Everybody has a story. Several in fact. What's yours? Which ones do you choose to share? Why do you pick those?

Witness is nothing more than sharing God's story and our stories: our stories about God in our lives, God's story of good news in Jesus Christ.

Our youth have stories. They live and interact with the world and God. In mission and youth, we seek to enable the sharing of these stories by word, action, and attitude. When we are all paying attention to what's happening around us, we begin to see how God's story is still being played out in the world and how this story intersects with our stories. Moreover, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we learn where these stories are needed most.

Stories help us to remember who we are amd where we're coming from. They can be great for sharing ourselves and moving into the future. There are many stories around us—sad, joyful, blah . . . We need to be involved in these stories so that we can support and/or help to make a change. But we also need stories of good news to remind us of life's possibilities and God's amazing grace.

God is not looking for perfect stories. God is looking for people whose stories come from their willing giving over  of their total lives to God. These are people who are experiencing God's freedom—freedom to love and live in harmony with God and God's creation. The stories they tell are full of God's unconditional love in the midst of their flaws.  This unconditional love always holds them close and accepts them as they are while helping them to be more like Christ.  Great news! What's your story?

We are able to participate in God's great love story because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We repent of our sins, receive Christ, we receive God's love, we live it out as it overflows in us. The Holy Spirit empowers us.