Move Day 4: Kingdom Workers Are Changed

All this week we have been talking about Kingdom Workers. Kingdom Workers are loved, they are rescued, and they are united. Today we spent our time in Ephesians 4 & 5, discovering that Kingdom Workers are changed.

When you really think about it, change is often negative. It seems to be about giving something up that we really want to hold on to. When a student attempts to change by making a New Year's resolution, they might choose to give up pizza and go to the gym, or to give up netflix time and focus on their grades.  For adults, change often means giving up what we want too. Just think about the last time your home insurance agent called you with "changes" to your policy...

Kingdom Workers must change, but change for us is not negative! Change for us means opening ourselves to the work of the Holy Spirit. It's not the negative giving up of something we like, or something good. It's the fantastic power of God, changing us and giving us new life. We don't give up the good, we get it!

Kingdom Workers are changed, and that change happens only by the power of our God. We're excited for you to see the change in your students when they get home.  God has really worked in our group this week, and he will continue to change our lives through the rest of Move and beyond.  Tomorrow our students will learn that Kingdom Workers are sent. It's our final day, so we'll see you all soon!

MOVE Day 3: Our Staff

As you probably heard, Jamie and I had an unexpected family emergency on Day 2 of Move, had to meet our son in Kalamazoo. By God's grace, he is healthy and avoided serious long-term injury! Because of our top-notch adults who serve as staff at Modified, we were confident Move would go on without a hitch for our group. It did, and I'd like to take a minute to highlight them:

Caycie is with us for the first time this year as an adult. She attended Move every year she could has a high school student, and knows all about how the program works. Caycie also volunteers in The Flood, our jr. high program, at Kids City, our Sunday morning kids' gathering, and is on the leadership team of Thrive, our young adults ministry.

Justin also attended Move as a student. He is a graduate of Spring Arbor University, and has served as camp staff at SpringHill Camps.  Justin joined Modified's staff this year, and leads a small group on Monday nights.  He brings some colorful personality - and a banana suit - to our team!

Kevin is a Move veteran, having been here in Holland one year as a student, and six years as an adult volunteer (just about as many as me!). Kevin is incredibly student-focused, and brings a high level of enthusiasm to our group.  You may remember him from years past for his stellar hair styles.

Our staff rock, and your students were in good hands while I was away.  Special thanks too to Wally, our worship minister and himself a Move veteran, who drove over from Lansing to fill in and support our volunteers!

Welcome to MOVE 2016

Twenty students and five adults from SLCC arrived in Holland this afternoon, excited to dive into the 2016 edition of CIY Move! For those of you unfamiliar with Move, it absolutely the highlight of our student ministry calendar. Our church has such a long history with this event, and we always see God work in incredible ways in students' lives.

This year we are digging into the book of Ephesians, and will talk about being Kingdom Workers. Kingdom Workers are followers of Jesus who devote themselves to building his kingdom. Doctors can be Kingdom Workers. Teachers can be Kingdom Workers. Gas station clerks can be Kingdom Workers, and so can students! Anyone who chooses to make God's Kingdom the first priority of their life can be a Kingdom Worker.

Before CIY challenges our students with this focus all week, we out started tonight by talking about love. Unless we know that we are loved, we can't be Kingdom Workers. In Ephesians 1, Paul talks God's love. He loves us so much that he adopts us into his family, invites us into his conversation, and wants us on his team.

You're welcome to journey along with us! Read through Ephesians with us this week, and ask God to open your heart. And, please pray with us. Pray for community to grow among our students. Pray for our adults to maintain energy and enthusiasm. Pray for God to shape students' lives and to draw them into deeper relationship with him!