In light of the most recent school shooting in Florida I am reminded about why Missional Communities are so important. Everyday we come in contact with people everywhere we go. As Christians we are called by the Great Commission to shine the light of the Gospel of Christ as we go throughout our life. As we go to work and school, how are we shining the light of
Jesus to those around us? How are we connecting with the outcast, the bullied, those all alone and those who seem angry? We so often shy away from people who are different than us or who push us away, but they are the ones that usually need us
the most. Jesus never said being a disciple who makes disciples will be easy. In fact, he said that it would cost us everything. It will cost us comfort, cost us time, cost us money, but it will gain us so much more.

My prayer for our youth and for our congregation is that we would start being disciples who make disciples even in the darkest places. Jesus spent time in dark places with people no one else would touch, BE LIKE JESUS!

Jeremy Van Genderen
Director of Youth & Young Adults