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Heather, Ryan, and Shari talk with Shana Drenning and Zack Potter on some things coming up at Converge in 2021. Converge's classes will be returning soon!Shana is a leader at Converge.  Core 4 classes help students to learn what Converge is all about. It is a good way to begin to understand what we believe and who we are. It is more like a family time, hanging with your friends, in a smaller setting and learning. Don't be put off by the word “class”. It is the pathway to get involved in serving or trips. It is a great way to meet people and get started. It is a great way to learn more about what you believe. You also learn interesting things like the Gates of Hell is an actual place in Israel. And the walls of Jericho fell outward, not inward, showing external evidence when excavated that the Bible is true. CORE 4 isn't a class just for students coming to church or Converge that want to serve or go on trip, but alos for those who don't have a belief or foundation as well. CORE 4 classes are the 4 main beliefs of Converge: 1. The Bible is God's word and it's true.2. God has a plan for you right now.3. Jesus is our Savior and we need him.3. We are better together.Links:God's Whole Story podcast

Heather and Ryan sit down (part 2) with Shannon Kahn on how God has worked through his own life.Shannon has dealt with sexual identity issues growing up and has dealt with marriage and divorce.  Male influences in his life were extremely hurtful, abusive, or dealt with sexual abuse growing up, so didn't want to be a male. Almost all the men on both sides of his family have dealt with alcoholism. Anger went along with alcoholism with most of those adult males. Doesn't remember being told "I love you" much growing up. Didn't have a good view of what it meant to be a man.  Didn't want to be that type of person what he had seen. In his  head he didn't want to be a man like that, but also knew he didn't want to be a women. Had mostly girls as friends because they were safe, the guys his age were also that way so wasn't comfortable being around them.  That all shaped his difficulty with sexual identity. Sexually abused when he was young and introduced to porn at an early age.  Called gay during middle school, because he was different, didn't fit into the normal. Where you in church circles at that time? Parents dropped them off at church but it was pretty conservative. He didn't remember hearing about salvation. Just tried to do good things and be a good person.  Always had a basis of understanding that there was a God and he knew that that was not how God created him. There was always something to prevent him from crossing the line. The struggle was always in his head than external.How did you work through that? He eventually saw what other father figures looked like in a healthy way with other families as he got older and that changed his view. He got to see other family dynamics and that helped him to heal and grow. And also to be around community. It is crazy the power of influence. What you see is what you know. Was saved his senior year of high school. Went to Creation; that was the first time he remembesr hearing the Gospel message. The assumptions that we make as Christians are so powerful and harmful. There was a constant that he knew God didn't create him that way. As believers there is always something that we have to deny ourselves of.  If we did everything our human nature wanted it would be disaster.How could have the church helped? Doesn't  remember being in environments where sexual identity was actually spoken about.  A lot of guys don't want to talk to other guys about it. The enemy is winning when we don't talk about it.  It is so easy to isolate and believe that you are the only one going through this. Resources:Wounded Heart,  book and workbook by Dan B. AllenderJoe Dallas, author, has written several books that can be helpful.Every Mans Battle, by Stephen Arterburn, Fred Stoeker, Mike Yorkey Be real, Be open. You are not alone in what you are going through. 

Ryan and Heather sit down and talk with Shannon Kann about all things TLR, The Living Room, the young adult ministry at WC. Shannon is the Young Adult Pastor here at WC.TLR is known to build community  –  Foundations class is where you learn the heart behind TLR and what is means to live in community before serving there. Serving on a team is the best way to meet/connect with people. Also after the service they can leave the main auditorium and can connect right away to a group. Serving is like having instant community. Young adults crave community. We challenge them to initiate community where ever they are and whoever they are with. We use the 4 C's: Connect, Care, Challenge to grow, and Celebrate. The need for community is not unique to TLR, but young adults talk about it. Community is not just sitting around a table drinking coffee, there is more to it. It is doing things together, doing life together.People want a safe place to be able to be open and talk about life.What is unique or special about TLR? The biggest thing Shannon hears from young adults is that they didn't feel like there was a spot or place for them to be involved at their church. The desire to lead is high. We don't have volunteers, we have leaders. You either attend their as part of the community or you are a leader. Leaders have a say; they are a part of the vision.Why is it important to find a community wherever you land after high school? Life it not fun to do alone. Community is very important.How would you go about finding a community? Often campuses have groups, but be bold to step out and find one.How do you know if you found the right one? A safe place where you can go with your junk.  TLR gives a lot of opportunities to share and grow. His entire life people took chances on him. His phrase for the year is “Risk it ____”Links:TLR websiteInstagramFacebookQuestions? Shannonk@worshipcenter.org

