Today was our last day at the youth rally. We had a great breakfast at the cafeteria, then we headed off to our dorms to pack up. Once we were packed, we returned our room keys and loaded our belongings into the Williams car. We went to the closing worship service and got floor seats really close to the stage. Koine sang a few songs before worship started. We started the worship with a song and responsive reading led by Rev. John Boggs. Koine led us in singing more songs. Rev. Boggs preached an inspirational sermon about being involved in and serving our churches. We sang another song, then Rev. Boggs spoke a prayer with the congregation responding in song. We joined in the Lord's Prayer, then sang our rally song written by Koine, Sacrifice With Shouts of Joy, to close our worship. Youth rally committee leaders Nicole Westra and Rich Warnecke went up on stage and made many thank you's. We ended the rally by shouting the theme of the rally "No Fear" as loud as we could. Confetti and smoke machines concluded our cheer. We exited the arena and said goodbye to our dear friend Leni Mueller. After we left campus, we went to eat at Chick-Fil-A. There were beautiful brick houses along the way. Some even looked like castles. Then we went to the World Fair Park. We played in an interactive fountain and walked around a historic part of Knoxville. We even went to the observation deck of the Sun dome and saw a beautiful, panoramic view of the city! Tonight, we are going to sleep at Ascension Lutheran Church in Crossville, TN and the Williams are starting their drive back to Texas. We have had an amazing youth rally!
From Mr. Schneck:
Wow. I’ll say it again. Wow.
The closing service for the youth rally was this morning.
The teens don’t want to leave. This has been such an incredible experience for
them and for me. I pray that they can put what they’ve learned and the
encouragement to not be afraid to use their gifts to serve their families,
communities, church, and in all their Lord into practice. As the group talked
about our day and our week last night, it stuck me how much this experience was
like the disciples on the mount of transfiguration. It is so good to be hear
with the Lord and with more fellow teen believers than our teens have ever been
with in one place. I just want to pitch our tent and say, “Let’s never
leave!” But God has work for us to do.
We have to go back down the mountain (and back to Alaska). But Jesus is still
with us on the plain. And we have nothing to fear.
The teens were encouraged to use their gifts, whatever they
are, to serve the kingdom. Parents, thank you for the privilege of having this
experience with your teens, and for your support (financial, prayer, and
otherwise) to make this happen. I hope I bring you back some inspired young
people energized to continue to live and serve to God’s glory. You have some
incredible teens with great gifts. Please encourage them to put them to work.
We’ll see you Sunday night!
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