When people ask us to do things we are sometimes reluctant to say yes. We live in an era of guarding and protecting what little time we have. Self help books talk about “saying no” and evaluating whether something is a “good investment of our time”. As propositions arise, we ask questions about our time and energy, we think about our families and the sacrifices we might have to make and weigh the probability of failure. Why are we so ready to say no, when everything about our faith encourages us to say yes?

For over 2000 years, Christians tell the powerful story of Jesus Christ and his self-sacrifice and extreme love for us. God offered His only begotten son so that we could live, and His son said yes. Jesus’ journey was one of self discovery, friendship, service and victory. Our Lord and Savior said yes to not only his life being changed but to changing the lives of others for eternity.

At the time I said yes to Youth 2015, I really didn’t understand the magnitude of what I was saying yes to. My proverbial plate was full! I was in school, just started a new job and I had may roles in my local church as pastor’s wife. However, this felt right for me. The moment I arrived in Orlando, Florida for our first meeting as a design team, was like I was with family. As I looked around the room I saw God’s people representing many cultures, ethnicities and communities from around the world. It was heaven on earth…Holy Ground. Throughout the course of 2 years, I would make friends, that to this very day, I still hold very dear to my heart . As family sometimes does, we challenged each other, carried each other, aggravated each other, but most of all we loved each other. Our bond made planning an event for 2,000 young people an honor because we realized we weren’t just saying “yes” to planning an event, we were saying “yes” to building a community.

Saying yes isn’t easy. It may be the most difficult thing you have to do. You may also be saying yes to giving up your most precious asset, YOU. In the church, we are asked to do things that require our time, talent and resources; it’s our commitment to God and our faith community.

When we say yes to giving our hands and feet, we are also giving our heart and spirit. Giving ourselves also means revealing our flaws, imperfections, our mistakes and our vulnerabilities. It’s completely understandable why we are apprehensive. Maybe we should consider changing our perspective. Instead of asking what do we have to lose, we should ask, what do we have to gain? Everytime we commit we open the door to so much more than what we give away. Our yes means that we are open and available to the love that is waiting for us to receive from the other end.

YOUTH 2015 gave me more than I could ever have imagined! As minister of communications, I was able to hear countless stories from youth, directors and parents about their faith journey. Every moment I spent with the people of God reminded me of my call to serve. I was living my purpose. My yes allowed me to replace anxiety with the joy!

As we examine our own paths of self-sacrifice, let us remember how Jesus Christ said Yes for us. Whether you are asked to be a chaperone, make a donation, serve on the design team, or even a youth attending the event, say yes to the possibilities to love and be and be loved. Put it all on the line! I promise you if you do, you will never be the same.

Mrs. Sabrina N. Short is a ministry consultant specializing in community engagement and outreach. Mrs. Short has been recognized for her work with youth around social justice and youth-led community organizing. A former faith-based community organizer, she works closely with United Methodist Churches across the country and its national institutions advocating youth leadership in ministry, social justice and mission. She has over 15 years experience in the non-profit field, partnering with numerous organizations to serve disenfranchised communities.

Mrs. Short also served as national co-chair on the Youth 2015 Design Team for Young People Ministries. As an expert in her field, she designed and co-wrote a youth curriculum “Building Spiritual Muscle”, a 6 week group study on the practice of spiritual disciplines, published by Discipleship Ministries.