Friends of
Ethan
1 Thessalonians 5:11, John 13:35Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. This is how the world will know you are my disciples: by the way you love one another.
Aiven
Fair Radiance
1/1/24
This past year, it’s been tough to find things to be grateful for. But one thing that isn’t hard to see is how grateful I am that I get to have you in my life :)
In every low, when I feel like I just can’t push on anymore, you’ve been there. Whether it’s helping me make life-altering decisions over pieology, or taking me along with you to spend time in nature, or just sending me a verse throughout my day- it is impossible for you to ever fully know how much your love and companionship has helped me get through this year, and I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that. Though Jesus has felt far from me in many, many ways, he has felt near through the love he shows me through you. I know there have been times when I pull away and chose to walk alone… honestly, I think it’s because it’s been hard to be around fellowship at certain points through this year… but again, aiven, I am so so so grateful for the cousin, friend, and brother you have been to me :) I can’t wait to make a million more memories this year!
8/11/24
Aiven, your steadiness as a spiritual brother throughout these recent years is one of the most convicting and inspiring things in my life. The evidence of your love for God’s word is overwhelming, and when you speak, more often than not, the truth of his word spills all over into the people around you. Words of love and life and encouragement and grace. You are truly the fulfillment of Matthew 5:14 ”You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.“ Whenever I look at you, I just see light. And it’s impossible to not see it :)
Alixandra
Defender of the People
8/11/24
Lexi, I love you. I butt heads with you more than any one of my close friends, and often, it’s because we’re both so opinionated and stubborn in how we want things to be. But you sharpen me in ways no one ever has. Because of you, I’ve had to learn how to let humility and love lead my actions when it isn’t easy, and you’ve shown me so much grace and love on this journey. I physically can’t see you without my heart welling up with joy. And I know I’m not alone in that.
Holden
Willing, Quiet, Gracious, From the hollow in the valley.
8/11/24
Holden. Service, discipline, generosity, sacrifice, gentleness, humor, kindness, honesty, intelligence, reliability, thoughtfulness, sleep-deprived; these are all words that I’ve come to learn as synonymous with your name. And the list goes on. You inspire me to consistently better myself, and you always make sure nobody ever feels left out of anything. I can only hope and pray that, when I become an old man like you, I have the same attributes you have, to the degree that you have them now. I’m so honored to call you my friend.
Mia
Beloved, Dear, Star of the sea
8/11/24
Mia (pronounced Mee-Uh) Words cannot express the gratefulness I have for the fact that you came up to me at that YA pool party night. It blows my mind how our lives have been repeatedly crossing paths, until finally the intersection came where those paths merged into one. You are just a bundle of joy. You bring so much life into every room you enter, and I can honestly say that our friend group would feel totally off balance and missing a certain dynamic if you were not in it. And not just our group, but my life as well. You coming into my life was the first moment I realized that God was actually actively answering my prayers, and I’m never going to forget that.
Jagg
Sharp And Brave
8/11/24
Jagg, you are my brother. I’ll always remember that life group session where you showed up and didn’t tell me you had joined- I literally was skipping with the joy and excitement from how much I had missed having you there. You’ve been such a secure place for me to confide in. I’ve only ever walked away from a conversation with you feeling blessed and encouraged. I can’t think of anything I wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing with you. Which speaks volumes to the kind of person you are. I genuinely would trust you with my life. And every bit of that trust is earned.
Madeleine
Woman of Strength
8/11/24
Maddie. Oh Maddie. The impact you’ve had on my life is… more than my words are capable of conveying. When I love, I love hard. You know this. I’ve made many friends in my life. But I’ve also lost many people I’ve loved. I was so used to watching people I love walk out of my life. And then I met you. You were the first person in my life to ever make me question the idea that I wasn’t worth fighting for. When we went through our rough waters, you stayed close, even when I didn’t make it easy. You fought for our friendship. I am so filled with gratitude with that, and I will cherish our friendship forever.
Alissa
Logical, Noble, Joy
8/11/24
Alissa, in the comparatively short time I’ve known you, we’ve got to experience some pretty interesting moments together. Not just that recent thing, but like- the first time we really hung out being at a trampoline park of all places (and seeing you spring off every person who challenged you). Watching you pick up trash in a parking lot. Listening to you talk about apologetics and reading the poetry you’ve written. Discussing gender roles and careers with you- in all that I’ve gathered, I see a woman who is just so incredibly involved with life, it’s amazing. Your worldviews and your passion are so genuinely refreshing, and at a time when I needed gentleness as honesty, you gave both with such a level discretion and consideration that it set the standard for how I expect myself to handle similar situations in the future. And to top it all off, you’re fun. Which is a trait which is rapidly going extinct in this culture.
Bella
Devoted to God, Beautiful
8/11/24
Ew Bella, you’re literally my frenemy. Half the time I look at you, I catch you making a disgusted face at someone, or laughing at someone, or… laughing at me… and you have this really strong ability to make me feel insecure about literally anything I’m doing, BUT- you’re real. Maybe one of the most raw, real people I’ve ever met. I know that when I’m with you, what I see is what I get. There’s no guessing, or trying to read you, you’re just real. And while I know for a fact I annoy you a decent amount of the time… I’ve actually grown quite fond of your company.
Trent
Tresspasser, Strongly flooding
8/11/24
Trent Norkus. “What an odd name”, I thought to myself as I got comfortable in my first ever life group session. Little did I know I was about to make a lifelong friend. Trent- you have this amazing gift of making people feel seen. The amount of times I’ve forced myself to go to RPYA and just kind adrift through, then suddenly hear my name being yelled across the room and get met with a hug… it’s more than I could keep track of. When I think of how the church is supposed to be like, I think of you. Warm, loving, and joyful. Don’t ever let that go away.
Aaran
mountain of strength
8/11/24
Aaran, hearing bits of your story during our recent trip was so encouraging for me. We’ve known each other for like- exactly a week, so I don’t have that much to say yet, BUT I will say that in the short conversation we did have, I already can tell we’re going to become good friends. You have a heart for people, and your awareness of them and their needs. People in our generation know how to talk, but very few know how to listen. You listen, and you listen well. We need that.
Jonah
Dove, Peaceful being, a gift from God
8/11/24
Jonah, you believe in my dreams. And when you talk about them with me, you talk as if they’re already real. For someone who wants to change the entire world, you have no idea how impactful that kind of belief is. You’re filled with wonder, and have such a bright beautiful spirit in you. You know how to play and laugh and get others to laugh, and - even though it might get some strange looks from some people (like Bella), you’re unashamedly yourself. When a person is true to themselves, it silently gives permission to everyone else to do the same.
Leah
Delicate, Weary, one who labors in obscurity
8/11/24
Leah, I want to start by saying that I wish we had become friends sooner, but hey- I’m sure there’s a reason we weren’t. You remind me of Mother Teresa. A woman who just selflessly loves and gives and gives and gives and loves some more. I wish more people in this world had the heart that you have, because I think the world would be a much kinder place if that were the case. You love the world the God made, and it shows. I hope that the more we spend time together, the more that would rub off on me :)