As we finish our eighth month in the Future Leader program, the person I was on July 1st is in awe of the person I am now. The way that The Father has impacted my heart and my mind for Him is intense, and wonderful. I’m very much overcome with emotion when I think about the fact that God chose me, and that He thinks I’m useful. Because of the amazing leadership in Future Leaders and in my ministry I have been challenged to grow and think differently and pursue so many different ideas. I understand things that I thought I might never understand because God placed people in my life who took the time to guide me, mentor me, and love me.

However, understanding more also reveals how much I still don’t understand. I think the things that we don’t understand are the scariest. So, it’s a good thing that God allows us to pray for understanding. Really, through understanding the scripture, and trusting God, our lives should be devoid of all fear. Except, of course, for the fear of The Lord. We’re supposed to have a healthy fear of Him.

What we’re not supposed to fear, are the exact things I’m fearing right now.  Change, the idea of being without Biblical community, and uncertainty. I feel like a senior in college again. Life isn’t mapped out. Nothing is decided. And I feel as if I’m waiting on the Lord to reveal His big, master plan to me. Problem is…He’s probably not going to do that. Okay, He’s definitely not going to do that. He’ll lead me, and expect me to follow, and I’ll do my best in that, but I have to be willing to start before I can see the finish.

What I’m going to have to do is trust that God is in control. He controls everything. Literally. In control of all things good and bad. Good and bad things that are all equally great and for my betterment. Isaiah 44:24 says “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself.”

Hey, if God, who did everything ever, is in control of my life, I feel pretty good about that. I have nothing to fear.

Balance, according to dictionary.com means to have an equal distribution of weight, amount, etc. What this word implies is that there is more than one thing going on. Often in my life there are more than two or three things going on. I’ve found that I struggle with the balance of being in the office as opposed to meeting with people; between being a server as opposed to equipping others; between living in community and taking time to step back and be still before the Lord in solitude; between wanting to please people and doing my best for the Lord; between studying Scripture and spending time in prayer; between being a leader and being a servant. Who knows how much time should be allotted to each task? I don’t, but what I do know is that the Lord wants to be in control of our days. Ask the Lord each morning to show you what He wants you to accomplish, and then have a sensitivity to act when the Holy Spirit prods you to do something for Him.

I came into the Future Leader Program fresh off the College Boat, more specifically the “S.S. Moody.” At Moody Bible Institute, we are thrown into the waves of intense theological study, doctrinal debates, and ministry practicum’s. We know how to conquer the storms of Greek and Hebrew finals, commentary interpretation, and Doctrinal Position papers. We often think such victories will lead to smooth sailing.

However, much of what we, as Moodys, learn is text book ministry rather than actual ministry. The Future Leader Program immerses you into full time Church Ministry with real people. The situations you encounter are no longer simulated for a grade. I have been greatly humbled by the fact that I know less about working in ministry than I thought I did. I have never been so aware of my shortcomings, my sins, and my weaknesses. However, I have never so sincerely understood the truth that “his power is made perfect in our weaknesses.”  I have had to constantly hold fast to the lines of God’s grace and faithfulness, and lean on the adequacy that he alone provides. We may know all of the theological terminology, but it is all in vain if we do not surrender our intellect and hearts to the Lord and use it for his sake and not for our own selfish gain.

Do you know a song entitled “Surrender All”? I believe it was written by Judson W. Van DeVenter.

I believe the lyrics go something like this:

All to Jesus I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Then the song’s chorus repeats the phrase “I surrender all”.

If you haven’t heard it before I highly recommend it. Be warned however, it is not a contemporary christian song, I believe it is more of a hymnal. Nonetheless, the words speak truth into the life of any follower of Christ.

I mention this because it was the first thing that came to mind when I look back on the week of September 30th – October 4th. That was the week I, and the rest of the Future Leader’s, went to DayBreak to serve the children and the community they live in. I wish I had the vocabulary to express how it felt to be among children who lived in such an impoverished and dangerous neighborhood. We lived in a house that was converted into a safe haven for the 20 some children who walked or bused over after school to be tutored, played with, grown, fed, and just be children.

For me, this entire experience stretched me further than I have ever been stretched before. Since arriving at DayBreak in the afternoon, I was already placed in a position that was both novel and discomforting. This was not the home I was used to growing up in, or the streets I remember playing on. The brick buildings in the area were simple, some were in serious need of repairs, with cracks or chipped paint. The air sometimes had a hint of weed or some other drug, and across the street was a very humble playground where children were playing, yelling, and laughing. It was not a scene I was used to seeing and it brought a mixture of fear, discomfort, and sadness. It was at this moment, as I scanned this area I would soon call home for the next week, I realized that God was going to force me to surrender everything I had – specifically my pride.

Fortunately, I was not as thick headed as I was a few years ago. I understood what was expected of me during this “Urban Plunge” and I was ready to step out in faith.

