Thursday Nights | 6:30-8:00 PM | Snacks, Games, Music, Lesson and More! | Musicians Needed
Why Echo?
We are called echo because:
1. We are called to be echoes of Christ to the world. Although we are never going to be perfect, Christ calls us to be his hands and feet in the world, echoing his love, forgiveness and peace to those we interact with.
2. This life is an echo of heaven. We are living with an eternal mindset. This life is nothing compared to true life that we will experience after this brief life on this planet!
3. God will continue to echo through ua what he is trying to say to us. Our God speaks to us, and we are called to hear him and echo His words to the world around us in need of the clarity of His voice.
What are our goals at Echo?
E nthusiasm
We long to see a community full of enthusiastic Christians. Not just christians in name, or christians on sunday, but living breathing Christ centered lives. People who live with Christ at the front of their minds in everything they do. In breathing, in thinking, in talking, in walking, in watching tv, in playing sports, in joking with friends, in shopping, in eating.... we long to see passionate teens on FIRE with the Lord. we long to see people live like Jeremiah who says that the words of Christ are like a fire burning within him that he cannot hold in. We long to see people in love with Christ, in a place where they KNOW Him, not just about Him.
"When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master." - Acts 11:22
C hange
We are passionate about seeing lives changed. There is never a point in our lives that we will reach that we will not still continue to be at a point where we can be changed to be more like Christ. For some we become more like Him one babystep at a time, for others we get closer in leaps, but we know that Christ is able to take the dirtiest soul and wash it white as snow.
"As [John] preached he said, "The real action comes next: The star in this drama [Jesus], to whom I'm a mere stagehand, will change your life. I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out." -Mark 1:7
H umility
We long to see a community of people looking out for others more than themselves. True humility is not putting onself down all the time, but truly and sincerly looking out to build others up and encourage those around them. We long to see a group of teens who truly love one another, and most of all, whose eyes are fixed completely and solely on Christ.
"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things." -I Peter 3:8
O penness
"I want to be in the light, as you are in the light." This quote by DC talk describes a desire we have to walk in the light. If you shine a light into someone's soul, they can no longer hide things like they have their whole lives. If we have the light of Christ within us we cannot continune to hold darkness inside, and so we long to see hearts opened. We will never turn you away no matter what you share, and our ears are always open to listen, pray and help you.
"You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You're out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it." - Ephesians 5:8
