For nine or ten years, beginning in 1987, we were members of First Christian Church in Falls Church, Virginia. We've been gone now from the church as long as we were there.
The current DisciplesWorld magazine features an article about this year's Youth Sunday service at the church. The photo shows some of the kids who were born during our time there, now in high school.
The focus of the service was the crisis in Sudan, an attempt to raise the issues of the suffering of the people, and an encouragement for church folks to make a response, through prayer, advocacy, and generosity.
Our faith is one we share, not only with those outside the church, but with those who are born into it, as well. We nurture in them the importance of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We teach them about grace, compassion, and forgiveness, and how we are blessed abundantly by God in these ways and others. We challenge them to share the love of Christ with others.
The youth of First Christian Church in Falls Church are demonstrating that these lessons are being taught and learned there. They are growing into the faith in a meaningful way.
And they already are encouraging faithfulness and love in the lives of others.