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By Joel Gordon, director, Love is Moving
Did you know that, with your help, the EFC supports a growing community of young-adult writers, artists, leaders and video-makers? Creative individuals and youth groups share their talent, stories, and Bible-based teaching through
Love Is Moving, a magazine, website and group of related EFC initiatives for young adults and their leaders.
While
Love Is Moving is designed by young adults and youth leaders, many parents and grandparents use the magazine to connect with their children and grandchildren. One grandparent told us that as they read, they highlight ideas in the magazine they can use to strike up faith-based conversations with their teenaged grandchildren. While the magazine is being used by adults to get a pulse on the insights and struggles of the next generation, some youth are seeing a dream come true through
Love Is Moving.
I’d like to tell you about Joseph.
I presented how students can use the arts to glorify God at a presentation in Oakville, Ont. earlier this year, part of the Today’s Teens conference put on by Youth Unlimited, an EFC affiliate. Joseph listened from the back.
Love Is Moving has been involved with the conference for several years, and this year we were happy to be a sponsor. The tone in the room changed when I mentioned that any student artist or writer could have the opportunity to share their work in
Love Is Moving magazine, even if they were a beginner.
Immediately after I mentioned this, a young man popped his head up from the back. I could see how curious he was. His eyes gave it away. It was Joseph. As a budding photographer, this was the first time that he was presented with an opportunity to share his God-given talents in a public way. He contacted me the following day, still amazed that his photos could be published in
Love Is Moving and reach thousands of readers across Canada. In addition, he was elated he could be one of four contributors to be compensated for their work in the magazine.
Most likely you’ve heard about Renegotiating Faith, the national research project conducted by the EFC and its partners to shed light on faith and identity formation in young adults (
www.RenegotiatingFaith.ca). What happened with Joseph is an example of what that research report says: “In our interviews with young adults, it was clear that the simple act of recognizing a young adult’s giftings and talents and encouraging them to consider a career that made use of these gifts had often set the trajectory of their life.”
We are seeing that truth come to life in the pages of
Love Is Moving magazine. We are praying God will continue to align Joseph’s heart, and all the youth who contribute to
Love Is Moving, with His will. A selection of Joseph’s photos are published in
Issue 33 (May/June 2019), and he is very grateful for this opportunity. In an enthusiastic email to us he described this as a “big step” for him. We extend his thanks forward to you, our supporters who make this life-changing work possible.
With support from the EFC’s generous donors,
Love Is Moving has built a Christ-centred communication platform that encourages youth to fully participate, not just as readers and consumers, but as artists and contributors.
Remember,
Love Is Moving is our name for a variety of youth and young adult initiatives, including the magazine (six issues per year), a related TV series and a Take Action video series that encourages youth to serve their communities. All of these initiatives are part of the EFC’s mission to bless Canada in the name of Jesus.
How you can be involved:
- Visit www.LoveIsMoving.ca/Our-Story to find out more.
- Download the new Love Is Moving app on your smartphone or device to keep up to date on the latest resources.
- Subscribe to the magazine, and gift a subscription to the young people in your life. Call us toll-free 1-866-302-3362.
Also in this issue: EFC Election Resources Are Ready; Developing a New Resource on Refugee Neighbours; Updating You on Canada’s Most Immediate Issues; Message From the President; Next Webinar: What Churches Can and Cannot Do During an Election; and more.