Weekly Greeting - November 7, 2025
Last Sunday night I had the chance to hang out with our youth and boy was it a blast!
They were energetic when it was game time, and serious when it was time for sharing and reflection. They clearly enjoy each other’s company, and they choose to show up. On Sunday nights in the thick of the semester, sports, homework, and extracurriculars, they prioritize their time together and their time growing in Christian discipleship.
Looking back on my high school years, it’s clear to me that my church youth group was instrumental in my call to local church ministry. I eventually had to say goodbye to that church because they couldn’t support God’s call on my life, but, ironically, it was their love and hospitality that drew me into ministry. They gave me a love for scripture and a place to be both vulnerable and accountable.
One of the five discipleship priorities in the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference is “Culture of Call,” with the covenant that “we will nurture relationships that foster an environment where each of us can hear God’s calling on our life.” This isn’t just about God’s calling to church ministry as a pastor, but an acknowledgement that God calls every baptized Christian into ministry. This commitment to creating a Culture of Call means that we’re all responsible for helping each other hear what God is calling us to do. That goes for the oldest of us to the very youngest of us, and everyone in between.
If you don’t know all of our youth, I hope you’ll walk up and introduce yourself the next time you’re in church. Ask them how you can pray for them — I promise you’ll get some great answers. And offer your gratitude — and your availability to help! — to Alison for helping our young people seek out God’s guidance in their lives.
With grace,
Mary Beth