Tonight is the closing celebration for Youth Encounter and its 51 years of ministry. Just thinking about tonight and all the comes with it is incredibly overwhelming. Just thinking about seeing some amazing people, reminiscing on the past, and reflecting on the ministry coming to an end is enough to make me tear up without even experiencing it.

But at the same time, I am excited to celebrate with the Youth Encounter family. With the people who I have never met, but who have shared a similar unique experience as I have. I am excited to laugh hard, and cry hard, and to lift our voices in harmony to our risen Savior!

This is the joy that we have in the fact that our God is living an active – that tonight we celebrate! We don’t mourn what is lost, but celebrate what has been done, and what God will continue to do through the ministry through which he gave us the opportunity to experience him more fully.

In my mind, tonight will be a tiny, minuscule glimpse of heaven. The church Raising our voices to Jesus in loud praise for all that He has done! We get a biblical glimpse of what this is like in Revelation 19: 6-7:

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: 

“Hallelujah!
    For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad
    and give him glory!

Tonight we celebrate! I am looking forward to it, friends! Even if you cannot be there in person, I pray that you join us in lifting up thanks to our God who made it all possible!