At IYC, our students experienced worship with thousands of their peers, powerful conversations about Jesus, and moments that challenged them to make faith a daily priority, not just a weekend event.

Earl gave his life to Jesus. Anthany is learning to let his love for God overflow into everything. Gracie discovered the power of serving others through simple acts like sharing pizza with the homeless. 

Each came back different, challenged to fight for intentional time with God and to share Jesus wherever they go. Thank you to everyone who supported this trip through fundraising, prayers, support, and encouragement. God is changing lives in our students!

Rebecca Rhoton shares her journey of following Jesus from childhood through various ministry contexts, from Spain to anti-trafficking work with Scarlet Hope. Her story beautifully illustrates how God faithfully leads us step by step, even when we cannot see the full picture. Throughout her life, Rebecca has learned that faith doesn't require having everything figured out, it simply requires trusting that God goes before us and will provide the direction we need for each season.

Bill Bruns and Mo Carpenter join us on the ML Podcast for Special Father's Day conversation about discipling their children and grandchildren. From the chaos of busy schedules to the intentional moments of prayer before bed, they remind us that our kids are watching everything, how we treat our spouse, how we handle stress, how we live out our faith daily.

The most powerful truth? You do not need to be perfect or have all the answers. You just need to be present, authentic, and willing to grow alongside your children. Whether you are a young parent or seasoned grandparent, this conversation will encourage you to pour into your family more than the world does.

We have the privilege of introducing our new interim pastor, Pastor Paul Strozier, through a special podcast conversation that gives us insight into his heart, his journey, and God's faithfulness in bringing him to us.

As we move forward together, let's remember that nothing can happen to us that God is not aware of, not in charge of, and will not work for our good. Our call is simply to trust His heart, even when we can't see His hand, and to be ready to say "yes" to whatever He has next.

Dylan's story reminds us that God never calls us away from His purpose for our lives. Even after walking away from ministry for years, he heard his calling, a Samuel moment that changed everything. "I never called you away from the calling I had for you," God said.

Your past does not disqualify you. Your weaknesses become the very place where Christ shines brightest. Whether you're in high school or navigating life's wilderness seasons, God is preparing you for a breakthrough. 

We are celebrating Dylan joining the Maiden Lane Staff as the Youth Pastor. He shares that the generation walking into the youth room is hungry for truth, ready for harvest, and desperate for authentic relationships with adults who will show up and pour into their lives.

Dylan reminds us to trust the process. Embrace the wilderness. You can only pour out what has been poured into you, so stay rooted in the Word, invite God into your day before your feet hit the ground, and watch Him transform your story into someone else's hope.

Listen in to a special episode of the ML Podcoast... Mother's Day edition!

This conversation with Maggie Byers, Megan Oyler, and Missy Potts illustrates what discipleship looks like in the trenches of everyday life.  The wisdom shared reminds us that discipleship happens around the dinner table, during car rides, and even while shopping. What stands out is the emphasis on consistency over perfection, and the powerful truth that our children and those we influence need to see us living out our faith, not just talking about it. Whether we are parenting toddlers or adult children or we are part of the village, the call remains the same: point people to Jesus through how we love, listen, and live.

The conversation with R.W. explored the transformative power of intentionality in our relationship with Jesus and with others. R.W. shared his personal journey, demonstrating how God can redeem our past and use it for His glory. Now serving as the Church of God Associate State Pastor, R.W. reminded us that our spiritual growth is not accidental, it requires deliberate choices to pursue Jesus daily, fill ourselves spiritually so we can pour into others, and never underestimate how God might use even our smallest interactions to draw people closer to Him.

What does it truly mean to follow Jesus in our everyday lives? The conversation with Jenna Potts reminds us that faith is not about having everything figured out or presenting a perfect version of ourselves. Instead, it's about choosing to say yes to Jesus each day, even when life gets messy and complicated. We discover that discipleship happens not in grand, dramatic moments, but in the small, consistent steps we take toward Christ. Our faith must be lived out loud through our actions, not just our words. Whether it is showing up when we would rather stay in bed, opening our Bible when it feels like a chore, or simply being present with others in an authentic relationship, these everyday choices build our faith.  This is an invitation to stop overcomplicating our spiritual journey and instead focus on intentional, relational discipleship that points others to Jesus through how we live, speak, and love.

Our conversation with Brian Tuttle invites us to consider what it truly means to live out our faith in the everyday spaces where we spend most of our time. We are reminded of the powerful truth that following Jesus is not just about Sunday mornings, but about carrying His presence into our workplaces, conversations, and daily interactions. We are challenged to see our workplaces as mission fields, where simple acts like offering to pray for someone or displaying Scripture can plant seeds of faith. The question becomes: Are we willing to say yes to living authentically as followers of Jesus, even when it requires courage? This is not about being perfect, but about being present with Christ and allowing His light to shine through us in the ordinary moments of life.

Evan Gabriel shares his powerful journey of surrendering the "I" and embracing God's unexpected plan. This powerful testimony reminds us that God's calling often comes when we least expect it, sometimes completely contrary to our own plans and aspirations. The central lesson revolves around removing the 'I' from our faith journey—shifting from 'I never considered this' to 'what does God want for me?' His story illustrates how God prepares us through seasons we don't understand at the time, only to reveal in hindsight that every experience, every challenge, every redirection was orchestrating our readiness for His purpose. Most compelling is the call to simply listen—to position ourselves in a posture of 'yes' to God's voice, because ignoring His direction doesn't make it go away; it only ensures we'll learn the hard way. Evan invites us to examine our own lives: What has God been preparing us for that we haven't yet recognized? Where is He calling us to step out in faith despite our feelings of inadequacy?