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Girls at Quake

A message from Pastor Darst

Quaking with St. Paul kids

By Pastor Lorin Darst

As a couple dozen youth rolled along the freeway toward Chicago at the end of last month, my eardrums and the wheels on the road were not the only things rumbling. The kids in our vans didn’t seem to know what they were in for. Neither did I.

Before that fateful Friday, I was not able to grasp the reasoning for the name “Quake.” Seven hundred kids jumping, singing, dancing, and praying quickly ushered me into a deep understanding. Youth Encounter, the organization producing this and many other Quakes across the United States, had tapped into the significant potential of these young kids. Because of this, the ground was shaking.

Hebrews 12:1 gave form to the weekend and was a springboard for Wes Halula, the featured speaker. By connecting their lives to this verse, he helped the kids prepare for the “Amazing Race” that is set before them. This zany guy met the kids right where they were with a mix of fun, wild stories, and great talk about Jesus and the community of faith that he sustains. In between moments with Wes and smaller workshops led by a variety of people, some lively bands (Captive Free and Jacob’s Road) kept the ground shaking with great music.

If ever you wonder about the future of this world, or of the coming generations, I suggest you find a way to connect with a St. Paul youth. You will find there is a lot of depth to these kids. They are not just good at sending a text message more quickly than most adults can type. They are also full of excitement, energy, and love for God and each other.

I got a small sampling of this as the Quake wound down to a small vibration that Saturday night. As our Junior Guides (Kara Hartman, Andrea Kuster, and Alex Tomesch) led evening devotions, the volume of faith all the kids had soaked in became beautifully apparent. The foundation provided by parents, friends, and this church enables this young group to grasp and celebrate the love of God, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. If they can challenge, care for, and uphold each other as they did at the Quake, I’m certain the gifts they receive from God will radiate from where they are at any given time.

These Quaking kids are just a sampling of the vibrant Christian youth in our midst. You’ll trip on the rest of them if you are not careful when you are coming out of worship. From the youngest picture colorers to the oldest high schoolers getting ready to head out on their own, these adults-of-the-future are a true blessing to our community and the world. Whether they are embarking on a ministry project like the rebuilding effort along the Gulf Coast, making cards for people in the hospital, or engaging their peers in a Bible study, our youth show promise and exude life.

The path that is before all of them is an exciting one for which they are being well prepared. May we continue to love and support these younger ones from our own congregation. And, may they continue to grow in their love for God and for this world.

Pastor Lorin Darst,

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