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Kent Aldrich on finishing high school and what Christianity looks like for the next generation. A lot of pressure is put on senior high school students to know what they are going to do after high school. Let your plans be fluid, don't be pushed into anything. Wasn't sure if he wanted to go to college, then thought about taking a gap year. But decided to jump in to college and then heard about Moody Bible Institute. Wants to be able to do what God is calling him to do without being tied to having debt.Currently doing a research project on Millenials, mostly, and why they are leaving the church. The numbers of people who said they would be religiously unaffliliated or have no beliefs has increased to 36% with Millenials. Research on how to answer the question, "How can the church better represent the truth that we hold in today's world?"As Christians, we have taken things that are not necessarily core Christian truths and elevated them above things that are. Hope the future generations will elevate faith in Jesus and not faith in cultural systems.

Heather and Ryan bring Lisa Weaver, Outreach Administrative Assistant at WC, back to talk about short-term missions.Sometimes you go into short term missions with the idea that "I am going to change the world"...in two weeks or 4 days. You think you know all of this stuff and that you are going to tell everyone what you know. Most people are not going to sign up to go to (Sierra Leone) forthe next 3 years. That is a huge jump to ask. But when you have these small intros to missions, most of the time it is not the people that we are going to to minister to but the poeple that go that are changed. They realize they don't know how much they really know, they realize I am actually more prideful than I though, those people were nicer than I thought they would be, or Jesus probably loved people different than how I try to love people.What do we do to set up kids well when going on a mission trip? In the Bible is says, "and Jesus live among them" - They need to know that we are going to go and serve the people that are living there full time. We are going to do whatever they need us to do. Not what we plan or want to do. Come in with an attitude to serve. The community knows the people from the ministry and not us, and they don't need to know us. We need to serve them.The problem with missions is that  it is difficult to find people who want to live there for 3 years. Often poeple will commit to go for 4 days, but not for years. The idea is that God does the work. We often go thinking we are going to "save Mexico". Sometimes what sticks with us has little to do with the stuff that is done there. It is difficult to know the long term effects though that is will have on those going. WC has strong bonds with YWAM Juarez. Like our relationship to Mary Beth Maifield who created a foundation for kids transitioning out of foster care at the YWAM base there. That was with the help of an offering that WC took last year for our global partners. That came out of relationship, we have been sending teams there for years. What is great it that it is not a focus on Worship Center when we go to serve. Like Paul in the New Testament, it is like, "hey I am not there but what can I do". But maybe if people know there is a larger, long term partnership it would make a difference in their willingness to serve. Trips are a highlight for kids. But in 2020 Converge wasn't able to do trips and it was a loss. It can change the trajectory of your life. (Like it did for Lisa. Listen to previous episode.) God does the work. Who should go on a trip? Sometimes the people that we least expect to go or we don't think maybe should go, are the ones that benefit the most from it.  Jesus changes the world and sometimes you are there. Sometimes you get to be there. Look at who God chose to use in the Bible.We can serve people right here, locally. Like at Converge's Summer Serve - we serve our local community. It is not always trips to Jamaica, Hawaii, etc. It is not always glamorous. It is harder to get people to go some place "risky". Want more information on trips? Message us @Converge or Worship Center Outreach

