The story of ENGAGE is the Father's heart reaching into the world. To participate in ENGAGE is to join the movement of the Father through His Son's Body, the Church. On a recent snowy Monday morning, I observed an encouraging example of the Father's heart on the move as I sat with Jon Rysewyk, Principal of Fulton High School.

I met with Jon specifically because ENGAGE pathway #28 establishes our goal to "Increase the number of people involved with our church's care and discipleship of orphans and at-risk youth." Jon's expression of his faith and leadership at Fulton High School demonstrates several key characteristics necessary to invest deeply in relationships with at-risk youth. First, the obstacles we face in reaching and caring for at-risk youth must be overcome by faith. Second, the relationships we build with at-risk youth must provide both support and challenge. Third, at-risk youth must be engaged in the places in which they live: the schools, the neighborhoods, and the organizations where they already have roots.

The Father's heart is on the move to reach at-risk youth. Fellowship Church, as His Body, has committed to join that movement. To do so, we must stretch beyond our comfort zone to extend our reach into the world of the next generation. To do so, we must ENGAGE.