By Christian Scheel​

Christian presented this devotion before a Northbrook Student Compass Team meeting, our steering committee for youth group. Having experienced God’s compassion firsthand, he’s inspired to volunteer with the youth group—to help them discover God’s love too.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

Unlike those of you here, I didn’t grow up going to church. What’s odd about that is my father was a seminary drop-out, so you’d think someone who at least attempted to get into ministry would raise his children in the church. But that didn’t happen.

Although I didn’t grow up going to church, I did believe in God. I just didn’t know Him
and to be honest, I wasn’t sure He knew me.

Years later, after I married my wife Tiffany, who had grown up in the Methodist church, she started taking me to church. I was reluctant at first because I felt like an outsider, I didn’t understand the ritual of worship and certainly didn’t know the prayers and doxologies. I was afraid I would be made fun of or judged because I didn’t know what everyone else seemed to know.

That all changed when we had our first daughter, Allie. She was 7 weeks early, weighed
2lbs 6oz, and spent 5 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit. At the same time, we had just moved into our new home, we hadn’t sold our previous house, and I got laid off from my job. All of this happened in the span of two weeks.

Allie was our little miracle. She was perfectly healthy, just tiny, which in her circumstances is somewhat unusual. We did however have other concerns. We had two mortgages, I didn’t have a job, and because Allie was so small we committed to having one of us stay home with Allie until we felt she was big enough for pre-school.

Since I didn’t have a job and Tiffany did, I stayed home. This lasted for two years. Money was really tight. It took us months to sell our other house, and we had cut our income in half. It seemed that every month we were on the verge of financial collapse. But here’s where it gets interesting. When we finally sold our old house, we were able to take some of that profit to help with the bills. Once that ran out and things began to look dire, money would show up out of nowhere. We got a huge tax refund I can’t explain that helped us for a couple of months. Then Tiffany got a once in a career award from her company that came with a big cash bonus. A couple of times I had former work colleagues call me from out of the blue to offer me a few weeks of work. Every time we were in financial need, money would appear. God was providing for us. I think He was performing miracles in our lives.

The reason I share this is to reassure you that God knows you, He knows what you need in your life and will provide for you, and that He does indeed perform miracles. This experience opened my eyes to Him and proved to me that even a man who didn’t grow up in relationship with God, I was indeed claimed by God as his child. He made his presence known to me through His acts of love and grace. I learned that even with all of my flaws, my lack of biblical knowledge, and even a shaky relationship with Him, I am worthy of His love. Surely, He will do the same for you.

Christian Scheel
Northbrook Students Volunteer

Years ago, author, Kara Powell wrote a book that changed my perspective on ministry with children, youth, and young adults. Her book was called Growing Young, and through research and observation she developed a philosophy to nurture the young people in the congregation. The approach included six steps or features of churches that nurtured young people well, and one of the parts that struck me was a feature called “keychain leadership.”
 
She references the idea that when an adolescent reaches a certain age, they get the keys to the car, the ability to make decisions and drive themselves. We deem them responsible.
 
She made the connection that churches with large groups of Thriving young people are quick to equip them with training and responsibility. Involvement isn’t measured by attendance but by participation and leadership. The church is not in ministry to young people. The church is in ministry with young people, alongside young people as equal and unique members of the body of Christ.
 
I’ve been thinking about this book lately as I reflect on all the wonderful ministries here at Northbrook. I believe our church has been leaning into this model. Reverend Josh has been engaging our youth by giving them more responsibilities and autonomy in creating their own ministry programming. Our children are being equipped to own their faith through the ministry of godly play. Our young adult Bible study is growing and taking ownership of their group. Moreover, I recently led a prayer workshop specifically designed for children who could not yet read fluently. This incident in particular inspired four-year-old Grayson to lead the Lord’s prayer in worship.
 
I’m grateful for the parents who have been eager to mentor their children in leading worship. We have had young people serve as greeters, acolytes, readers, crucifers, liturgists, and in prayer.
 
​Our families are also eager to mentor their children in serving others. Consider the charity work done through Trinity Table, Family Promise and with Starhouse Ministries during VBS. 
 
I believe we need to challenge the misconception that children, youth, and young adults are the future of the church. Jesus reminds us that children are the model for wholehearted faith. Young people are called and equipped for ministry in more significant ways in the church community than any other place in our society. 
 
Young people are not our future; they are our present. They are God’s gift of unique and humble leadership. 
 
Church, please continue to pray with me for the young leaders in our congregation as we remember that, even Jesus’s ministry began when he was just a small child. 
 
Warmly in Christ, 
 
Kena

Herzen and I recently returned from a trip to the Philippines. Most of his family are now United States citizens, having immigrated through his parents’ sponsorship. So, when we travel there, it’s not to visit relatives. Rather, we typically go to preach, to help with a mission, or to learn from our Methodist partners in a place where the church is growing and thriving.

This time, though, we had no professional responsibilities. We went to attend a wedding. In other words, we spent thousands of dollars, flew over 7,000 miles, and traveled for 30 hours one-way to attend an hour-long wedding!