Today, Heather and Ryan speak with Lisa Weaver, Outreach Administrative Assistant at WC, on her YWAM experiences.Kids often feel pressure to know what they want to do after high school. It is often the #1 question they are asked and often they have no idea what they want to do.Lisa didn't know what she wanted to do after graduation, but was invited by a friend (with whom she had gone on a short term mission trip to Nashville TN in 10th grade) to go on a mission trip to Guatemala, Ecuador, and Nicaragua which was her introduction to YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She worked in the kitchen and made a lot of guacamole! She came back, worked for her parents business, and then decided to attend YWAM DTS in Tennessee, near Nashville.  The best part of YWAM is the deep, deep community she found there. You eat, sleep, take class, learn how to work through conflict with them. Lisa was there on campus for 3 months and went on outreach to Malaysia for another 2-3 months. Lisa then felt God was calling her to do a secondary school, which is through YWAM but much more specific than a DTS. Lisa did the School of Ministry Development, which is like a leadership school. The schools are incredible, with cross cultural experiences and academic classes. Some classes are accredited and you can earn college credits. You learn a lot about the Bible and also interpersonal skills. She then made a 2 year commitment to go back as staff and lead a DTS school that was soccer focused. Lisa was in YWAM for almost 10 years (part of that time she was in Germany and England, which was during the Olympics). YWAM partners with their local churches and the community. When Lisa felt that God was calling her to go to secondary school she felt it was a gut feeling. She felt that if she did something else it would be okay, but felt that this is where she needed to go that came through a time of praying, asking God, and reading and still being slightly unsure. It is almost like a theme in her life - “Not sure this is what God is saying but I am going to go with it until something else comes up or until God says no”. Stepping out and trusting, it kind of takes the pressure off of feeling you have to make all of the right decisions for your life. After doing a trip in Europe and visiting other ministries, she felt called to return home. Went on a trip to visit ministries in US and then decided she wasn't called to any of them and was called to work. Got involved in The Living Room here at WC. Got a job she loved and got married. You can have this plan for your life, but even if it doesn't end up how you thought it would go,  it is still awesome.Often we don't know how much we need community until you are in a place where you have it, but then when it is gone you realize how much we need it. The "Great Steak and Shake Debate":  Lisa and her friends debated (while eating at a Steak and Shake) that people are very spiritual or they are secular and there is not really an in-between. Lisa debated that spiritual life is important and the rest of life doesn't even matter. She felt they just didn't get it. And now looking back Lisa feels she is the one that didn't get it. “I thought I knew everything but it turns out I don't know anything.” Actually God is involved in every area of our life, andwe should put Him first and be passionate about what He's given us and the passions he has given us. Every Christian already has a call from God. Mathew 28: 19 “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”Links: YWAM - @ywam_orgFacebook - Lisa Weaver Instagram - @lisahairflipweaverEmail Lisa questions about YWAM - lisaw@worshipcenter.org

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Daniel Seiz, the Worship Pastor at WC.During Middle/High School he would just joke around singing to be funny and a friend's mom said that he may have an actual talent. Daniel then sang at church with her daughter - someone saw a gift in him.Started singing more and being a part of leading worship in the youth worship band. But then he thought it was all about him. I was a sophomore and really wanted to go to Hillsong's worship school. So when he was a senior he went to school there, moving to Australia for 3 years.  Daniel loved the local church and knew he wanted to be part of a local church.Community was a big part of the local church in Australia.Daniel was encouraged by his mom when he would call home crying because it was a new culture and he didn't feel like he belonged. She did that even though she wanted him to be at home. She encouraged him and that helped him get through it.We put pressure on kids to know what they want to do in their future and you don't need to know everything.How do you balance recognition and lead a congregation in worship? Why wouldn't we honor people who are giving of their time and talents.  Daniel heard it said this way: You take a compliment like someone was giving you a flower and at the end of day you have this bouquet of flowers that you take and give it to the Lord. That it is God working through you. It was a hard transition coming back from Australia. Daniel thought he wanted to stay there, but felt God was leading  him back home to help my Dad start a church. But it turned into an awful experience. It was a crossroad for him and his family. It was a bad experience and he felt hurt by the church. He decided to follow God and decided he wanted to find what other churches were out there. So he Googled churches in Lancaster County and WC was one of the first that come up. Daniel attended and the rest is history.Daniel fell in love with WC because he felt people loved people here. Humans will always fail us. There is no perfect church. Worship Center loves people for wherever they are in life. How do you be real and authentic even though you know people are judging you? You have to care but don't care. You should be aware of how you are presenting the Gospel. (The worship band can see you, even if the lights are down. We can see you!) Real worship is being honest with God, with yourself, and with your community. That is what keeps us authentic and growing. Being honest to ourselves.What would you say to those 15 years old that feel they can sign and can go to Hillsong? Daniel is thankful he got to experience another culture, like outside of your norm. Get out of your town and experience something new. Don't be afraid. God is with you all the time. The young get so caught up in what if I choose the wrong college or the wrong person to marry. God doesn't work that way. He is with you all the time.His habit is forgiveness, that is why He is worshipped.Daniel and his team have been writing their own worship music. He loves that we are a church that allows us to be creative. Check out their music! @worshipcentermusic

