Steubenville also has a special place in our youth ministry that many people have seen before. I think possibly it’s become such a regular event in our schedule that it’s lost some of the priority that it had in the past. I think all the events that we put on and take part in during the year are important, but Steubenville is where our whole ministry year culminates. It’s where some people meet the real person of Jesus Christ for the first time, or are reconvicted that Jesus is real and actually cares about them. To have that experience with 2,000 others and 80 people that you know from your everyday life is a unique opportunity and can’t be matched anywhere else.
Steubenville is also where I get to see how much all my leaders have grown over the year and how much they are going to show Christ to those around them. An example of this was one of our students went to the weeklong LEAD program last year and was picked out of 60 kids to speak before Saturday night adoration during the regular Steubenville weekend. I’ve discipled this student for the past 5 years, and seeing her step onto that stage and share what Jesus has done for her was an extremely powerful moment. Where else can you get an opportunity like that? It was powerful for that student in particular, but it was also very powerful for our group to see her step up like that..
Over the last year especially, I know that the Lord has been putting things together for our community of youth in Fowler. There is a desire and a hunger for Jesus that I haven’t seen across all grades since I’ve been here. The Holy Spirit has been stirring hearts individually and I believe that the youth of our parish will grow together even more in the spiritual life. We almost broke the record of the largest amount of kids that went on the High School Retreat, and we have had a huge growth in numbers on Mission: Wixom, our Spring Break Trip, and our 8th grade retreat. We have great kids in our parish that need God in their life, and I want to facilitate their faith journey and their growth. I would like to invite you to join us in this mission. Below is a list of all of the youth that are currently signed up for this years conference. Please consider praying for each person listed below.
I am very grateful for the tremendous support members of our parish have showed our youth over the past few years by donating to offset the cost of this trip. This year’s cost is $300 per student and we would invite you to help us once again. Making an investment in any of our youth now will not only create these opportunities to help them grow, but it will also feed the future of our parish life. Thanks again for all of your support!