PROOF Kick-off

We packed the youth center with lots of energy from old and new faces. All the ministry teams worked hard to make the night a memorable event from music and prayer to drama and hospitality. A big thank you goes out to all the youth and adults who share their gifts with the PROOF program.

Tonight we explored the overall theme for PROOF this year: For what would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose their soul? (Mark 8:36) I asked some high school and middle school students to describe what this looks like to youth their age. They shared about the pressure to be cool, fit in, look a particular way, hang out with certain people, the pressure to be in a relationship...even an unhealthy relationship, to overcommit, and to make money. I can see that all of these things are trying to answer a need that we have...to be happy, to belong, to be loved or to find meaning. What I've discovered is that by paying attention to myself in action, I begin to understand what I most value (which can sometimes contradict what I say I value).

Try it once! Pay attention to yourself in action for a week. What do you see that you hold most dear? Where in your life do you see yourself wanting to "gain the whole world" at the risk of losing your true authentic self that God has created you to be?