Anderson University

It is Monday…which means I survived Indiana State Youth Convention with about 1,500 high school and middle school students from across the state. Honestly I wasn’t sure how the trip was going to go. See it has been a while since I was a leader with a church on a trip. During my freshman year I became an intern for the International Youth Convention and thus wasn’t a leader for students during those conventions. Therefore I am used to being detail and logistics oriented on the trips not necessarily focused on making sure a set of girls are back to their rooms, or that they aren’t crying or lost or anything like that. But, this weekend it was all about my senior girls.

I know now why parents get so worried when their kids go off to college or pretty much anytime they leave the house. You become a wreck thinking about all the things that could be happening at every moment, where they are, what they are doing, and who they are with. It isn’t that they don’t trust you and it wasn’t that I didn’t trust my girls it was just a matter of wanting them to be safe and responsible. And other than one of my girls getting her ears pierced again it all went pretty well haha—don’t worry she asked her mom ahead of time I just didn’t know until after it had happened.

Besides all the shopping, eating, and lack of sleep the convention was one that was hopeful and inspiring for both students and adults. There was a speaker who came from Alabama named Adam and like I said in the previous blog Ally and Anna Long lead us in worship. We talked about getting a new heart and how we are to lay down our idols so that we can follow God wholeheartedly. Even as an adult leader I realized some of the idols that I carry and prohibit me from seeking God but it called me to make a choice to lay them down and challenged me to make that choice each day.

I am always amazed at how many youth conventions take place in central Indiana but I think I often get caught up in being on staff with the convention or a leader for students that I forget that God is speaking to me as well. I know many college students and staff attend the same events and it would be a tragedy if we let them unchanged ourselves. I was encouraged this weekend as our group gathered on Saturday night to share the number of leaders that felt compelled to share the truth that was going on inside them and not hide it from their students. Often times leaders get this idea that they are supposed to be perfect and have it all together. But we are all broken sinners that need God to speak, forgive, and heal us. I would challenge those of you that are living in darkness out of fear of the truth to put down your masks and take up the cross. Don’t be afraid to let others see who you truly are, it is inspiring to see God’s face and not the ones that we created for ourselves.

--Letting Truth Conquer Darkness—

Christin Dawson