Looking back, I realize that I was part of a revolution in my hometown. A new church plant spawned this student ministry with a hand full of teens with ideas beginning at a Blimpie. Before we realized it our pastor’s basement was packed wall to wall with kids who wanted to worship God on Tuesday nights. After lots of prayer the student leaders were decorating a downtown building rented to the ministry for one dollar a year. Within the confines of those cement walls a revolution began.
Weekly, that little store front was filled to the gills with students. We scratched our heads about how to meet fire codes and keep the overflow from blocking the fire exit. There was no church building, no white collars, no legalism, no reason for a non-believer, an atheist even should feel uncomfortable. We saw salvation, change, and growth. A revolution indeed. Students came even if only once to experience God instead of the world for a moment. I still drive by that building and feel the spirit.
Years later, removed from peers, trying to fit into a new field (the work place, where the harvest is still plentiful, and the workers are still few) Twenty somethings trying to relate with “adults” in an “adult” world with un “adult” tendencies. We still have a passion to see revolution among students, instead of scratching our heads about fire codes we scratch our heads about how to relate. We scratch our heads about how to balance the world of responsibility with the world of care-free, hardcore, passion inside of us. How we engage with youth and still have the respect of “adults.”
I got together with some friends last night for fellowship. Mostly made up of guys who were a part of that revolution. We discussed not feeling connection with God lately, trying to find our fit where we are. We talked about the passion of our youth and how to resurrect it now. What is God doing? You know, I left last night with lots of feelings, reminiscing old times, feeling a connection with my friends. I still didn’t feel God in the same way I use to feel him in that store front. This morning my day began as usual. I had some cancellations at work and found myself with time to reflect and there he was, God touched me, I felt passion, I felt joy!
I have a lot of questions about my life right now. I have been reeling in rejection even in the midst of an abundance of acceptance. I feel freedom now! I am not sure why God is moving me back to Habersham but I know this, he is good, and he knows the plans he has for me. I will be in the company of like minded seekers, remnants of the revolution, eager to be a part of something bigger than them, the next chapter in the revolution that is Christ is in us!
