"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a futre and a hope." A common verse from Jeremiah (29:11), that we are all familiar with, and one mentioned to me over Jubilee weekend from a student who is struggling to fully commit to Christ; however, we sometimes forget that this verse was given in the midst of trouble and turmoil for God's chosen people, in preparation for a time in exile, so we shouldn't count God out even when life is not going to plan.
What a blessing it was to take a group of high school senior and college-aged students to the annual Jubilee conference in Pittsburgh, organized by the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO). As the name implies, this conference gives students an opportunity to get away from the hustle-and-bustle that life throws at us, and to focus on Jesus, their relationship with him and how we can honor him in our lives and vocations, or, to simplify, and put in CCO terms, "EVERYTHING MATTERS!" CCO always does an amazing job from bringing world-renown speakers, such as Andy Crouch and David Kinnaman, to speak truth to our students in creative ways, to deeply-thought provoking times of worship and reflection.
This year's conference gave our students an opportunity to open up with one another, strengthen, and build new, relationships with fellow believers; and see how a life of faith can move mountains. However, in order to honor Christ with our lives, we first have to know him; and it was so most encouraging to see the youth from SLPC glorifying the LORD, listening attentively to the various speakers, being engaged in small group sessions and acknowledging their struggles battling temptation, sin and the "cares of this world" (Mark 4:19).
If this conference did anything, it showed us that ultimate joy can only be found in our Lord and Savior, but there will be struggles. Our final speaker of the weekend, David Kinnaman, challenged all of us to be prepared for the struggles and to live as exiles, as the bible is full of exile stories. However, as exiles, we are to "find our hears true in God himself." Jubilee 2020 open our eyes to this reality but gave our next generation renewed hope, and a community of brothers and sisters in Christ to lean on through the next chapter in their lives.
