There are moments in the life of the church when we wonder whether our efforts make a difference. Sometimes, it feels as if no one notices what we do, and nothing seems to change. In those times, it's essential to remember that we are planting seeds — seeds that come from God. It’s equally important to recall that God doesn’t give us fully grown trees to plant; instead, God gives us seeds that require planting, nurturing, and watering on our part. The growth, however, comes from God.
This past summer, we embarked on a new venture. Partnering with Hope in the Mountains in Sophia, WV, WUMC’s Global Outreach Committee facilitated a combined retreat for young people from the Burlington United Methodist Family Services and our own youth group here in Williamsburg. The weekend didn’t unfold perfectly — things didn’t always go as planned or as hoped. While nothing negative occurred and the event was positive overall, we were left wondering whether it was truly worth the effort.
Then we received an email from a Hope in the Mountains board member who chaperoned the retreat. On Sunday, October 27, one of the youth from West Virginia, Keira, was baptized at Beckley Community UMC in West Virginia. While many had planted seeds in Keira’s life, she shared that this retreat was one of the influences that led her to accept God’s free offer of grace through baptism. While we were left questioning, God was at work, nurturing growth in Keira’s life.
Will we host another retreat like this? We’ll see where the Spirit leads us. In the meantime, we give thanks for how the Spirit has moved in Keira’s life and look forward with hope, eager to see the fruit God will produce through her journey of faith. Please keep Keira in your prayers as she continues to grow in Christ.