Encouragement

The past few weeks have brought "breaths of fresh air"...not only has the weather been AWESOME (with the exception of the day of our 3v3 tournament when it SNOWED!!!), but getting back out on the soccer field with the kids and into "youth group" ministries has reminded me of why I am where I am. It is a genuine joy and privilege to get to do sports, groups, and hang out times with a lot of the kids and families who I've grown close to in my time here at NorthStar, and depth of relationships is now leading way to sharing the Word in a more intentional and planned out way.

The "organic development" of Tuesday Group and Friday Group structure this semester has been a really cool thing to watch unfold. After three semesters of purely "hang out time" at Tuesday Group, we are now still doing "fun" things, but at the end of every activity we are sitting down and learning about God being the Great "I AM" and Jesus being the "explanation" of God through His "I am..." statements in his time on earth. While it's hard to say whether or not the girls are "getting it" right now, there is no doubt in my mind that we are planting seeds and opening minds to truth as we go along. I've had a mindset of "big picture teaching," which is what I think kids definitely need in the context of learning "bible stories" and the Character of God.

Friday Group has formed this semester with the 5th graders who used to be involved with Tuesday Group. God is "one step ahead" (actually knows the whole story but has proved it in this situation) by providing a place for the 5th graders to transition into in preparation for Middle School next year. God laid it on the hearts of some volunteers from Samford to start a Middle School Youth Group. Instead of recruiting all new kids, we've transitioned the 5th graders out of Tuesday Group and into their own group, with intentions to carry it on next year with them to Middle School and become and "official" middle school youth group! We are memorizing the Beatitudes and learning/walking through each verse as we go along -- definitely a GREAT way to share the Word with the kids on a weekly basis.

While all this fruitful activity has been going on/happening, the enemy Satan has definitely tried to foil plans and productivity. Whether it be with one individual kid who has been/is being pulled away from the group or group challenges as a whole, there are definitely obstacles to overcome. But Jesus has overcome the world and all evil, therefore, we have nothing to worry about or be afraid of.

Im eager to see what the Lord does in individual lives, as well as big picture ministry this Spring...to God be ALL GLORY!