Feeling disconnected? Alone? Guilty? Unreachable?
Tonight, during the opening session of Pilgrimage 2018, the youth of the NCCUMC received an invitation to Plug In.
Through music, dance, prayers, messages from youth, and Scripture, provided outlets for all who attended to experience the grace and love of Christ.
A youth from Orange UMC provided a testimony of a transformation through connection. This youth experienced grief, anger, and resentment—and he felt disconnected from God. At Pilgrimage 2016, he heard the testimonies of other youth who had similar experiences of overwhelming loss but were transformed by the love and faithfulness of God. After these testimonies, his anger turned to love and forgiveness. He spoke of the importance of being connected during his transformation. He said, “Getting connected allows you to see that God is with you. It’s how to get past your fears and doubts.”
After the House Band reminded us through song that our God is living and transformative, youth continued to tell the story of God’s work in their life. A youth from First UMC Cary testified of her journey from emotional and physical pain to one of healing and connection. Through plugging into her church family and therapy, she experienced the warmth of God and the Holy Spirit in her life.
One of the Pilgrimage 18 speakers, Brock Morgan, helped us address three lies that keep us disconnected from God:
- The Somebody Else Lie: Good things are for somebody else.
- The Lie of Guilt: I don’t deserve God or good things because I’m guilty and sinful.
- The Unreachable Lie: No one would truly forgive or accept me if they knew everything I’ve done. I’m unreachable.
Brock urged the youth at P18 to reject these lies and fully plug in this weekend.
As the weekend of Pilgrimage 2018 begins, please be in prayer that our youth will make connections that bring them closer to God.
*Article written by Hannah McMillian