In this episode, Ryan and Heather sit down and discuss 2020 and look at the year in review.The many phases of Converge during COVID:Remember when we delivered snakes as prizes?Rembember when Ryan was in his basement and Heather was here at church on a Wed night trying to do a live show on Instagram by using just their phones to record?Remember Converge sign tag?Remember Parades?Remember Drive-bys?Remember Prom-e-not? And Pastor Blade from Victory?Remember being outdoor all summer – the worship stage, food trucks?Currently we are in a hybrid phase that consists of live outdoor hangout and WNL (Wednesday Night Live) online.We are trying to do what may be comfortable for people, as there are many different perspectives. Converge's policy is a little different maybe than WC in general or other ministries because we are connected more to schools and what we do affects middle school and high school students - so it can have an impact on sports teams, their jobs, etc. We have quite a few different schools represented at Converge and we want to build relationships with and support our community. 

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Chelsea Mosher about growing up in the church and what was normal in relation to Christmas traditions. What you grow up doing, you see as normal.What was normal for Ryan growing up in church? Grew up in a Mennonite church. Youth group would visit a nursing home every 5th Wednesday and at Christmas. They would sing Christmas carols and then actually race back to church. They would make cookies and it was very “other-centered” – everyone just did it. Ryan was actually in a men's chorus that went on bus tours. They also collaborated with other churches in the area. What was normal for Chelsea?  We did a program as little kids and went caroling in a neighborhood in inner city Harrisburg. Our youth group did weird Christmas parties, and we did White Elephant gift exchange. We had youth group competitions – singing, poetry – and it was a very big deal. We did all-nighters and lock-ins.What was normal for Heather?  Everyone just did things in youth group and it wasn't really a choice. It was what you did, what was expected. We did do a Christmas pageant and my mom made her be in it. Still building traditions. In a few years you will realize that you actually have them and that is what you do. Wonder what kids growing up in WC now, what will their traditions be? Maybe it will include Christmas Eve services. Worship Center does a great job with Christmas Eve services.Merry Christmas!

Heather and Ryan sit down and talk with Betsy Torres, Community Groups Director at WC, about small groups.Betsy has been on staff at WC for almost a year and a half. Loves connecting with so many people.  Job is to get people connected, and train leaders to lead their groups well.Why is it important to get people connected to a small group?  Doing community with others is important. In small groups we are together and finding ways to care for each other and love one another. When we are connected and grow in relationship we are here for each other in good times and bad. You don't have to do life alone. We just want to be here for each other.What are practical ways that your group has been there for you? While we were in the process of moving and looking for a place to move our entire family of four, our group leader took my whole family in. They had the room, but we had grown in relationship with them. Proves we are there for one another.How has that played out for your kids? My kids are involved in their own small groups. They value that and we have always believed in that as a family. One little nudge, like saying hi to a child, is a way to show they are valued and that people care. Now they are in their own groups talking about God. We don't know the little things that we say how that impacts others, especially kids. What encouragement would you give people who had a bad experience before? Give it a try again. We all learn from each other and where we feel most comfortable. Give it a few weeks. We often feel awkward at the beginning, so give it some time. What is important in a Converge small group? Maybe use icebreakers, so they get to know each other at the beginning. Something funny maybe to get things going. Take a step and join a small group. Or be a small group leader at Converge.

Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us.”“Optional drama”- Hebrews 12:1 talks about two different things. It talks about the things that weigh us down and sin.  There are two different things that can tangle us all up and get us off course. It could be things that are blatantly not good for us and sin or it could just be things that could be good but in excess or in the wrong timing could be bad for us.Our culture is caught up on self-care. But we get mixed up on what self -care is and what it means to really care for our souls. Optional drama is like sometimes we have things in our lives that are actually weighing us down. But we're so used to having them and we don't even realize that it's optional.Social Media – None of it is bad by itself. But what you choose who you follow, what you watch, etc. and we get into a pattern and forget that we have a choice. Check how you feel.  Start paying attention -look at the other stuff you view on social media or follow and determine how you feel when you scroll past them. If you feel anger, jealousy, comparison – none of those are coming from God. Optional drama – can decide not to be part of. Relationships – Kids are physically opting into being a “friendships” with people that aren't nice to them- opting in for the optional drama. Boundaries are there to make your relationships better. Think of it as a bullseye/dart board – the bullseye are your closest friends, the ones your safe with, that you trust. When we put people in the wrong circle that creates the drama. And then the next ring out are people that you are not as close to and so on. When we put people in the wrong circle, that's when drama happens. You can like and be kind to everyone on the dart board, but you don't have to be close to everyone. Don't repay evil with evil. Hurt people hurt people. We don't have to take it personally. We can invest in really good friendships and create space with the ones that aren't great.Families aren't optional. God puts us in families and that is where we learn to trust. Ones we can't get rid of them like Family, school, etc. Thought patterns can weigh us down. Learn to give people the most generous interpretation for their actions.Maybe dating, friendships that can be very stressful or emotional turmoil, holding you back. Ask yourself questions to determine whether it is weighing you down –like how do I feel around them, will they keep things confidential, how do you feel around that person, look for patterns. If you find yourself questioning yourself, compromising your values, etc. that is not a good relationship that may we weighing us down or distract us. Hebrews scripture there is a difference between what weighs us down and what is sin.  What can we add to our lives that would be beneficial? Instead of going from one mindless activity to another , what can we do that adds value? Doing or learning hobbies or spending time with people you  enjoy – reading, outside more, cooking, reading Bible and journaling. We can take away something and then add something that adds benefit, a blessing, a value.Be a blessing not a bummer .

Today Heather and Ryan speak with Zack Potter.Faith Journey – Grew up in El Paso, TX. Introduced to marijuana around 12 yrs old. Didn't get along with mom and mom's boyfriend. Prayed that he wanted to be an only child and get out of El Paso and then a few days later he was kicked out of his house. Had an aunt who would visit and give him Bibles. Moved to Lancaster to live with that aunt.Attended “The Way” ministry with Gus Jones here at WC with his aunt. It opened up his eyes. Things Gus was saying that first night matched up with what was going on with his life and Gus didn't really know anything about him. Zach was trying to figure out who God was and if He was real. Went through a phase of being really into it, but then got caught up in his own thing and doing dumb stuff here like he did in El Paso. Went back to El Paso, but didn't feel like he belonged there and felt he would keep falling back into the old pattern of living if he stayed there. Then moved back here again.  Now more interested in finishing school and maybe going to college. The Bible makes perfect sense – it doesn't work out without God (look back).Learning lessons over and over from same mistakes. Stubborn and prideful. Tried it the hard way, his way.  That doesn't work.People you surround yourself with matters. People perceive you by how you look. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz– victims of how we think based on who we surround ourselves with. What advice would you give your 16 year old self? Stop hanging out with certain people. Stop putting things off and chase what you want and don't wait. About your faith – Don't be stubborn. God reaches out to people in different ways. What are you trying to do well? Be intentional about going to church, trying different churches. Somewhere I can do me and not where everyone else knows me. Bought a study Bible and want to read it more. Doing two Bible studies. Surround yourself with people trying to do the same thing – hard to talk about God in front of my good friend. But pointing things out with accountability to each other – learn and grow from each other.  Phillipians 13-21 - Maturity and knowing what you need to do at the moment. Converge – You need to be direct. Be straightforward.What would you tell others? Don't be hormonal. Listen to your parents because they are right like 95% of the time. Do what you need to do and not what you want to do. Save money – give 10% tithes. Chase what you want (and make sure it is the right thing)  DM us @Convergewc 

