Eastside Story

My journey as youth pastor at The Eastside Vineyard church officially began July 23 of 2013.  And these first few weeks on staff have been a blast!  I've genuinely enjoyed all that I have been able to experience and be a part of so far.  It feels like family at Eastside.
However, my journey began months before officially moving to Shelby Township.  It even began months before accepting the job.
Let me tell you a little bit about how I came to Eastside.

See, I grew up in a very tiny town.  Corn fields all around, one blinking traffic light, and 67 people in my graduating class.  That was home.
We took vacations every summer, and celebrated holidays with family in the area, but we never had any need to go to Detroit or surrounding cities because we didn't know anyone over there!
Our primary reason for ever driving to the east side of Michigan was either to go to a concert or some kind of sporting event.  That was all we saw of "Detroit".
So my ever hearing about The Eastside Vineyard church was slim to none.  But not in God's realm.
Being a youth pastor has not only been a dream of mine but something I truly felt has been a calling on my life since the age of 15.
I remember standing in a crowd of other high schoolers, underneath a tent during a night of worship at Faholo camp in Grass Lake.  While standing there praying and worshipping the speaker of the evening called down to the front every person in the room who felt called specifically into ministry.
As I stood there, feet stuck to that position, I didn't even consider moving.  Until I felt a still, small voice inside of me say "You should be down there.  You're going to be a youth minister."
It was so clear to me.  I never made my way up front, but I've never turned back from that calling.
It just fit. Every passion of mine, my most dominant strengths, my desires and abilities all seemed to fall within that role.  I'll be a youth pastor.  And God will equip me.

Continue reading the rest of the story in the next blogs! Thanks for being a part of the journey!

No One's Perfect.

I am an imperfect worshiper.
Full of daily mistakes and constant worries, I know that I never can measure up to the goodness of God.
But that's what makes me worship Him all the more.
Everyone has a story to tell. and everyone's story is it's own.  No two stories could ever be the same. And with my story, I choose to worship God.
As a little girl worshiping God was easy.  I had a love for Him that came naturally. Jesus was my best friend and I was proud to say it!  Sitting in church was so much of a joy for me that I hated going to kids class and wanted to be where the adults were.  Something about knowing God felt so right.
But as I've added years to my life I've found that worshiping God gets a little harder.  Sometimes it isn't so innate.  Sometimes I have to choose to do it even when everything around me isn't going so well and I don't really understand God.
Because even though God is perfect, life isn't; humans aren't.  And everyday I see brokenness in others and in myself that makes me wonder if that's all there is.
There was a very specific time in my life where I had to redefine my understanding of God altogether.
If it was natural and easy before it became extremely confusing and difficult to worship God.  A lot in my life was coming undone at the seams and I was standing on shaky ground.  Everything around me felt unsafe. And if God had protected me my whole life, what was stopping Him from doing so now?  And what did I do to push His protection away?
Questions like that begin to take over your desire for worship and begin to instill a sense of control.
"Something made God stop protecting me, and I've got to start getting it together so He always protect me and never stops again."
How scary.  I was pushed into the arms of God, but not necessarily because I felt safe with Him, but more because it was all I knew to do (which I am thankful for!) and because I wanted to make right whatever I had made wrong.
Praise God for His faithfulness.  He never left me.
Never, ever, ever.  Not in a single moment of that brokenness was God ever far away.  Nor will He ever be in the brokenness I see now and the brokenness to come.
Oh, how beautiful!
It's through God's faithfulness that I began to see how God never left me.  And that in every moment He was not only with me, but He was teaching me.
Romans 8:28 says "For we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." (ESV)
So no, I don't believe that God intends for bad things to happen.  I don't think He initiates it or enjoys seeing it happen.  I believe His heart breaks over injustice.  And I believe He is sad to see the sons of man turn away from Him and choose evil.
But I do know, that God takes what was intended for evil and turns it into good for those who love God and invite Him in.
So when devastating circumstances happen around me, I can look to Him and know that it pains Him even more and that I am safe to come running to a God who understands and who will use it for good in my life because He loves me.
So, I'm not perfect.  Never have been, never will be.  At least not through my own human abilities.
But oh, how I delight in worshiping God with my life. Because He is so good and so worthy.  And because in Him I have true freedom. Freedom to be me and to tell the story of Him through my life.