Why? Because of friendship. Our friends’ daughter was getting married, and we had been asked to be the couple’s “sponsors.”

In Filipino wedding tradition, sponsors act as godparents to the couple getting married. The sponsors are practicing Christians who the couple respect and to whom they feel they can look to for guidance in life and marriage. It’s an honor to be asked to be a sponsor. In fact, it’s such an important role that sponsors are considered part of the family.

The day after the wedding, as Herzen and I headed to the airport to fly home, we were on the phone with our friends, the bride’s parents, Glenn and Gem. As we were hanging up, they addressed Herzen and me as “kumpare” and “kumare.” I was touched by the change in address because it indicated a change in relationship, that we are family now, co-parents, if you will, to their daughter and son-in-law.

When a baby or a child is baptized at Northbrook, all members of the church become “kumpare” and “kumare” to the child. We promise to take on the role of godparents and help the parents nurture the child in the Christian faith. Through baptism we are bound together, by the power of the Holy Spirit, as a family with the child and his or her parents.

Bill Gaither wrote these lyrics to a song entitled “The Family of God”:
 I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God;
             I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
            Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
            for I’m part of the family, the Family of God.

My dear brothers and sisters, it is an honor to be family, and like all family, being a part of one entails benefits as well as responsibilities.

Thank you for being a family that welcomes newcomers, nurtures and cares for one another, and celebrates and supports one another through the ups and downs of life and our journey in faith.
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We may not be a perfect family, but we are a loving one because we have been formed and are being shaped by the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thank God for the blessing of being part of the family of God!
 
See you Sunday where the family gathers every week!
​
Jennie

Young eagles learn to fly from their parents and by practicing near their nest. One of the ways they practice is by spreading their wings and jumping to a nearby branch. Before any attempt is made to take flight, the mother eagle has some surprising and unexpected lessons for the young birds. Remember that the young eagles have been in their nest since they hatched, depending upon the mother for survival. When the mother feels that they are ready to advance, she will begin her training.

When it's the right time, the mother begins to remove the comfort layers from the nest, exposing holes and sticks. She doesn't do it to hurt them, but to prepare them for their destiny. And now the kids are uncomfortable, what does she do next? She throws the eaglets one by one out of the nest repeatedly until they learn to fly. Out of fear the baby birds jump back into the nest. The mother doesn't yield and continues to toss them out of the nest. To others this may seem cruel and heartless, but goodness will prevail. The young birds must make a decision. It learns to fly or hit the ground. I can assure you the mother is watching each bird carefully and will swoop down and rescue the little ones from danger. The process is repeated until eventually the young eaglets start flapping their wings, getting stronger and stronger with each flap. Away it goes into the air flying higher and higher, rising above discomfort and its challenges.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4.
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The young eaglets faced discomfort, danger, and decisions had to be made. We as Christians face the same in our daily lives. As the baby eaglets have their mother, we have Jesus. It might seem harsh but as the eagle trains its young, the Lord also trains us. Remember that Jesus died on a cross, not a cushion. We as people love the comfortable things in life, but there are times when we must step out of our comfort zone. Let’s make that decision today and learn to fly for God knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. See you all in flight my friends!
 
In Christ,
​
Jerome Young

​Greetings!

My life has been filled with joy, anticipation, disappointment, fulfillment, and adventure for over six decades. I am a proud native of Atlanta, a Grady baby. I grew up on the westside and was educated in Atlanta Public Schools (APS). It has taken me many twists and turns in life to find out who I really am. But no matter where life has taken me, I have found that I am resilient—strong like the palm tree.

During the early season of my life, I would go into a secret place (within myself) to survive. I was very anxious, insecure, and introverted because of the alcoholism and domestic violence that plagued my family life. This secret place was created for me by God before I really knew him—the secret place helped me to thrive and mature. After attending church as a youth, I found the Lord for myself at the age of 30 years old. That was the best decision I have ever made—it was life-changing.

My father, the source of my childhood distress, was the person who urged me to seek the Lord many years later. By this time, he also had given his life to Christ--I am grateful for his wisdom. I also must pay homage to my mother who was my hero and source of strength. She made so many sacrifices and prayed so many prayers for me and my brothers. Without her influence, I would not be the person I am today. I strive to be my best self to honor my heritage and parents’ legacy.

My journey, past and present, has included reaching educational goals, marriage, children, a career, serving my parents and community, enjoying my grandchildren, divorce, and striving to be my authentic self. I retired from one career in 2019 only to start another. Each day in my life is an adventure and I’m still trying to “get it right” through lifelong learning in the areas of health and wellness, my spiritual walk, and lifestyle enrichment.
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So, as I begin a new chapter, as office manager, with Northbrook UMC, the Lord is blessing me with another opportunity to serve the church and community. I pray that my presence will enhance the lives of all that I touch. I already feel the love from each person I have met. Together we will fulfill the Great Commission—to go into the world and make disciples of all nations in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Come go with me as I continue this amazing journey.

Your sister in Christ,

Phyllis Baskin