On today's episode we sit down and talk with Shari Brabant about Camp Champion.Camp Champion - WC provided an environment, through a partnership with Lancaster First Assembly of God in Lancaster City, where Buchanon Elementary students had a safe place to do their online school work. Lancaster First Assembly of God is located at 1025 Columbia Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603. Camp Champion was so great because we got to know the kids and their families. We were able to develop relationships. Challenges -  Most students came to us with behavioral and academic issues. Kids don't get up in the morning deciding to be bad that day. It is their way of coping with extenuating circumstances that they don't have control over. Church Camp - Most of the students called it church camp. Their association with church was very positive. People at church care about me, help me, love me.Meeting needs. Church, as a whole, waits for people to come to them. That is probably a miss. It was a good lesson in seeing a need and doing what we can to meet the need.  Camp Champion came out of a response to needs that we saw. And it allowed us to see even more needs that we would not have seen.Doing church that is not church. Where we are able to present care in a nontraditional way. Doing what Jesus would do. Going out into our community to serve - being the hands and feet of Jesus. Jesus didn't sit in a building and have people come to him. He went out to the people.We are just trying to care for people well.How do we be around people more? What is that next thing to do?If you have ideas, let us know - what is the next thing or what do you need to do church that isn't church. @convergewc 

We sit down and talk with Morgan Spencer about being a High School student in quarantine. 

Transition from youth group to adulthoodWant to volunteer at 56 on Sunday mornings? Check it out here: https://www.worshipcenter.org/serveFinding your identity: It is tricky and also good to be in a place finding your identity, not just in yourself but in Christ.  And I am establishing/searching for who I am but in Christ. Basically establishing faith, not because it is what mom and dad said or not because of what the family unit said, but because this is me.Finding I don't necessarily see things the same way as my parents do – figuring out what that looks like. A lesson I have learned recently is the balance between truth and grace and how they can work together.Establishing what is Christianity and what is culture: A lot of times we believe things growing up because it is part of what you learn from your circle, from family, etc. but then you're trying to figure out what truth is. It is a difficult transition because your beliefs are challenged. Sometimes you agree to disagree and sometimes there are things we believe just aren't right. Hearing why others believe what they do, helps to balance out and helps to understand.Sometimes people think, “How can they be a Christian and do this?” (Basically how can you be a Christian and act and think differently than me.) That would not have come to my attention as a high schooler or middle schooler. Agree to disagree: How do you determine what to agree to disagree with? There are parallels to grace and truth. It is not our responsibility if our friends make a bad choice or we disagree with what they choose. It is between them and God. But we need to have grace for them, for their choices, and things we disagree with them about.Transitioning to adulthood: What has been the hardest transition into adulthood? Finding who you are. There is a choice to find who you are or who you are in Christ. Who are you in Christ or what do I want?  It is hard to try to have a plan for your future. Probably what you have planned is not going to pan out like you think it is. God has plans for you. Important for high school students to know that it is okay to not know what you want to do. It is okay to change your mind and not have your whole like figured out when you are 18 or 19.Advice to seniors: What advice would you give to seniors? What they tell you in middle or high school to be in the Word – be consistently in the Word. Don't necessarily get an answer just by opening up the bible. But having a foundation over time has helped. Joy has an ability to write cards to people and give them to you at the exact right moment about something going on in your life that she would have no idea about. People are still trying to convince me about that gift. I am learning what that means. I will actually sit down and know that I need to write to someone but not what I am writing about. I trust that the Lord has been working in me. Is it a gift or a burden? Both. Sometimes it is a burden because I am human and will be wrong. Sometimes I feel people don't want to hear it or be annoyed by me. There are a lot of things I don't understand, and that is one of them.I am thankful to have people that have given me a foundation and have poured into me and encouraged me, so I know what encouragement looks like.What advice would you give to teenagers? Message us @convergewc

