hirty-seven youth and sponsors returned from a week of intense spiritual growth and challenge to service last Sunday morning. The journey and the week of being away from home had tired their bodies, but their sprits were high. The Christ In Youth conference in Cleveland, Tennessee had been a life-changing experience for all and an eternity changing week for some. We praise the Lord for decisions to accept Christ and make Him Lord in a young life. It is also time to praise Him for very capable young people who have decided to give themselves to ministry in His name as their life's work. The sponsors who gave a week of their personal time to guide and escort the group worked hard, but were rewarded by the growth and decisions they witnessed and the lives that were changed because of Jesus. The generosity of those who support the youth and the hard work of the youth themselves have been rewarded by a harvest of souls and lives for God. We continue to try to bring young and old alike to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. No system or tradition is good enough. Only personally accepting the Sustainer of the Universe Himself saves. To that goal everything must be focused and everything is worth doing.

During worship Sunday we studied from the eighth chapter of Matthew where Jesus healed the centurion's servant. We learned some of the great qualities of the faith of the man Jesus helped. The centurion was a commander of men and was used to wielding power, so he saw in Christ real power. He also was not a Jew and knew that he did not have a strong connection with the god of the Jews and felt unworthy. He had supreme confidence in Jesus' ability to heal, even from afar. He cared enough about his servant to get out of his comfort zone and act on his faith. All these qualities and more were in an "outsider" of the group following Jesus at the time. This man's faith in action aided the healing of one he cared for and caused Jesus to marvel. We could learn from this "outsider".

With the return of our CIY folks, our camping season for the summer is drawing to a close. Youth workers get a small break before fall activities begin and we look ahead to another school year. Have you planned for your family's spiritual growth in the same way you will plan for their educational needs? We invite you to bring your family to a worship and Bible learning opportunity at Hillside. There are classes and activities for all ages and spiritual levels. We'd love to make room for you at Hillside Christian Church.