I must confess, as I look at the word “plunge” I cannot help but laugh to myself because there isn’t a better word that describes what it felt like being at DayBreak in Lincoln Heights. The word plunge paints the picture of an individual who jumps, head first, into a body of water and landing right in the middle of it all, submersing himself entirely. There is no “warming up”, no “testing the water” with a light touch of your feet – nothing but a leap of faith into a dark green, murky body of water. Doing that, takes courage, yes – but it also takes trust, a complete trust in the person who asked you to take that leap into the freezing enigmatic body of water.

That person is God. Although probably not a surprising answer for many; it is THE church answer to say the least. However, what I sometimes fail to realize is that saying the right answer (in this case God), means nothing if I do not believe that it is the right answer.

Working along side my other future leader brother (just one) and sisters I realized that we were all in a place of either discomfort, uncertainty, or perhaps plain shock at some point in that week. We were all taking a “plunge” of our own, but the beauty of it all is God’s promise to be there for those who seek Him and lean on Him.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-9

How true this verse came to be as I chose to rely on God because in all honesty, I was useless. I signed up for things I was uncomfortable doing, and normally would never do, but I trusted that God would provide for me.

And He did…and more!

When you choose to surrender your treasures, your pride, your insecurities, and yourself, you empty yourself completely so God can fill you with His strength, wisdom, and love. I learned that being completely open to God can be a little frightening at first, but when you remember His promises (like Jeremiah 17) it will bring you new hope and give you the strength to jump into whatever unknown thing He asks of you – a plunge into any kind of murky and dark situation so that you can “shine like stars in the universe.” (Philippians 2:15)

And only because of God was that possible, I cannot take credit for anything – not even the drive to and from DayBreak. Everything that happened that week was because God asked me to surrender, strengthened my weaknesses and allowed me to serve in a part of DC that was darkest. I surrendered everything so that He could use everything.

When was the last time you truly sat and listened to God? This was the question I was faced with while sitting on the property of the gorgeous Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, VA. I certainly had been bringing my requests to God frequently in prayer, but when was the last time I truly just listened. I honestly couldn’t answer.

“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” -Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

The whole “be still” thing is a struggle for me, especially with my “to-do” list glaring at me. However, God commands us to be still.

Concluding our FLP Orientation week!

Alfred Badger

Alfred graduated from the University of California in 2008, and in 2011 received his Masters. He moved to the Tyson area and has been involved with MBC ministries including Frontline, Jill’s House, Soul Purpose, and the Caring Ministry. This year, he serves with the Communications department.

David Kroeze

David is from the Chicagoland area and attended Wheaton College for undergrad. He completed his Masters from BIOLA and moved out to the NoVa area with his wife, Meredith, where he serves with Adult Ministry at our Loudoun campus.

Hannah Bloomquist

Hannah is originally from Arizona & graduated from Moody Bible Institute. Hannah serves in Frontline, overseeing events. She has been involved in various positions at Moody, including a Resident Assistant and a program that travels to various schools and churches to present the message of true life in Christ through the medium of drama.

Jaclyn Hoffman

Jaclyn is from Alaska, but attended Liberty University for her undergrad and began pursuing her Masters in Theology. She serves with the Rock at the Bethesda campus. She is a very hard worker and has had much responsibility in various high-capacity jobs.

Lidia Rosas

Lidia graduated from the University of Maryland in 2010 with a degree in Family Sciences. More than incredible experience and an impressive resume, her heart to serve the Lord will be a light to all she ministers to at the Gathering at UMD this year as a Future Leader.

Sarah Back

Sarah attended the Gathering at American University and interned with KidsQuest in years past. She has been serving with a youth ministry in California, but has returned to MBC where she serves the Bethesda campus with KidsQuest.

Shannon Hansen

Shannon is no stranger to MBC. She first attended a Gathering service at American Universtiy, where she pursued her undergrad degree. She is currently serving on staff with KidsQuest at Tysons & is excited to be a part of the Future Leaders Program.

Tricia Smith

Tricia is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and will be serving with Frontline. She has a heart for ministering to young women. Her and her husband, Cam, will be moving to Baton Rouge in the coming months.

This chapter was the mantra of my year in future leaders. I have the privilege of serving in the Gathering (College Ministry). What that means is that my day- to- day life is filled with meetings with students, planning retreats and activities, developing leaders and a billion other things. I LOVE MY JOB! In fact, I believe that I have the best job in the entire world. I get to love on and hang out with and speak truth into college students every day all for the glory of Jesus’ Name.

So what does John 15 have to do with loving my job?

Well, even though I truly do enjoy the various aspects of co- leading a college ministry on a secular campus, I learned this year that I am completely unable to do ministry as well as I thought I could. You see, I came into this year full of arrogance. I thought that I had ministry down pat. I did a lot of ministry while in college and high school so I thought I knew everything. Ha!

God showed me that I need Him every day. I need Him every hour. I need Him every minute. I need Him every second. I need Him every millisecond. I don’t know what comes after millisecond, so I’ll stop there. He showed me that I needed to abide in Him daily by spending quality time studying His Word, in prayer, Scripture memorization, fasting, solitude, and taking Sabbath. I learned a lot about the joy of spiritual disciplines this year and how they stir my affection for Christ. I learned that I am completely unable to lead in ministry, counsel young women, even do administrative tasks without His help. And when I try to do anything in my own strength- without being connected to Him- my life source- I fail miserably. I have learned to love Jesus more as I have grown deeper in knowledge of Him.

