Final Thoughts

I just wanted to make one more post to this blog to complete the reflections I have had since our return. More than anything I want this experience to be much more than just a memory for our youth. I want the New Orleans experience to be a stepping stone in all of our faith walks. I pray each of the youth will see inside themselves to be something special and that they have been invited to be a disciple to Jesus. This invitation is a privilege! He created us to be much more than the consumers we desire to be. God created us to "Make a Difference" in the lives of people close to us. Family members, friends, those who are bullied, or people with special needs all need people to listen to their problems and joys.

So as we move in a year of Faithtime and our Wednesday night youth group will we continue to be peacemakers, disciples, and justice seekers for others. Please consider making the Wednesday night youth group a priority. My final thought is the 18 year old youth from Minnesota who spoke on Saturday night and told us the feelings of invincibility he had when he left the Gathering in 2009 and how quickly those feelings left him when he got back involved with the busyness of his life. Here is the link to watch this video again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mZFncVAst0o#!

With all this being said our Youth Group NEEDS to be a priority in your life in you want to make that difference that Rachel sang so elegantly about. Staying plugged in with others who want to make a difference will make the Youth Gathering more than a memory...it will make it  a place where your faith grew!

Thanks for all you have done for me!