The God Squads do it again!

By JUSTIN KOLLMEYER
Pastor

Let's give thanks and brag and give credit where credit is due. The YOUTH of our community are absolutely awesome!

Thinking back on the past school year, the accomplishments and contributions of our youth are literally astounding. Their sports teams (not their W's), their bands (not their "hardware"), their choirs and choruses and orchestras and drama troupes (not just their All-Staters), their service organizations, their scholastic achievements (not just their Valedictorians), their recent superb Class of 2003, their lack of violence, their peace-loving law-abiding spirit, their loyalty to family, their humor we could go on and on all of these bring such blessings to us.

Thank You, God, for the young people among us! Thank you, young people, for your outstanding contribution to our way of life here! We're proud of you! We brag on you! We'd put you up against any youth anywhere! You are AWESOME!

To you, the Class of 2003, we wish you God's blessings as you open an exciting new chapter in your lives. Some of you will be close and come back often. Some of you will move far away and may never really live here again. To all of you we say, "Way to go! Come back to see us! God loves you! And so do we!"

In addition, I want to say how much our youth mean to all our churches. Every church has been, is now, and will be extremely blessed by the young people who share ministry with us. More often than not, our youth are the ones offering ministry to others, not just receiving it. More often than not, our youth and their activities of mission are what give our congregations sparks of life and vitality. More often than not, our youth and their energy and enthusiasm are the channels God uses to bring His Spirit to us and through us.

Here at Prince of Peace we are extravagantly fortunate to have our children and our youth lead us in mission and ministry in so many ways. We have our Cherubs and our Kids' Music Company through which our children serve the Lord and share His Love with us and with all those around us. We have Confirmation Ministry, which looks like teaching middle school youth, but is really a catalyst for bringing youth and parents and adults together on the beautiful road of spiritual development.

Then we have our God Squads. We now have two, one for middle school and one for high school. Our Middle School God Squad recently presented their musical "Nowhere To Run", retelling the old prodigal son story in a new and exciting way. We even had a motorcycle gang ride into our Life Center in the middle of the program. That got everyone's attention! These dynamic young people also took their message "outside" by making this presentation to the homeless and disadvantaged at the Calvary Refuge Center. It was a "mission trip" for sure!

Our Senior High God Squad prepared and presented "Rescue 101" to the delight and spiritual development of a full house here and to two eager and receptive churches on their mission tour to Florida. Several people there wondered if we had ALL the talented young people of our community in this one group. I assured them that as talented as our kids are, there are many, many more in all the churches around us. "You're blessed to live in such a great community," they said. "Yes we are!" I replied. "And we are very thankful!"

So, God Squads, you've done it again! Youth in all our churches, you've done it again! With mission trips, mission projects, outreach efforts, witnessing activities, and all your contributions to "The Cause", you've made us thankful and proud! Way to go! To all of you we say, "God loves you! And so do we!"

Kollmeyer is Pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, located between Lowe's and The Pavilion on Hwy. 314. Families with children and youth are encouraged to "come check us out" to see if you might find a great life among us as well. Vacation Bible School is July 14-20. Sunday worship is at 8:15, 9:30 (Contemporary), and 11:00 (Pipe Organ). For more information log-on at www.popdove.com or call 770-461-3403.