It is impossible to sum up a year’s worth of growth. I could write a book about all the things I learned about leadership and theology and ministry and counseling and people. But really, all that needs to be said is that I need Jesus. I will continue learning all my life.

A few months ago in my Bible study, we began working through Daniel. I had previously studied Daniel, but had never ventured into the confusion of chapters 7 through 12, so this was a good study purely on the grounds of making me a little more Bible literate. But more than that, I learned why God not only passively allows suffering, but actively ordains suffering. All throughout the second half of Daniel, we see God’s people stuck between an earthly and cosmic battle. There is continual persecution and pain, but God does not step in quite yet. Daniel 12:1 (the final chapter of Daniel) reads, “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book”. We see that God allows His people’s pain and trouble to rise to a level previously unmet; they will be worse off then than they had ever been for all time. Why does God choose to wait until His beloved are moments away from utter destruction, grasping for air? And this is a much broader question, why does God allow His people to suffer at all? If God loves us, shouldn’t He evacuate us from every minor difficulty we face? If God is omnipotent and omniscient, shouldn’t He sweep away every paper cut and splinter? And why does He let Godly people die from cancer? Why does God allow children of Godly parents to be born with muscular dystrophy? Why does He allow His children in the Middle East to be beheaded simply for following the very things He commanded?

Paul explains “that for those who love God, all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28) and James urges us to “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4). Peter urges us to “rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that [we] may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If [we] are insulted for the name of Christ, [we] are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon [us].” (1 Peter 4:13-14).

I think Modern Christianity has sugar coated the reality that God desire’s our Christ-likeness more than our comfort. We have become so accustomed to the plush movie theater seating in our church’s auditorium when God intends our knees to become thick and calloused from hours of praying on a bare wooden floor. But God is not a cruel master, He doesn’t want us to endure pain for the end of suffering, He wants us to endure pain for the end of knowing Him better and being better worshipers for the rest of eternity. God has ordained suffering to play a key role in the expansion of His Kingdom, and the growth of His saints’ faith and love for Him. This seems so scandalous nowadays. Mentioning that God intends for His followers to go through pain would make even the most weathered sea captain blush. But it is the truth! And the Good Lord has blessings waiting for us on the other side of this storm, blessings that we have never imagined. After those dark clouds pass, we will say, “I would have gone through that pain 100 more times to get this prize.”

So let’s bring us back to my situation. First of all, I feel like a complete idiot for thinking for a moment that my trials were anything like that found in Daniel’s prophecies, or what my brothers and sisters are going through right this minute in the far reaches of this world. But I still do not think it is right to illegitimatize the modern American’s struggles just because they are not as extreme as others. I do believe that God intends to use our meager struggles just as He intends to use the martyr’s.

So my next thought is, why am I praying for these trials to be taken away? If God has shown through His Word that He intends to use trails and pain to sanctify His people, for His people’s good, to produce steadfastness which will carrying us into eternity, to let us know that “the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon [us]” (1 Peter 4:13)… then why am I so quick to ask God to take my pain away from me? I have become convinces that our first response to pain should not be, “God take this away because I simply cannot bear this burden for much longer”, but instead, “praise Jesus, my King who endured the ultimate pain of the cross, use this moment of trial/cancer/muscular dystrophy/_____

David Kroeze
David is from the Chicagoland area and attended Wheaton College for undergrad. He will graduate with his Masters from BIOLA and move out to the NoVa area with his wife, Meredith, where he will serve with Adult Ministry at our Loudoun campus.

Hannah Bloomquist
Hannah is originally from Arizona & will graduate from Moody Bible Institute. Hannah will be serving with Frontline in the Creative Arts Ministry. She is passionate about discipleship of young women. She has been involved in various positions at Moody, including a Resident Assistant and a program that travels to various schools and churches to present the message of true life in Christ through the medium of drama.

Jaclyn Hoffman
Jaclyn is from Alaska, but attended Liberty University for her undergrad and is currently pursuing her Masters in Theology as well. She will serve with the Rock at the Bethesda campus. She is a very hard worker and has had much responsibility in various high-capacity jobs.

Lidia Rosas
Lidia graduated from the University of Maryland in 2010 with a degree in Family Sciences. She has an incredible resume, which includes interning at the White House. More than that, her heart to serve the Lord will be a light to all she ministers to at the Gathering at UMD this year as a Future Leader.

Sarah Back
Sarah attended the Gathering at American University and interned with KidsQuest in years past. She has been serving with a youth ministry in California, but will be returning to MBC at the Bethesda campus with KidsQuest.

Shannon Hansen
Shannon is no stranger to MBC. She first attended a Gathering service at American Universtiy, where she pursued her undergrad degree. She is currently serving on staff with KidsQuest at Tysons & will be joining the Future Leaders in July.

Tricia Brandt
Tricia is graduating from Washington University in St. Louis and will be serving with Frontline. Her and her fianc