Volume 46: Rest in Youth

I received a text from Mike, "Come to youth tonight!"

And just about immediately, I made up my mind, thinking "of course I will go! It's always so good for me to be there!"

Then, I told Dad that I was going to youth and he replied, "You're going to go and be 10 years older than everyone else there??" 

And for a split second, I thought maybe it is weird... that I am too old... 

But then I remembered that Dad doesn't really understand the 3C family... 

As soon as I pulled up in the parking lot, I was greeted by Audrey, Sophie and Jordan. And just like I used to do with Cali + Ann + Chandler + Jacob + Sarah, we walked from our cars into the elevator and pressed the 3C button.

Well, to make the night even more special, it was the night that we welcomed the 7th graders to youth! Which is always a sweet night. 

The theme of the night continued to be "Keep pressing the button. It will change your life." 

I always wish that I would have started going to youth consistently in 6th grade.. I was late to officially buy in and may have only pushed the 3C button a fraction of times as someone that started from day one did... 

But, I can absolutely say that pressing that button changed my life. 

For one and a half years of high school, 3C was a safe place for me - a place where I was surrounded by amazing people and had so much truth and wisdom poured into me. 

Last night, Mike talked about building our house on the rock. That this world will continually hand us bricks and encourage us to go place them in the sand. But 3C is a place that hands you a brick and shows you where to place it - on the firm foundation, the one that stands and faces the storms and does not fall. 

Since my nights on 3C, I've lived a good amount of life - 4 years of college, ministry, working at camp, deaths, new friendships, moving, jobs, etc. But thanks to 3C and Mike + Lindsay, I have been building my life on the rock and had a firm foundation to continue building on. 

It wasn't cool to go to youth group when I was in high school. And it's probably even more not cool to go as someone that is 8 years removed. But, man, it is always worth it.

A place that fills me with joy. 
A place that reminds me of the truth. 
A place where God continues to provide and reveal His faithfulness. 

Coming off a full summer at camp isn't easy, but a night on 3C was exactly what I needed!

May I continue to find opportunities to pour into youth, because whew am I living proof of the impact that youth ministry can have on someone! I definitely would not be where I am today without it.