Dear Team,
Thick fuzzy socks, a hot cup of coffee, a blazing fire place and a good book. Can you think of a better way to spend a cold, snowy weekend - besides flying to the tropics, of course :)
I’ve been reading “The Shack” by William Young the past few days. And although many people in the church are divided over the book and the theology it presents, I find some things very attractive about it. Young does a beautiful job depicting the relationality of God. He portrays the Triune God as an African American woman (Father), an Asian woman (Holy Spirit), and an Arab man (Son). What a beautiful picture of diversity - a God of the nations! The relationship among the Trinity is amazing. So much genuine love, friendship, an inner-dependence, laughter. What’s equally beautiful in the book, is the way each member of the Trinity reaches out and desires the same type of intimate relationship with people.
We’re created in the image of the Triune God - a God that exists in community! What was the first thing that was “wrong” in the Bible? Isolation; after creating Adam, God said it wasn’t good for him to be alone! We’ve been created for relationships with God and with people! Isn’t it amazing that we’re divinely wired for community?
One thing military teens really crave is relationships. On average, military families move every 2 to 4 years - that means the typical teen will move once or twice during their teen years. That’s a lot picking up, saying good bye, and starting over. For students, entering a new school and trying to learn the ropes as quickly as possible can be an overwhelming task. Students involved in extra curricular events (like sports, music, drama, etc.) may have worked very hard in their old schools to secure a lead position, only to move into a new school and have to start over. Although this sounds difficult, some students welcome the chance for a fresh start in a new school. Just goes to show, that we’re all different.
One of the ways that I’ll help students with the moving transition is to provide a safe place for students to build community. It’s my desire that students come to youth group, a Bible study or a fun outreach event, connect with their peers and feel accepted. Many students will come to youth group simply to hang out with friends.
Wouldn’t it be cool if they came to youth group and met Jesus, a True Friend! It’s my desire to provide students with opportunities to know and experience Christ. As an Air Force brat, the message of Jesus’ constant and unending friends resonated deep in my soul. I look forward to sharing this message with fellow brats, encouraging them to enter into a lasting, personal relationship with Jesus.
Relationships are important! Through relationships people are impacted and transformed. The theme verse of Cadence International is 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” I’m excited for the relationships God has in store for me in Germany. I’m excited for the students that will get to experience Jesus for the first time, and for the students who will grow deeper in their relationships with the Lord.
This week, when you see you flag key, would you pray for...
- Students as they seek out friends. Pray that believers would reach out to new students and invite them to youth group. Pray that God would soften the hearts of students to His Word, so they can meet Jesus!
- On Wednesday (the 14th), I’m teaching an Awana group at local church. They’ve asked me to come in and share about global missions and evangelism. Please pray that I would communicate God’s heart for the nations well to this group of students and that they’d be encouraged and challenged to consider how they can reach out to others with God’s love. Also, please pray that this may lead to an opportunity to share my passion about military teen ministry with the larger church body.
- Pray for more Key Club members! If you have a friend that you think would be interested in joining the Club, please let me know (beth.mabry@cadence.org).
Again, thanks for journeying with me.
Because of Christ,
Beth Mabry
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