Pastor Matt loves teenagers! He loves the local church. The local church has an opportunity to provide hope, bring the good news of who Jesus is, and help people discover who and why God created them (that they have been created for a purpose), all in the context of community.“On purpose for a purpose” is for every season in life.The process to prepare - God what are you saying to us right now? The Spirit of God and the written Word together transforms us. Purpose is to give people a way to view culture through the lens of Scripture. Help people to take scripture how can I use this to shape my attitude, shape my decisions, to impact people around me, and love people as Christ loves us. Imagine if the church would love one another as Christ loved us. Core need in every person – they want to make a difference, they want their life to mean something, they want it to matter. Discovering and following Jesus, having a relationship with God through what Christ has done, leads us to making a difference and having knowing that our lives, we're here, to make a difference.God has a plan for us, but what is it? Make decision to allow God to work in your life and that happens through reading His Word and thinking about how does this apply to my life.  When God does a work in us to become more like Him, that's when he starts to work through us to make a difference. (Philippians 2)My personality is not to get rattled too easily, but I do have strong convictions inside. I look at when is a time to share personally/personal convictions because it can be a help to someone else who is maybe struggling with how do you develop convictions and how do you know when to stand up for something. But at the same time not making someone feel like an outsider or not isolating someone. There's this invitation from Paul, and Jesus, to speak truth with grace.Last weekend's message was about the fruit of the Spirit of Patience (Galations 5:22-23) – How can you prepare to respond w/ patience when provoked? Ephesians 4:1-3 - always be gentle, always be humble, be patient. Being patient is making allowance for one another's fault. Pastor Matt had shared about his conviction about protecting the unborn to be transparent and vulnerable, and that it helps guide his decisions around election time. It was not endorsing any party. But realized it can isolate people, but it wasn't his intention. The church can have differences of opinion. Engage in Scripture. Unity not uniformity. It created a barrier for some/felt isolated. Had conversations with those that had concerns. And even in those conversations, thankful that we can even talk about it and we don't have to be divisive about it. Use communication as a tool to point people to Jesus. How can church be a safe place for racial recognition and at the same time support our police? How can the church be a place where hurting people can come together, can listen to one another, and work towards solutions. Talk to people, listen, and understand. Encourage people to have those personal conversations. What are ways to bring police and people who have experienced racial injustice, bring them to the table, and is there something for us to do/work together. Look at what's impacting the local community here. “In short, whenever we opt for and not against one another, we make God's unconditional love visible” –Henry NouwenImagine the church this way/this generation at Converge if people chose each other and God over sides.We can have differences of opinion in the church but not let them divide us.Pastor Matt shared a quote he thinks about a lot, especially when preparing messages – “Scripture has the ability to provoke the comfortable and comfort the provoked.” God's given me a burden for teaching scripture. That's a passion that I have, that I want to keep growing in. Engage with God's Word.  

Mandy sits down and talks with McKenna Whisler.Middle & High School Superlatives - When something is confirmed or said to you over and over again you begin to internalize…what you believe for yourself vs what people say about you. Realizing it is not their version of your life your living but what I am living is mine. Restructuring how I tell my life and who God says I am.A lot of people believe humans are created flawed. But she said she believed humans are created to be glorious. The enemy and life take away our glory. Really, the first 18 years impact the rest of your life.Counseling – There is a stigma about it for some people.  Counseling has revealed so much.  Get healthy by confronting and healing.  Patterns are what to pay attention to. We do things for a reason.What has been life changing to you? (McKenna) If something bad happens to me I will automatically assume the role of perpetrator/the one responsible for it. I would fault myself for something bad that had happened. What's important is showing up and being honest in counseling. I thought counseling would make me better, but it has made me more honest. To students – start now, start asking questions because it is not that you are messed up or something is wrong. Sexual abuse – Really common to believe it is your fault. But to release the shame and guilt because it is not your fault. Needed a safe place to process it. There is never a time when someone should touch you when you haven't given them permission.  Need to bring to the light. Find someone safe to talk to about it. Safe place to talk through stuff. Feeling like you are the only one struggling with something, but you are not. We are made to be connected and made to belong.Biggest key to growth is showing up and being honest.Psalms - David's prayers and songs – Often starts off about getting his enemies but then goes to asking God to do a work in his own heart. Name the thing that is not working and be honest before God and others. Sometimes you do all this work and see no growth and then all of a sudden there is growth and it is a beautiful thing.How do you navigate figuring out how to find a safe place/person to be able to grow? Discernment is a real thing and ask the Lord to have discernment. You sort of test the waters: How do I feel?  How honest/real can I be?  Can I trust you? Do you accept me? You have the Holy Spirit working inside you giving you wisdom. If you don't feel safe (even if that is a parent), then find someone you can be safe with, to share with. Pay attention to how you feel with someone.  Trust is built in the small moments and over time. Mckennaw@worshipcenter.orgMandyj@worshipcenter.org

