I've started the Soul Detox Devotion from the You Version Bible app along with someotherreallyawesomewomen! (You can read more about it here.) If you are looking for a good personal Bible study, this one is great! We are using Twitter and Instagram to encourage each other as we study each day, using the hashtag #shereadstruth , so feel free to join us!
I am really pumped to be going to The Influence Conference in October! The hosts, speakers and location have got me wanting to skip straight through summer for this event. Good thing there are a few months between now and then though because I have some saving to do!
Before I even heard of this conference, I'd been really feeling a push to be part of a gospel-focused retreat specifically for bloggers. I even thought about putting something small together myself! I am so glad I waited though, because Influence sounds like it is going to be amazing- a time to reflect on Him and join in community with others. If you are also going, I'd love to get to know you before then!
This is a very busy week for our youth group. We're preparing for our graduation celebration service this Sunday with our six high school graduates! And I'll be attending five separate graduation services, in addition to parties and receptions to honor these awesome kids. (They better believe I love them for sitting through 8+ cumulative hours of pomp and circumstance)
I've been through a lot of education and training in the past few years
for small groups ministry, youth ministry, church leadership, etc etc
and there's a lot of talk about community.
Community is so important for a healthy church!
Without it, there's no trust laid down to support accountability,
there's no deep support system in place when someone goes through difficulty.
It also helps us create the unity that God desires of us!
When we are living in harmony, we are better able to fulfill the commands to spread the gospel, to love others, and to honor Christ in our lives.
Romans 15:5-6 says,
"May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
But I think a lot of times we try to build it through socials and "fellowships"
where we eat too much and only share surface level conversation
In my experience, I've found that genuine community is born through serving together.
Whether it's through a mission trip or sharing the gospel together
or waking up at 4:30 to serve breakfast to the homeless,
the bond of serving Christ brings us together closer than grilling hamburgers ever has.
Over spring break, we had the opportunity serve our host church
by doing some deep cleaning in their building
and some lawn care on the grounds.
We also got to share some time of fun together as friends.
late night mini golf
(I beat everybody... they had no chance!)
late night jam sessions
Caleb found these bells in their music room,
and used them to add a lil something to their jammin
(sorry I turned the camera sideways to get a better angle, but it's totally not)
game night- the boys won, but it was close!
Dinner out at a favorite restaurant
David's family got to join us! Little Eliseo fell in love with his sister, Erin.
This is a botana platter. It will change your life.
And I've only ever seen them in the valley,
so if you're ever in south Texas- get one!
Movie night- out to see The Lorax!
We had so much bonding over food, games and fun.
But if I were to determine what made the most difference in uniting our team's hearts,
it would definitely be the acts of service
in cleaning and raking and sharing the gospel at Rainbow Express.
What is your experience with community? How do you see it most effectively pursued?
