Derrick Milner welcomes students back for the new year of 2026 and introduces a new series titled "Radical Life," which will explore the entire Gospel of Mark over several months.

Using the first eight verses of Mark 1, Derrick focuses on the "unexpected" nature of John the Baptist—an eccentric figure living in the wilderness who God chose to prepare the way for Jesus. He emphasizes that a radical life of faith requires three things: trusting God’s timing, recognizing that God uses unexpected people (regardless of their past or appearance), and maintaining an unexpected selflessness that points others toward Christ rather than oneself.

Derrick challenges the students to evaluate whether their own New Year's resolutions and daily schedules have left God out, urging them to choose selflessness and obedience over their own selfish plans.