2017! Wow! It seems like this past year has flown by. We concluded 2016 with our NYEE(E) Parties this past week. At the end we played a slideshow with pictures from the past year, including: Winter Retreat, Winter Jam, Super Bowl Party, Ethos Retreat, shoveling snow on a snow day, Taco Tuesday, messy games, kiddie pool kickball, Operation Christmas Child, turkey bowling, learning from prayer warriors, and so much more. Putting together the slideshow was a great reminder of all the different ways God has shown up throughout the year. We've continued to build deeper relationships with each other, reach out to our community, and explore what it looks like to become more ROOTED in Christ.
This year's theme, ROOTED, has three sub-phrases: DIG DEEP - REACH OUT - BEAR FRUIT. The past four months we have focused on digging deep, though reading God's Word, prayer, and remembering that our identity is rooted in Christ. Starting in 2017, we will begin to focus on reaching out, as a result of having deep roots. What does it look like to be rooted in truth? To be equipped to share the gospel with friends? To be rooted in community? To live out the fruit of the Spirit? We are excited to continue our journey and to equip students to take one step closer to owning their faith.
As we enter into 2017, take some time to reflect on this past year. Where have you seen God show up? In what ways has He worked in and through you? For some of you, 2016 was a really hard year. Reflect on how you experienced Jesus in the midst of that pain. For some of you, 2016 was full of unexpected blessings. Praise God for those things! No matter what 2016 looked like for you and your family, take time to reflect on how you saw God both in large and small ways.
Thank you for allowing us to partner with you in growing extraordinary students who love God, love people and make disciples! I pray God's blessing over your family this year!