Alive Youth Church Weekly,
I am constantly encouraged by you!
Students, you are seeking God in all that you do, passionate for more each day, and your interest, questions, and fire are reminders to me, as well as many others, I'm sure, of what it means to be excited for Jesus, and relying on Him for our joy. You are doing good work!
Parents, thank you for your trust and your commitment to Alive Youth Church. We love seeing your kids each week, partnering with you, and working together to serve God in teaching and raising the next generations. You are doing good work!
Leaders, Nobody is forcing you to be at AYC each week. But still, your time, effort, thoughts, and prayers are given; I can't thank you enough. I still remember my youth leaders, and many of them I still see and have friendships with. Now I'm young, so my youth days weren't that long ago, but I've heard this from so many youth group graduates. Some 30, 40, and even 70-year-olds I've spoken to still remember their youth leaders and the impact they had on their lives. You are doing good work!
Friends, however you support Alive Youth Church, whether it's attending our church that strongly believes in our youth, keeping us in your prayers, encouraging words, your own time, finances, or ministry, know that you are so needed, appreciated, and as much a part of AYC as anyone else. You are doing good work!
"Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 1:6
So great being together this Sunday! Here's what's going on at Alive Youth Church so that you can stay in the loop.
- Sunday Feb 8th: No AYC (Enjoy the Superbowl, Go Hawks!)
- May 15th + 16th: VIP The Gathering
High school age and up, ladies, this is for you! Registration is open now, and this is not something you want to miss out on or forget about... trust me. Reach out to a leader or the AYC Instagram (alivewsfc) if you have any questions!
- July 6th-10th: SUMMER CAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How many "!" can I fit? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you've been to camp, you know; if you haven't, then this is your year to find out! Registration will open in the coming months, but I want you to start planning, praying, and getting excited NOW. Summer camp is easily the best week of the summer, and you know what... I'll just say it, it's officially the best week of the whole year. So... I'll see you at the lake this summer, July 6-10!
Here's something to think about this week,
Planted Seeds I Didn't Even Know Were Growing
Lately, I’ve been consumed by the idea of consistency.
Not just the importance of it, but the power of it.
I like to joke that I’m not really good at anything, but almost okay at everything.
(Read that again. But slower.)
I’m not the best athlete.
Not the smartest in the room.
Not the most gifted.
But in the things I’m truly not good at, like really not good, I think I can at least be consistent.
And honestly, that might matter more than we think.
Take school. The battle isn’t all about brilliance, it’s about showing up. Being there. Getting the participation points. The people who succeed long-term aren’t always the most talented, just the ones who didn’t quit showing up.
Working out is the same way. You don’t see results after one day. Or two. Or three. You don’t walk into the gym and walk out transformed. But give it time, and begin to see change.
Sports. Hobbies. Games. Skills.
None of them rewards intensity alone.
They reward consistency over time.
We all know this.
But where this idea has really grabbed me is in relationships.
Because consistency in relationships doesn’t sound impressive. It doesn’t feel exciting. It doesn’t make for great stories. No one brags about being predictable.
But consistency is what builds trust.
Relationships aren’t built in big moments. They’re built in small ones that are repeated. The check-in text. The follow-ups. The showing up when it’s inconvenient. The staying present when it would be easier to fade out.
Anyone can arrive when it's convenient.
Anyone can be available when it’s fun.
Anyone can show up when they’re getting something out of it.
But trust is formed when people know what version of you they’re getting tomorrow.
And if we’re honest, most relationships don’t fall apart because of one big moment. They slowly erode because of inconsistency. Hot one week, cold the next. All in, then gone.
Friendships are sustained by it.
Families depend on it.
Teams thrive because of it.
And love requires it.
It’s choosing to be reliable in a world addicted to flakiness.
And here’s the thing: Consistency doesn’t require you to be exceptional or awesome. It only asks you to be intentional.
You don't have to be perfect, say all the right things, do the right things, or be something you aren't.
Show up, keep showing up, and watch your relationships flourish.
And I’ll end with this last thought.
I’ve been thinking back to my relationships at church, to some of my closest friends, family, and peers.
Growing up, I was always at youth group. And I’ll be honest, there were times I felt like it wasn’t benefiting me at all. I questioned why I kept going. I wondered if my time could be better spent somewhere else. There were nights I showed up out of habit, not because I wanted to. Didn't expect this from your youth pastor, did you?
And listen, students, sometimes you won’t hear the magical words at AYC that instantly change your life. Sometimes it won’t be the most fun night. Sometimes the game flops. Sometimes you don’t like the food. And sometimes you start questioning the value of showing up at all.
I know I did.
But now, looking back, I realize something. The value wasn’t always in the moment, it was in the consistency. It was in the relationships that were quietly built over time by simply being there.
Those people were there when things got harder.
They were there when I left for college.
They were there when I came back home.
None of that happened by accident. It happened because of showing up, week after week, even when it didn’t feel significant. Consistency planted seeds I didn’t even know were growing.
So if you’re questioning whether it matters, if it feels ordinary or repetitive, don’t underestimate what God can build through your faithfulness. You may not feel the impact right now, but one day, you’ll look back and realize that the most meaningful things in your life were formed in moments that felt small.
Because sometimes the greatest change doesn’t come from a single night that changes everything, but from a thousand ordinary nights where you chose to show up.
Keep close to Jesus this week, Alive Youth Church.
-Isaac Fehlen
Youth Pastor
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