YD Connection

What do we see as our mission at Young Disciple Ministries? Here's our answers:

Will Evert: As a leader at Young Disciple Ministries, my goal is to live a committed Christian life and, by my example, to encourage young people to dedicate their lives to God.

Janet Evert: Above anything else, my mission at Young Disciple is to help young people find Jesus for themselves.

Rafael Kopke: My mission is to faithfully make the best use of my talents in reaching as many youth for Christ as possible. At YD I can serve the Lord in helping to prepare an army of disciples for Christ from all over the world!

Jessica Pendleton: I work at Young Disciple because I want to invest in the lives of young people and help them connect with their Maker in a meaningful and practical way, just as so many others have done for me.

Heidi Reinecke: My mission is communication. Every quarter I design the layout for many different stories and articles. Each one has a different message. It’s my job to visually convey what our writers have said, and to give their words extra power through pictures. I couldn’t have chosen a better job for myself: Jesus knew just what He was doing when He brought me here!

Ted Evert: As camp director, my mission is to provide a place where young people can gather to develop positive friendships, engage in wholesome activities, and be trained and stretched to do amazing things for God.

Kendra LeBrun: I’ve been blessed by studying YD magazine and attending YD Camp. My mission at Young Disciple is to share with other young people the same blessings I have experienced. I want others to have the opportunity to grow in a relationship with God and learn to love His Word.

Kezzia Keener: Through my work here at YD, I hope to help show a hurting world that God is love. I especially want to help young people develop a connection with Him that will last for eternity.

Tony Evert: I have realized that working for God is not just being a preacher, Bible worker, or missionary. God’s work desperately needs programmers, artists, mechanics, builders, accountants, and many other skilled workers. My mission is to use the technical skills and interests that God gave me in His service.

YAB Connection

More YAB members answer the question: What is your favorite Bible story—and why?

Kaitlyn: I especially like the story of Mary. It tells me that no matter how many times I sin Jesus is willing to forgive me and help me to do what is right.

DahEu: I am named after Daniel, so naturally I draw the stories about him close to my heart. I especially find it encouraging that he purposed in his heart from the very beginning that he would only follow God’s will for his life, and he never wavered!

Josué: I have so many favorite Bible stories, but among the top picks would have to be David and Goliath. God used one willing young man to do a job that not even the king of Israel dared to do. David’s unswerving faith in God during the whole story is a real challenge to me, and the final defeat of the giant is a monument to the fact that with God nothing is impossible! Therefore, the giants in our own lives will come tumbling down in God’s name!

Harmony: I love the story of Job. Even when faced with unimaginable trials and adversity, he never let go of his hold on God. I want to have a faith like that!

Matthew: My favorite Bible story is the story of Jesus’ life because of the way He showed us how to live like Him. His example shows me His character of love.

YD Connection

YD Staff, how do you know God is working in your life?

Will Evert: One of my greatest blessings is the desire God gives me to follow Him. What an encouraging indication that God is working in my life!

Janet Evert: I know God is working in my life because He has promised to do so. Whether I have stresses, successes, or struggles, I know He is using each situation for my eternal good. I know from experience that He has answers to every difficulty—when I trust Him to work in me to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Kezzia Keener: When I look back and trace the journey of my life from who I used to be to who I am now, then I know that God is the reason. It always amazes me that God is willing to work in my life, but I am so thankful that He is. I’m looking forward to seeing what else He has in store for me.

Tony Evert: He makes my burdens light, duties a delight, and even sacrifices more of a pleasure. Along the way, I see His beams of light brightening my path.

Ted Evert: I know God is at work in my life by the conviction that comes when I have done wrong, the trials that burn away the dross, and the peace that could come from no other source.

Heidi Reinecke: Faith tells me to reach out into the unseen and grasp the hand of God, because it is better than the visible and safer than the known. There are days when I can’t see physical evidence of His working—days when I fall on my knees and cry out to Him for proof. But the proof is in His Word; and that Word has promised that if I am willing, He is working!

Jessica Pendleton: I know God is working in my life when I feel pain. I have learned that pain is one of God’s gentle ways of drawing me to Him and letting me know that He loves me, that He has a plan for me, and that He is even now working on my heart and calling me higher, closer to Him. Just think: Without a hurting heart, I might never know the depths of God’s love and care for me!

