She is beautiful, but she was lost. She is precious, but she was hard. She thought she understood all there was to know about God, and she did not believe in any of it. Mack, a 17 year old atheist was brought to an Adventures Encounter in Appalachia by her mom and dad – a last ditch effort to reach their daughter and to let her experience God for herself.
To say she was out of her comfort zone would be an understatement. She thought the Adventures team, and the rest of the 76 participants were crazy. Certifiable is how she described us. What she did not expect was to see the world in a new light. She did not expect to see the pain and hurt of others and experience the overwhelming love of God lived out through everyday people. But that is what happened.
She saw a young woman made homeless by domestic violence find hope because people cared. She watched young kids find joy because someone took the time to stop and listen.
As the week moved on, as more and more stories of God’s love in action surrounded her, she found herself confused by all the things she thought she believed. Early on Thursday, in an intimate moment of worship, it all came crashing in.
Love slammed into her brokenness. Overwhelmed, she left the room, and just a few steps away she sat down on the porch. While the sound of rain hit the roof, she poured out her heart and gave her life to Jesus. There, in the beauty of God’s creation, she met the Creator of the Universe.
Each of us has a story. The Author and the Finisher of our faith is waiting to write yours. Come encounter your next chapter in Appalachia. What does God have waiting there for you?
