He Made a Way

– Addie Warnke

I have grown up going to Peace. I love the community, the congregation, and especially the youth. I grew up going to Wednesday school, then confirmation, and now I go to youth group every Wednesday. I’ve taught Sunday School the last four years and VBS a couple years as well, but I didn’t start going to Youth Group until this year, my senior year of high school.  

Growing up, I never cared much about my faith or how it should play out in my life. Jesus was just someone that I thought about during Christmas and Easter time. This was, until He encountered me my freshman year, when I was at what I would say has been the lowest point of my life so far. I was depressed, anxious, and lonely. I needed someone, and that someone was Jesus. He came into my life and completely changed everything. I went from being sad, mean, and insecure; into a happy, kind, and confident girl. He gave me eyes to see myself and the world in a new way.  

Over the past four years I have been on my faith journey. There have been ups and downs, highs and lows, but what I have learned is that Jesus always remains faithful. He is meant to be in our everyday lives, and it is important that we make Him a priority!  

While we talk about God’s faithfulness, let’s talk about what He’s done in the past year at Peace. Last year at this time I had been to maybe three youth events in my three years of high school. By God’s faithfulness, Peace received a grant that went towards a Faith Formation Co-Op to help our youth at Peace. This presented an opportunity to have a Youth Council, which I was asked to be a part of.  

This Youth Council has not only done so much for our youth this year, but it has also given me so many new friendships and opportunities. I have given two messages this year at Youth Group, which have helped me grow in my faith so much. It was such a fun journey of discernment and growth, not only because I had to be willing to listen to what God had to say and what He wanted me to share, but I had to stand up in front of about 50 kids my age and 10 adults, and tell them about what God has done in my life and what He’s teaching me.

In everything, God’s faithfulness is so evident. He helped calm my nerves when I spoke, He gave us an opportunity to advance our youth at Peace, and most of all, when I thought there was no way, He made a way and transformed my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank You Jesus, and thank you to this congregation who has never failed to help Peace Youth!