There's no question that this has been a difficult time for all of us, and our students have faced some unique obstacles of their own. Online learning, missed milestones, and uncertainty of what the future holds are just a few of the challenges they've had to face. But in the midst of all of it, we’ve had the privilege to see God at work in and through them.
“Confirmation is always an incredible thing to watch, as a group of students explore the ins and outs of their faith. They take time to reflect on where they’ve been, while looking at the rest of their lives, excited and open to where God might use them and take them. This year’s class was in a much different situation. They weren’t able to go on their second retreat, which was a huge bummer for everyone, but the attitude of the class did not remain disappointed as we kept meeting, especially when students began sharing their testimonies. We’ve got some awesome students who, during COVID I might add, remained locked in to finishing their Confirmation commitment, and furthermore, took extra time to craft their story. These stories are incredible, where these students have been, and their relentless dedication to pursue Jesus from here on out, quarantine or not. We were social distancing, but students were brave, vulnerable, and bold, sharing deep questions and their life journeys thus far. It was super powerful to observe to say the least!” – Chris Chappell, Student Ministry Director
We can learn a valuable lesson about our own faith from these students. Their willingness to continue their faith exploration not only demonstrates how God is still working while we’re not meeting physically in our building, but also highlights that the Church is not a building to begin with. 1 Peter 2:5-6 says, “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” (NLT) What we have learned in the midst of COVID-19 is that we don’t need a building for the work of Jesus to continue. A faith foundation is being built within each of us, and not only does it not require us to be within the confines of four walls, it urges us to move within our community and our world in new and creative ways to reach people where they are.
Our students are an excellent example of how God is still at work! If you know a student who participated in confirmation this year, we encourage you to congratulate them on this next step in their faith journey.
“Confirmation is always an incredible thing to watch, as a group of students explore the ins and outs of their faith. They take time to reflect on where they’ve been, while looking at the rest of their lives, excited and open to where God might use them and take them. This year’s class was in a much different situation. They weren’t able to go on their second retreat, which was a huge bummer for everyone, but the attitude of the class did not remain disappointed as we kept meeting, especially when students began sharing their testimonies. We’ve got some awesome students who, during COVID I might add, remained locked in to finishing their Confirmation commitment, and furthermore, took extra time to craft their story. These stories are incredible, where these students have been, and their relentless dedication to pursue Jesus from here on out, quarantine or not. We were social distancing, but students were brave, vulnerable, and bold, sharing deep questions and their life journeys thus far. It was super powerful to observe to say the least!” – Chris Chappell, Student Ministry Director
We can learn a valuable lesson about our own faith from these students. Their willingness to continue their faith exploration not only demonstrates how God is still working while we’re not meeting physically in our building, but also highlights that the Church is not a building to begin with. 1 Peter 2:5-6 says, “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.” (NLT) What we have learned in the midst of COVID-19 is that we don’t need a building for the work of Jesus to continue. A faith foundation is being built within each of us, and not only does it not require us to be within the confines of four walls, it urges us to move within our community and our world in new and creative ways to reach people where they are.
Our students are an excellent example of how God is still at work! If you know a student who participated in confirmation this year, we encourage you to congratulate them on this next step in their faith journey.