Rafael Kopke: When I find myself asking for God’s help even for the simplest tasks of life, surely that is His hand working in my life. 

Cheyenne Reiswig: It seems that every passing week, during my times with Jesus, I see more things that I need Him to change in my mind and my behavior. It’s humbling and often painful, but it’s needful and it does show me He’s at work—because it reminds me to go to Him for help!

YAB Connection

YAB Members, How can you honor God in your daily life?

Sasha W: I honor God when I stand up for what I believe, do my best to be respectful and kind, and when I obey Him. I honor God when I reflect who Jesus is.

Nicole P: I can honor God in my daily life by living in a way that would please Him and by sacrificing my own desires to do His will.

Nathan B: I can honor God in my everyday life by taking care of my body and helping others.

Kaitlin A: One of the ways I honor God is by taking time for Him in the morning and asking Him what He would have me do throughout the day. Each decision I make in a day either honors or dishonors God, and it’s important to have His counsel.

Kaitlyn B: One of the ways I can honor God in my daily life is through obedience. In this way I show Him and others that I love Him.

Caleb B: I can honor God in my daily life by seeking to live a life that reflects God’s character.

Harmony M: I can honor God in my daily life by choosing to serve Him faithfully, even if those around me do not. When I really love God, I will be willing to sacrifice everything in life to be right with Him. He is all that really matters!

Manish R: I don’t need to offer a great, costly sacrifice to honor my God. I can honor God in my daily life by doing things that Jesus wants me to do, like obeying and helping my parents, speaking courteously and politely to everyone, and trying my best to share Jesus with others.

Becky S: I can honor God in my life by doing the best I can at everything I do.

Josué V: I can honor God in my daily life by extending help when I see a need, forgiving those who hurt me, and keeping in mind that anything that I see, hear, or do is being watched by my heavenly Father.

YD Connection

YD Staff, what do you appreciate most about God's mercy?

Will Evert: God’s unfathomable mercy means that I can wake up every day and know that God offers me mercy that will not only forgive, but fill me with grace to overcome any temptation that comes.

Janet Evert: My claim to God’s mercy is not my sin, but His goodness! What an infinite mystery that God longs to shower me with more mercy than I can comprehend!

Kezzia Keener: God does not just forgive us once and then declare us guilty for all infractions ever afterward. Rather, He is always ready to forgive, to make us new, and to draw us ever closer to Himself.

Tony Evert: When a king or a governor grants mercy, it seems random—some people get mercy and others don’t. God’s mercy is different. Knowing this helps me come with confidence to “the throne of grace” so that I can find mercy and grace in my time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Ted Evert: I appreciate God’s mercy because it has a special power to soften my heart as I behold the multitude of undeserved blessings God rains down on me.

Cheyenne Reiswig: It seems relatively easy to grant mercy to people who didn’t know any better. What’s amazing about God is that He mercifully forgives people who chose to be selfish, hurt someone, or do something wrong on purpose. I’ve done that at times, which tells me I don’t deserve His mercy. I’m so thankful He gives it anyway!

Jessica Pendleton: Because of God’s mercy, I have the opportunity to exchange my wicked, selfish heart for one just like His—one that loves truth, holiness, and mercy. By agreeing to this exchange, I can experience unbroken communion with the Prince of life. My life then becomes a beautiful tribute to the mercy of a kind, loving God.

Rafael Kopke: God in mercy went so far as to send Jesus as a man to die for my redemption. I can’t fully comprehend it, but what I appreciate is that He did it. He died my death so that I can live eternally.

Heidi Reinecke: I am so thankful that God’s mercy allows me to try again. When I have filled a day with failings, His mercy allows me to come to the throne of grace, be cleansed, and look forward to tomorrow, fresh with no mistakes in it.

Do you have a question for the YD staff to answer? If so, leave a comment below!

YAB Connection

YAB members, why should anyone want to be humble and meek?

Robby S: The Christian wants to be humble because he loves Jesus and wants to be like Him. Jesus humbled Himself to be like us, and continued on that path even to death on the cross. Can we persist in pride when God Himself is humble?

Lilienne S: God can use those who are humble and meek to do great things for His Kingdom. It is harder for God to use those who are prideful and self-exalted because they don’t let Him have every bit of their hearts.

