Some Warsaw students and I had an exciting opportunity to join 1,000 other high school students in Ft. Wayne for a weekend retreat called GO MAD. We had lots of fun, formed new relationships with some surrounding area students and leaders, and were challenged to GO MAD (Make A Difference) once we left the retreat and got back into our community.
One student, “Josie,” who is typically shy and reserved was truly challenged during her time at GO MAD. She was not only challenged socially to open up, be more vocal, and get to know others, but also in her spiritual journey as well. The GO MAD speaker challenged Josie in her faith so much that during one of our team times she got away, spent some time alone with God, and recommitted her life to following him in a new way! She knew she had become pretty stagnant in her faith and decided she didn’t want to stay there. That night Josie recommitted her life to Christ, stating a couple different things: “I want to be that difference maker to people who do not know God…I want to be the Light in this world…I want to let them (others) know they are loved and their life matters.”
Josie is still quiet and shy, but she is taking the necessary steps to challenge herself and stick to the recommitment she made to the Lord. Since GO MAD, Josie has plugged in and been involved with our Core team at Warsaw. She is faithfully attending each week and actively getting to know others in the group, as well as searching to make a difference at her high school. I am so thankful God has lit a fire in her, and it is exciting to watch how contagious that can be!
JR Gray
Warsaw Community Director