Encore!

Our book, Half Two, has “The Quest for a God-Honoring ENCORE” subtitle. 

As we’ve quickly discovered, encores can come almost before the quest gets rolling.

With the new year beginning, many of us faithfully consider resolutions that will hopefully put us on a better course in the year ahead.

We can make our plans,

But the Lord determines our steps.

Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)

As this verse underscores and as our pastor recently emphasized, we really have no idea how God is going to use us in 2026. Yes, we have prayed. Yes, we have some plans. But, oh, do we ever need flexibility and God’s guidance as we encounter the unexpected from day to day.

Even with our very short break from executive leadership, we have a very real ‘encore’ sense in this unexpected season. The Lord is giving fresh vision. It’s not enough to simply repeat the same songs we’ve been playing now for over eighteen years.

We want to continue learning, and we remain committed to eventually passing the leadership mantle.

Since re-accepting our leadership role in December, we’ve been hugely blessed by the prayers, consistency of monthly support, strong outpouring of year-end support—AND we have three new board members joining our leadership team.

Our board now includes Jessica Martinson, our youngest board member ever, a junior at Evangel University. What aspects of YES! resonate with her?

When I was in 7th grade, I felt that the Lord was calling me to minister to the elderly in vocational ministry. Receiving clarity regarding God's calling on my life gave me great joy. Although I was met with a lot of support from the Godly people in my life, I did not meet anyone who was close to me in age that shared my same enthusiasm for senior adult ministry. I love that YES! has such a strong emphasis on cross generational ministry. This emphasis of involving even younger generations in senior adult ministry resonates with me because I was so young when I felt called to senior ministry. 

Whether main concert or encore, may your New Year be blessed with a wonderful harmony of joy and purpose!