from Death to Life

Well, here it is--Christmas is coming to a close and with it the end of 2009. While it is way too cliché to say so, it's hard to believe another year has finished. We're not quite sure where the days went between October and December. As kids, it seemed as if Christmas could never get here fast enough. Now it zooms by at lightning speed, and somewhere in the midst of all the plans, lists, and parties, we wonder where the time has gone. With our tree is still up and the remnants of a few gifts remaining scattered around the bottom of its sagging branches, the next few days will hold both remembering what has been and looking forward to what will be.

As we look over the past year of ministry, we can honestly say we consider ourselves blessed. While 2009 has not been without its challenges, we have grown to love living life with those around us. Sixteen (and a half) years of ministry has brought a lot of change--not only to the Alphanet, but to us as well. There's something about being in relationship with people that makes you take a hard look at yourself, both in who you are and who you want to be. God has brought so much depth to our hearts in serving the youth at New Hope. Not that we've learned every lesson, mind you, or mastered what it means to minister to young people. But without question two lessons dominate our thoughts and hearts: to love God without reserve and to love others well.

Yesterday in our Bible reading, we were reminded of our purpose in reaching out to this generation. God has designed every one of His children to live valiant lives. Not just lives of greatness according to the society's definition, but lives that carry significance far beyond anything this world has to offer. We want to see the generation at hand awakened as they rise up out of the valley of dry bones to the Spirit-breathed life Ezekiel speaks of (Ezekiel 37). After all, with the Spirit of God, all things are possible. So yesterday when we read the following passage from Psalms 144 which says,

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. May our farms be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no breached walls, no forced exile, no cries of distress in our squares. Yes, happy are those who have it like this! Happy indeed are those whose God is the Lord (Psalms 144:13-15),

we could relate to what David (the psalmist) was talking about.

Without question, our greatest responsibility is to the natural children God has placed in our care. Charis and Micah will always occupy that place of priority. But when we pray for sons of stability and daughters of strength, our prayers extend far beyond our own two children.

We believe God's heart for today's young people is for you to live as the mighty men and women of Truth that He created you to be. Filled with courage and passion, you were made for something far greater than hanging out and passing time. He is the "rock, and He gives [you] strength for war and skill for battle" (Psalms 144:1). You were created to wreak havoc on the kingdom of darkness and to live with wild abandonment for the Kingdom of God.

So as we anticipate 2010, our hearts are with you for the great plans God has for you this coming year. May our sons be deeply rooted in the Word of God and fruitful beyond measure, and may our daughters live with uncompromising strength and beauty in the house of the Lord. May you plunder the enemy as you share God's truth with those around you. No matter the storms, no matter the struggles, we know God will be faithful in 2010. May He find us all faithful in return. Looking forward to seeing what God will do through you . . . Pastor Scott and Gina