 We sit down and talk with Corey Heck. Corey is currently with YWAM Circuit Riders in California Learn more at www.crmovement.comWho you surround yourself with really matters– 1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character.” Surround yourself with good friends and Godly influences. Look at your circle of friends. Feed Gospel truth to yourself during mundane times likes when driving. Listen to a short 15 min. podcast in the morning – it stirs and awakens the soul. What does Corey listen to? Circuit Riders Podcast and on YouTube, John Piper podcasts or find out more @ www.desiringgod.org (served as pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church) What is the "simple Gospel" – God created us to be in relationship with Him. We rebelled and chose our own thing, creating distance from God. God made a solution for us to be in relationship with Him and our sin was buried, Jesus took it to the grave with Him (John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."). We will feel our fullest self when we have a relationship with Him. The most practical thing is to have a relationship with God. Just claim the work of Jesus as also your own death. And then we were raised to life with Him and now can have eternal life with Him. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) He came that we may have life. That life is available to everyone.  Follow Corey @CoreyHeck – can DM him better yet contact him on Facebook messenger – Corey Heck. Scripture- Realizing that the weight that you hold scripture is the weight it will be in your life. Ask God to give you a greater desire to apply it to your life. Dying to self happens over and over again – This changed the game for Corey. We can't be a Christian without denying yourself – ask the Lord throughout the day how you can deny yourself. Listening to our flesh keeps us from obeying God. We reason our way out of things. So be willing to yield flesh and ask Him to teach you as a child. John 9 – The story of Jesus healing the blind man.Jesus said he was like this to show the works of God. Everywhere He went He healed people, what He did on the cross also broke sickness, diseases, etc. The price had been paid for our sins and for our healing. He sent others out and they also healed. Taking Jesus at his work that other people can heal. RC Sprout said that every time you read the Bible read it as a child, with child-like faith. There are real stories out there of people being healed, Have we seen it? Yes! God is working today. They will know Christians by our love. I Corinthians 13:3 "...but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing." Approach those with differing views with love, keep making yourself available to have more conversations, listen to their views. The devil loves division – a divided church can't stand. Listen and empathize. But don't forsake Truth. 

We sit down and talk with Dustin Leed, the Digital Ministry Director at Worship Center. Follow him on socials @d_leed Here are the notes:Check out Robert Mcgee's book, The Search for Significance. Find it on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Search-Significance-Seeing-Worth-Through/dp/0849944244. Learn more about following Jesus here, https://www.worshipcenter.org/firststeps/Obedience – it's hard, yet it is what makes walking with Jesus easierPornography – Tips: It's small steps to freedom. Think small so that you can overcome it. Don't despise small beginnings… (steps) Zechariah 4:10, "Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand.”How are you doing it, when are you doing it? Then cut it out of your life, make changes – remove yourself, make a way out, prayer Ask Jesus to direct/realign your desires – 1 Corinthians 10:13, "The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." “Die to self” – die to those desires – say no to something that you think may feel good, doing things you may not really want to do like sharing the Gospel, saying no to those little desires that aren't really good for you, fighting every instinct/how we are wire Doing what the Bible says to do – Jesus you are all that I have (not just Do's and Don'ts) – it is a relationship, don't do things to use Jesus for your own goodShare in comments – if you can resonate with something Dustin said, questionsThe Truth shall set you free – Don't believe what others say about you – your identity is in God1 Corinthians 1:18, "the message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God."

We sit down with Mandy Johnson and talk about what is easy about following Jesus and what is more difficult. 

We sit down with Mckenna to discuss what is easy about following Jesus for her, and what is not quite as easy.