I, Natasha, recently went on a trip to the “Northern Churches” as part of a Re:Activate promotional tour. Last September we held the first annual Re:Activate Reformed Youth Convention and it was such a success! We had so much fun, that this year we really wanted to make sure that our CRC friends to the north of us (Terrace, Telkwa, Smithers, Houston, and Prince George) were aware of this incredible opportunity. We wanted to let them know that we really want them to come this year. So, five Youth Pastors from the Lower Mainland took a drive through the night to spend a couple of days with the youth and leaders of these churches. We had so much fun. Seriously. It doesn’t get much better than listening to Brian Reagan at 3am, Denny’s breakfasts, and worshiping with brothers and sisters in Christ in different cities. We had the opportunity to lead youth group at two churches, and one high school chapel. I can’t erase the memory of watching these youth laugh at our jokes (well…not mine), listen intently to our message of reconciliation, and their smiles grow at the thought of being able to attend Re:Activate this year after they watched last year’s video. It was so cool.
We loved getting to know the youth and leaders from these churches. We loved sharing our excitement for this event. Mostly we just loved connecting our churches together.
If we’re serious about being the body of Christ, then these kinds of things need to happen more often. I think it can only be a good sign that it’s starting with our youth. The CRC is not a large denomination, and we certainly aren’t growing. Events like Re:Activate, combined classis meetings, and even this little trip I was part of, are crucial for us if we are serious about who we are. We need this.
The theme for Re:Activate 2015 is reconcile based on 2 Cor. 5:17-18.
“ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
You’ll have to come to Re:Activate to find out more about this, but I have a feeling reconciliation and unity are starting now, long before the convention weekend even begins.