Reinforce - link with Christians

Live It: Reaching IN—Helping People Connect

Last week I wrote about “Believe It” - which describes part of our efforts at Center Road and in the youth group to love people one step closer to Christ. We not only need to look up to see Christ, but we need to look to each other to see Christ—to see Jesus in each other and to be Jesus to each other. Everyone needs to “plug in” to the community of God’s people in this place. An unpopular truth is that those who do, grow and change for Christ – those who don’t drift away. We want everyone of all ages, and especially in youth and young adults to plug in, in some way. Here are some ways we try to accomplish this important job.

* Annual Christmas Party — isn’t so much about celebrating Christ’s birth as it is about connecting to each other. We’ll have a lot of fun and fellowship and make meaningful connections that last.
* Winterfest and UpLift—are events that could be called Believe It, as in we learn about God, but the most lasting things in my experience have been the friendship memories made—those are indelible. Much the same are events like the Hayride, our trip to Holiday World last summer, camping out, and many others—it’s about rubbing elbows together in Christ—and it matters. We worked on our youth rooms, and lots of other things to help us spend time connecting.
* In the past we have had Live It Groups and Fireside Devos to help us connect. We are hoping that Life Groups help our congregation connect—we are studying what our youth need to maintain connections to each other.
* Leadership Challenge— I would like to see EVERY high school student complete the LTC Leadership Challenge—it’s where you mentor younger students—help a Bible bowl team or a puppet team or any of the other event. By the time students are in high school, I think they should be seeking — “How can I help others connect… after all, someone helped me connect…” I hope this will be noted as we roll out LTC very soon.
* Individual Efforts—writing letters, following up on people who don’t come for a while, etc. We connect through texting, face book, email, and the web page—of course, the Window.

With our busy calendars and expectations, these connections don’t happen on accident. It’s time for us to ask, not what will the church do for me, but what I can do to help others connect to the life that Christ offers us—and when we do, we will connect. The time to Live It is now.

Rusty Maynard