Impact Reunion

I thought I would share this. I wrote it to be read at 30th reunion of Impact (the youth group where I am a leader) since I’ll be in Haiti. Enjoy:

“On a Tuesday night, 20 years ago, I stumbled into a small chapel building. I was 13 years old. And I was lost. I had no hope. I had no future. After silly games and songs a man shared a story about how God loved us so much he sent his son to die for us.
I wasn’t impressed. I had heard it all before and it didn’t mean anything to me. If God loved me so much then where was he? Where was he when I was in pain? Where was he when my heart was broken? Where was he when my Grandpa died? Where was he when...? Where was he when...?
I didn’t need to hear anymore stories. I knew what God was like. He was an evil sadist who created people in a world that batters and breaks them, all the while laughing at their pain. Yet, I kept coming back on Tuesday nights.
One of those nights I sat quietly hearing the same story again, but this time it was different. I knew it was true. I knew that God loved me. I knew I had been running from God. I knew God had provided a cure for this miserable world, the blood of his own son. I knew I had to make a choice: accept Christ or reject him.
Needless to say, I put my trust in him that night. The next morning, the world hadn’t changed. I was still in a bad situation at school. I still had scars and heartache. But, I had hope. I had a future. Just like it says in Jeremiah: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer 29:11, NIV)
Impact to me means life. I don’t go to Impact to have fun. I don’t go to play sports. I go so that either through my faltering words or imperfect deeds I may share Christ. And maybe share him with a lost teenager not too unlike one, who stumbled into the same chapel building 20 years ago.”