Calvary Church Annual Report AnnualReport-201617-web | Page 13

young adults
One of our primary focuses in Young Adult Ministry is to encourage young adults to learn how to hear from
God and then obediently follow His leading. It is challenging to learn because obedience requires stepping out
in faith, often in directions we don’t want to go. However, God’s plan isn’t to punish us, but that through
obedience we might live by faith and ultimately experience deliverance from everything that hinders us from
knowing and experiencing Him in fullness. This is the journey that God has had Calvary on as a church and
the Young Adult Ministry as well. Below is just a taste of the story God has been writing this year. Enjoy!
Mason D. Sherrill, Pastoral Staff, Young Adults
I always considered myself a rule follower, but this
year through different people in the young adult min-
istry and different events in my own life my under-
standing of obedience moved from following rules to
following Christ. The Young Adult Ministry underwent
many changes over the year which caused me to ex-
perience the pain that often comes with obedience,
but the joy that also accompanies it. God began mov-
ing in my own life last October when he gave me a
dream that clearly directed me and a leader in my
life down a different path than the one I thought He
had both of us on, and far different from the one I
wanted.
My desire was to go overseas and be a missionary,
however, God asked me to stay here. I still struggle
to understand why God has asked me to stay and
work here at church when he gave me a desire to go.
However, through witnessing the obedience of oth-
ers, the heartache that came with living out obedi-
ence beyond rule-following, came a joy that was ex-
perienced in community and through relationships.
A close friend and leader in my life took active steps
of obedience that caused her great pain. Through
witnessing her submission to God, I had the courage
to obey God in my own journey and difficulties.
I also saw others in our college community being
obedient to God’s call, even when it was challeng-
ing for them, and this greatly encouraged me. One
young lady was apprehensive about going on a mis-
sion trip, but God brought her through all her doubts
and health obstacles, and she was able to go and
serve him in another country. Her obedience led to a
joy greater than she anticipated and a greater under-
standing of God’s plan for her life.
Another young woman has time and time again been
attentive and responsive to God’s voice in countless
circumstances, even when it causes her to give up
things she holds dear. She has given up control over
her future and wants to fully pursue God. Over this
past year, she has truly grown to become more like
his Son. These stories have been shared in our com-
munity, bringing encouragement and support to con-
tinue taking further steps of obedience.
Through all these people I have learned that, obedi-
ence isn’t about following rules. It’s about relation-
ships, community, and Christ. While the journeys
have been painful and difficult, the joy and peace
that comes with obedience has been tangibly felt. We
have sincerely grown as a community this past year
through many individual’s listening and responding
to the Holy Spirit moving.
Kirstin Herbruck, Facilitator, Young Adults
13