Chris Kozacek

It’s been a few weeks since the end of our big conference, General Assembly 2011, for Youth for Christ International.

I wanted to take a minute to reflect on this great and special week for me.

If you’re on my mailing list for YFC, you know that my role at GA was to coordinate the Pastoral Care/Counseling Team and the Medical Team for the week. Not only is this something that is so close to my heart, but it was an honor to help serve our YFC Family in this way. The people that served on both teams were absolutely awesome and pleasure to work with. Professionals through and through.

I loved getting to meet so many people who either I correspond with through email, phone, etc…, but never get to face to face; or those who knew my wife Corrie when she was a Missionary in Ghana with YFC. It was fun to spend time with former bosses, who remain friends, who have shaped my ministry experience through the years.

There are three things I took away from GA that has really furthered my gratefulness to be a part of YFC right now…

• Realizing I am a part of something so much bigger than what I just do in the International Office. There are amazing people all over the world doing great things for Jesus. Many without much funding (or at all), some even fearing for their lives as they do their work.
• I was impressed how the speakers and teachers handled controversial issues. We talked throughout the week about Truth, Mission Drift, Universalism, Hell, Pluralism, Evangelism, Discipleship, etc… Despite many varied ideas and thoughts on how to do ministry, theology, styles and personalities… we seem to be moving together in the same direction for the most part. Differences were listened to and discussed, and fellowship still happened after the discussions! :) The “making an enemy of everyone who thinks different” spirit wasn’t there. There seemed to be respect for others, and truth in love, not really truth in fear. It was really cool to see the difficult things in our faith be stood for, without needing to publicly bash other people. It was very impactful.
• Lastly, I truly felt valued and was given a lot of responsibility for the week. From the top down, I felt useful and wanted. That goes a long way in all of our lives when that happens. To serve the YFC Family in a manner that is so close to my heart, was a tremendous boost.  

Thank you all for your prayers, and for any financial gifts you gave to help my conference costs. 

Very grateful!