And that's what brings me to Eastside. Because I believe God will use me here and teach me here.  Because of all the hope I have found in God I can't help but want to share it; specifically to teens who may not know how they can worship God in the midst of so much brokenness.
The cool, long version of how I came to Eastside will come soon.  But know, that I have a heart to spread the hope of Christ everywhere to all people!
And I hope you find the way God is moving in your life and how He desires to reach into the middle of your life and situation and make good. :)
Thanks for being a part of the story.

December Baby.

In case you're wondering what this blog is all about, let me give you a little background.....
I recently accepted a job at The Eastside Vineyard church as their first ever Youth Pastor!  Yesterday marked my first day, and although I've never been a blogger I figured now would be a great time to start.
The purpose of this blog is to give anyone and everyone a chance to be involved in what God is doing here at Eastside and more specifically in the youth ministry program.  I'll share stories, encouragement, prayer requests, questions and any thoughts along the way.  But I couldn't be here or do this without my support system.  So please, join me in this adventure!  Your prayers are not only much appreciated but also much needed.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store!

SO....
with that being said, I'd love to give you a little insight into me and to what has brought me here.
Take this entry as a snapshot into my heart. 

I have a love for the simple things in life....

 As well as a deep appreciation for the loud and outrageous....

                   

Playing on my Ipod right now is probably Ingrid Michaelson or Mat Kearney.

I love Singer/Songwriters.

If my life were made into a movie I'd want Amy Adams or Zooey Deschanel to play me.

They're my two favorite actresses because of their charm and quirkiness.

I've danced since I was little and was a part of a dance ministry team called Audience of One for 5 years.

Will forever be a part of me.

 I have the most incredible people surrounding me.
Get to know them and you'll learn a lot about me.

And That's Me!

Thanks for letting me share my story with you.

I can't wait to hear yours!

Thank you, God for this job and the opportunity to get to know new people.  I love you God and I praise you for your wonderful works everywhere.  May we as your people always share your love no matter who we're talking to or where we are.  We desire for your glory to shine.  Use our lives and our stories to do that, God. We are yours.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen.

Cheers to New Beginnings!

Here's to New Beginnings! New beginnings that don't forget the beginnings that have already begun.  New Beginnings that know they stand on the foundation of many beginnings that have tied up their ends.
New Beginnings.
Exciting Beginnings =] But beginnings nonetheless, that include nerves, goodbyes, moving forward, and discovering yourself in ways you've never quite had to before.
And so I pack.  I pack up my clothes.  And I pack those clothes into my tiny Ford Focus. And the road waits to meet us as I journey on to the start of something new and something I believe to be wonderful.
I can't quite describe all my emotions.  Or pretend that I'll be able to get them across in full detail.  But above all I am Expectant.  And that expectancy makes me excited.
I know there is a lot to come and a lot ahead of me and I do not know yet how I'll best handle these unpredictable situations.  But with all certainty I am a daughter of the Almighty King and nowhere I go ever leaves Him behind.  In fact, He is already preparing the way =]
And so I expect for my God to do great things.  And I expect for my King to take care of me.  I expect for the Lord to show me His strength in areas I know strength in myself does not exist.  Oh, to be on a journey with Him =] Nothing better.
So, if you're praying for me, pray that my heart might take rest in God.  And that I let tomorrow take care of itself.  Pray that my relationship with God only deepens as well as my relationships with both people I am leaving and people I am joining.
To God be all the Glory! Forever and ever and ever!

Cheers!
Here I come Shelby Township :)

-Jessie