I recently preached during the chapel service at Clairmont Place. I planned to talk about faith, and I started preparing by turning to a piece of scripture that I would categorize in the “greatest hits” of what the Bible tells us about faith. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Yet, it was the preceding verse, Hebrews 10:39, that caught my attention. It reads, “But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost but among those who have faith and so preserve our souls.” This verse isn’t quite as familiar. It’s not typically cross-stitched on pillows or written in beautiful script and framed. I think a reading of this verse could be taken down various paths, including reflection on what comes after this life. But I’ve been reading this scripture and applying it to the present moment. The reality is, most days my soul feels like it could use some preservation. I’d imagine that many of you are feeling the same way.
Lately, I’ve been listening to “Up First with NPR” in the mornings on my drive to work. On one hand, I appreciate staying informed this way, as I’m trying to limit the time I spend scrolling on my phone. On the other hand, I start my day with what typically feels like 15 minutes of bad news. By the time I get to work, I’m anxious about all that’s happening in the world, all the harm being done, all the news stories that fill me with fear. The constant influx of bad news that comes through our screens, our conversations, seemingly everywhere we look, can batter the soul.
It’s a difficult balance, because staying engaged with what’s happening in the world is important. I believe that as Christians, we’re called to care for the physical and material conditions of others as part of Christ’s commandment to love God and love our neighbor. If Christ calls us to work to bring about the kingdom of God, then I believe that we must advocate for the marginalized and work so that our neighbors are not lacking in basic needs. To be part of that work, we must be tuned in to what’s going on in the world, but staying attuned often leaves my soul feeling battered. I walk into work after listening to “Up First” and feel hopeless, anxious, and genuinely fearful.
This verse in Hebrews, though, seems to speak directly to these kinds of feelings. The first part of the verse 10:39 says, “But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost…” Another translation says, “But we aren’t the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed.” Despite all the things in the world that leave our souls feeling battered and make us want to timidly draw back, holding on to faith preserves our souls. I’ve learned so much over the past year from the young people at Glenn, including a great deal about faith and hope. I’m so fortunate to work with college students and young adults who encourage me and remind me of both the good that is and the good that is to come. I’ll share a story that I hope will offer encouragement to others in the Glenn community and beyond.
Emily is a sophomore at Emory College. Her father is a United Methodist pastor, so she was very familiar with the importance of a Wesley Foundation or Fellowship in the life of a college student. When she came to Emory in 2024, she was eager to join Wesley to make friends and continue to engage with her faith during the transition from high school to college. She was shocked to find out that there was no Wesley Fellowship at Emory, despite Emory’s Methodist roots. Still, Emily was committed to prioritizing her faith, and she began attending worship at Glenn on Sunday mornings, sitting in the back of the sanctuary by herself. She told me that going to a worship service that felt so much like home grounded her during a season where almost everything in her life had changed.
By the time I started working at Glenn, Emily had been worshipping at Glenn alone for most of her freshman year. We got to know each other, and when it became clear that we were moving toward establishing Wesley Fellowship, she was thrilled. Emily has been my right-hand-man over the past few months, helping me think through ideas and logistics as we prepare to launch Wesley. She has been hopeful and patient for a year and a half, holding on to faith that the community she craved would come to be. Now, Emily is working to lay the groundwork for a ministry that will welcome students with open arms.
Emily’s faithfulness calls me back to our verse from Hebrews: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” When Emily first came to Glenn, she didn’t find opportunities specifically for college students. She didn’t see the kind of community that she hoped to find, but she had a conviction that something was coming that would be worth waiting for. And now, a year and a half later, that community that she couldn’t see is being realized with the establishment of Emory Wesley Fellowship.
I’m sharing this story about Emily because I find so much hope and encouragement in her faith. I hope that reading those stories encourages you, too. It’s easy to look around and wonder what is happening to the “capital-c Church.” We’ve all seen statistics about declining attendance and the lack of faith engagement for millennials and Gen Z, but I can attest that God is doing a new and beautiful thing with young people at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. There is life and energy and goodness and love here among these students and young adults. There’s no other explanation for the explosion of the young adult ministry over the past several months than the work of God.
In Isaiah 43:19, God promises the exiled Israelites: “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” I can tell you first-hand that God is doing a new thing, and I invite you to perceive it. The work of the Spirit is on display in the lives of these young people and the community they’re creating. Thanks be to God for such a wonderful gift.
Peace,
Sutton