We Are the Family of God

"We are the family of God, yes

We are the family of God, and

He's brought us together to be one in Him

that we might bring light to the world."

During my last few years serving Springfield Friends Meeting we began having what we called "Alumni Gatherings."  At those times when former youth group members were home from college, we would plan a lunch at Pizza Inn or some other small event to help us all stay in touch.  Every year at the YFYF Christmas Party at our house the alumni were not only invited, but invited to stay for a couple of hours after everyone else went home.  By Christmas of 1993 we had quite a large group that stayed in touch, but were missing the special times we had shared over the years on youth trips.  So we decided to plan an Alumni Trip for the week after Christmas, 1994, to the one place we knew we could get people excited about.  We were going back to Walt Disney World.

Much of the planning for this event took place in a booth at Pizza Inn, with Todd Farlow and Danny McCorquodale supplying most of the brain power.  Unknown to them at the time, I was thinking of leaving SFM for a youth ministry position in Kissimmee- but that would not effect the trip much at all.  We booked rooms at Disney's All Star Resort and began to advertise the event to our old friends.  To be honest, many of the details of the trip are gone from my memory, because during the following months we did move to Florida.  Life got very hectic.  But the trip went ahead as planned, and in December around 15 former youth descended on Orlando by car and plane.  And we had an awesome week together.  I will never forget the night at The Fireworks Factory when we told them all the news that Marilyn was pregnant with Will.  That group of people meant so much to us.

I wrote yesterday of relationships and ministry.  Thinking back, this group defines what relationships are like in the real world.  There were a number of couples who made the trip, and almost none of them are stayed together.  There were guys on the trip who were the best of friends but seldom see each other anymore even though they live less than 30 minutes apart.  There are people who have moved away from High Point- some very far away.  Some are very involved with SFM; others have new church families; others have drifted away from God.  This group is a sampling of what happens to every church youth group as students grow into adults.  But here's the thing- for that group, and for many others I have been associated with over the years, the relationships we built in their younger days are still there, and still significant. If we were to find ourselves thrown back together again, there would not be awkwardness, there would be love and joy.  When Ken Hill called a few months back to say he would be at WDW for a conference, we couldn't wait to see him.  If Charles Freedle or Michael Mercadante needed to share a room with Marilyn and I (as they did that week) they would be welcomed.  The same is true for anyone from any of the groups I have been blessed to be a part of.  The relationships formed in youth group bring you in to the Family of God, and the grace of Jesus keeps you there.  The bonds are strong, and the threads of love run deep.  Even when you don't realize they are there...

The picture you see at the top was taken on the Alumni Trip at Splash Mountain.  The gang had it framed and gave it to us, and it sits on display in our living room.  It contains couples no longer together and friends who have drifted apart.  But to me it is a symbol of all of the love and laughter that has passed through my life over so many years of being blessed to work with amazing people in God's name.  It is a picture of the joy that comes from being part of the Family of God.  This blog has allowed me to reconnect with many of you who are, in my heart, a part of that picture.  God's family portrait is one amazing photograph, and I am thrilled to be in it with all of you.  And one day there will be a family reunion that will be the absolute best party ever!  See you there...

Because of Jesus,