determined to make a difference

it was created to make a difference; to be unique, distinct, a port in a storm, a catalyst for change, a purveyor of second chances, an advocate for the widows, orphans and the aliens, and a champion of all things that bring a smile to the face of god. who is "it?" you, me ... the church, wherever it/we are ... little rock or santos dumont, brazil.

this past week "the church" in little rock joined hands with "the church" in santos dumont to rock that town in southern brazil with the incredible news that god knows you and loves you just the way you are! together, 15 young adults from rock creek and 15 from santos dumont got the word out that there was an Espaço Alternativo, an alternative space, created for them; a "space" that was drug-free, alcohol-free and hate-free ... where all young adults could gather and listen to music, dance and be themselves. a "space" where they could make friends and consider the claims of the real jesus.

for a little evangelical church shaped by a tradition that values isolation over insulation, rituals over redemption, judgment over mercy ...  a space for "sinners" flew in the face of every one of these values that, unbeknownst to them,  kept them from influencing their culture, from bringing heaven to earth.  

by boldly breaking with this 30-year tradition, inspired by 15 young adults from rock creek, pierre's church gave 326 young adults a space where they could be heard and be engaged by the real jesus who always has "space" for sinners.

think about that ... in the course of a little less than one week, 15 young adults from little rock, determined to make a difference,  helped 15 young adults from santos dumont, brazil create an "alternative space" that reaches out to young adults where they are with the incredibly good news that they matter to god. 

determined to make a difference ... are you?