toot', or 'again' rhymes with 'breaking wind'... then he would proceed to squat down and make a really loud gas-passing noise with his hands making the crowd laugh. They showed a video about YL Camp. At the end, they allowed some of the seniors to stand up and say something about YL, what it meant to them, etc. I was so touched by some of their answers.
Some stood and said that because of YL they were able to come to Christ and be saved. Others told the underclassmen to NEVER miss even one Young Life, because missing out was the worst feeling to hear about it at school and the fun they missed the next day. Others told about how they learned that God wasn't the 'cop' they once thought. Yet others talked about how the leaders REALLY do care and love them and would take a call at any hour about any issue, even a torn fingernail. :) Others talked about spontaneous snow rooftop football with the director, others talked about all the new friends they made. And others stood up and said that when they first started coming to YL that they hated the people there, the leaders, all of it, because they had what these students 'thought' they had. But over time they realized that the love of Christ showed through the leaders and students, and they came to know God too. One kid actually became so overwhelmed with his love for Christ and the changes that have been made in his life that he pleaded with the other students to keep coming, to get to know the leaders, to let go and experience Christ.
Forget crying in the tanning bed, I was on a high knowing that God has chosen me to be part of such an AMAZING ministry, experience, and life-changing opportunity - both the student's and mine.
The night ended up with crazy dancing, tearful goodbyes and huge wacky group pictures.
God is good and he is faithful. I've always known that, but now I get to experience it every Monday through this group!
Verse to ponder: 1 Corinthians 1:9 (The Message) God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
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