STEP: STudent Ecumenical Partnership

Are you a real friend?

Trayce Stewart The most important friend and advocate is one that many young adults run from as soon as they are out own their own. It's not our childhood best friend. In fact, it's not even our parents. He has many names but in the book of Isaiah he is affectionately known as "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting and the Prince of Peace". Simply, he can be called Jesus.

So many of my friends at school grew up going to church every Sunday and several times during the week for special meetings, rehearsals, and studies. Now, they will take the longest route to get to their final destination to avoid setting foot on church property or the college chapel. What is it that sparks this change that causes young adults to hide from the arc of safety? After asking several people the top three reasons are: not wanting to get up early, not sure if it's worth it, and they don't need God right now.

All three of these reasons keep individuals from having that peace that can only come from knowing God (especially during mid-terms and finals). If you call yourself a real friend you will do everything in your power to show them that their notions are wrong. The U.S Department of Transportation came up with the slogan "friends don't let friends drive drunk". As Christians we ought to have our own phrase: "friends don't let friends fall by the wayside".

Many of us know the Great Commission set forth by Jesus in the twenty-eighth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. "Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We have been given that task, and we must not take it lightly. Before we can reach the masses and do great things, we must first start with those people we encounter on an everyday basis. Start with your friends. You don't have to preach to them everyday. Rather let your life be your loudest testimony. Regardless of circumstances we should strive for excellence. Once others see that a relationship with the Lord is important they may be inclined to make a change themselves. It's time for kingdom building.

Trayce's previous stories:

Trayce Stewart is in her second year on the Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) Leadership Team and is a member of Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland.



		Are you a real friend? The most important friend and advocate is one that many young adults run from as soon as they are out own their own. It's not our childhood best friend. In fact, it's not even our parents. He has many names but in the book of Isaiah he is affectionately known as "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting and the Prince of Peace". Simply, he can be called Jesus. So many of my friends at school grew up going to church every Sunday and several times during the week for special meetings, rehearsals, and studies. Now, they will take the longest route to get to their final destination to avoid setting foot on church property or the college chapel. What is it that sparks this change that causes young adults to hide from the arc of safety? After asking several people the top three reasons are: not wanting to get up early, not sure if it's worth it, and they don't need God right now. All three of these reasons keep individuals from having that peace that can only come from knowing God (especially during mid-terms and finals). If you call yourself a real friend you will do everything in your power to show them that their notions are wrong. The U.S Department of Transportation came up with the slogan "friends don't let friends drive drunk". As Christians we ought to have our own phrase: "friends don't let friends fall by the wayside". Many of us know the Great Commission set forth by Jesus in the twenty-eighth chapter of the Gospel according to Matthew. "Go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." We have been given that task, and we must not take it lightly. Before we can reach the masses and do great things, we must first start with those people we encounter on an everyday basis. Start with your friends. You don't have to preach to them everyday. Rather let your life be your loudest testimony. Regardless of circumstances we should strive for excellence. Once others see that a relationship with the Lord is important they may be inclined to make a change themselves. It's time for kingdom building. Trayce's previous stories: Come to the Feast Celebrate? Trayce Stewart is in her second year on the Student Ecumenical Partnership (STEP) Leadership Team and is a member of Bethany Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Cleveland.