Brandon P: Jesus is humble and meek—so if I want to be like Him I must follow His example.

Olivia A: It may not seem nice to be humble, but when I see Christ’s life I want to be exactly like Him. When Christ, the King of everything, is so humble, who am I not to be meek and humble too?

Josué V: Jesus showed us through His own example that meekness is the best form of greatness.

Lucinda E: Humility and meekness are character qualities that Jesus wants us to have. Examples are scattered all throughout the Bible.

Manish R: Being humble and meek is a great way to bring souls to Christ.

Jasmine P: I want to be humble and meek so that others can see Christ’s character lived out in the life of one of His followers.

Do you have a question for the YAB to answer? If so, leave a comment below!

Supreme Court of the Universe

How much do you know about the Supreme Court? Whether you realize it or not, its decisions affect our laws in big ways. Here are the basics:

• The Supreme Court always has nine justices. No tie votes!
• The Supreme Court is mostly a court of appeals—it decides on cases that lower courts couldn’t settle.
• The Supreme Court accepts only about 100 of around 10,000 cases referred to it each year—the ones justices think will help clear up questions to do with Constitutional law.
• Before the court hearing, lawyers from each side of a case hand in written arguments. At the actual trial, each side has just half an hour to speak and be questioned.
• After the hearing, the justices discuss among themselves which side has the backing of the Constitution. Finally, they take a vote. 
• After the vote, a justice from the majority side writes a court opinion. The judges from the majority side review and revise the report. Finally, they sign it. 
• Once the opinion is made public, it becomes the official interpretation of the law.

Odd beginnings. During its first term in 1790, the Supreme Court had no cases and made no decisions—but the justices still convened. Some judges of lower courts still wore tall white wigs, but Justice William Cushing alone showed up at the Supreme Court wearing his wig. After the boys loitering outside made fun of Justice Cushing, Thomas Jefferson added his opinion: “Do discard the monstrous wig which makes the English judges look like rats peeping through bunches of oakum.” 1 The wig came off!2

Divine court. Daniel 7 describes the supreme court of the universe, where the Ancient of Days and His Son are the judges. In this court, the judge is also the lawyer for the defendants.3 He longs to pardon whoever He can! And unlike human courts, the divine court never errs. “O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously” (Psalm 67:4).

Crazy About Clouds

Matter of perspective. Over most of the lower 48 states, it’s cloudy 50–70% of the time. Over these same states, it’s also sunny 50–70% of the time. How can this be? It’s simply a matter of perspective. You can call mixed skies partly cloudy, if you please—but they will also be partly sunny! Of course, some places are cloudier than others. The cloudiest places in the U.S. are the Great Lakes region and the Oregon and Washington coast; the sunniest area is the Southwest.1

Sowing in the clouds. It takes more than water vapor to make a rain cloud. The vapor needs something to cluster around and make a droplet—something called a nucleus, such as salt or dust. Sometimes clouds that have enough water to rain never do simply because there are no particles to form raindrops. Because of this phenomenon, scientists have developed a technique called cloud seeding to encourage rain in dry areas. Airplanes fly through clouds, dropping tiny pieces of compounds such as calcium chloride or silver iodide to make “seeds” for the raindrops. Sometimes these particles are shot up from the ground, using rockets, balloons, or anti-aircraft guns.

Don’t steal my cloud! Because of arid climate conditions in certain areas, China is one of the top users of cloud-seeding technology. In fact, it’s so common that the government uses it to “guarantee” good weather for national celebrations. Cloud seeding does cause disputes between neighboring communities. Cities race each other to harvest rain—and the losers accuse the winners of stealing precipitation!2

Cloudy protection. Did you know that clouds have altered world events? A number of battles have been confused or called off due to fog or rain—and God’s providence. One battle in the Revolutionary War was even named “Battle of the Clouds” because a torrential downpour stopped the fighting.

Holy cloud. God used a cloud to protect and guide Israel on their journey from Egypt to Canaan—and to veil His glory in the most holy place. But this cloud was more than a mix of water vapor and dust particles. This cloud was holy—because it was God’s presence! It showed God’s heart longing: to dwell with His people.

1. National Climatic Data Center.
2. The Guardian, July 14, 2004.