Your Journey starts here
In life, moments and milestones cause us to pause and reflect. From events, to relationships, to books, to – you name it, we all have them. Recently, I had one of those moments.
I… Turned… 50…
I paused. I began to think about each trip I took around the sun. The places I’ve been. The experiences I’ve had. The opportunities I’ve taken and missed.
And the relationships…
That’s where I really “hit the brakes.” Regardless of where I was or what I was doing, the people in my life helped shape me the most. Please don't misunderstand; where I was and what I was involved in did impact my life. However, they were all filtered through and interpreted by my relationships then.
One of those key relationships was with an incredible man named Ron Archer. Ron was a teacher at one of the local high schools where I grew up. He was also one of our youth leaders in the church community I called home until I moved away for college. During my sophomore year of high school, Ron started a small Bible study with many high school guys, including myself. Long story short, Ron became a mentor and friend. Over the years, he has helped me through many ups and downs. He has celebrated and cried with me. And, in various ways, he has been a part of most of my key life decisions. Ron modeled Jesus for me and helped me better understand what it meant to be a Christian. We read through the Bible, studied, and wrestled with theology, and took practical steps to ensure we were applying what we were learning. We prayed with each other and held each other accountable. I can genuinely say Ron's love for Jesus and his willingness to invest in me is a big part of who I am and what I do today.
Knowing Ron's impact on me, we (Hillspring Church) want our youth to have a similar opportunity. We have put together what we are calling (for now) "The Journey." It is a one-year program for our youth designed to help them understand who God is, who they are, and what it means to follow Jesus. It covers the “who, what, when, where, why, and how” of the Bible, doctrine, theology, practice, etc. It intentionally involves family and friends, our pastors, and our entire Hillspring community. And it is practical!
“The Journey” will be kicking off Sunday, July 9th, and will hit the finish line a year later during our Annual Independence Day Celebration, where all the youth involved in the program will have the opportunity to be baptized or confirmed as part of our celebration!
"The Journey" is open to any youth going into 5th grade in the fall of 2023 and older!
As I shared previously, I know the impact of a mentor/discipleship program first-hand, and I can't wait to see all that God does in our youth through this!
If you want to know more about the program and how you and your youth can be involved, don't hesitate to contact me at justin@hillspringtc.org.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Justin