April 22nd, 2025Reflections on Youth Gatherings - Paul Peters
Youth Gathering Reflection
Paul Peters (CMU)
My life changed forever when I said yes to chaperoning a group of youth to a large inter-church gathering at the CMU chapel. The worship night was meant to be a follow-up for churches that had taken part in a local inner-city missions experience. At 20 years old, I had access to our family van and said I’d take a van full of youth that wanted to go.
At the end of the evening, one of the leaders came forward and asked if anyone in the room was interested and/or open to not only joining a group of young adults going to the DR Congo, but leading it. I sat in my chair, heart racing, wondering if this might be the first time I say YES to leading.
In my high school years, people around me often seemed to identify me as a “leader”, although I never formally pursued any position of leadership. I just didn’t see it. I steered clear of leadership through high school and 6 months of Capernwray. I had deep rooted fear, that to lead was a set up for failure, I was bound to disappoint, and would never be enough, this would only define me as a failure.
Fast forward, I’m back in this chair at a large youth gathering, my heart is racing. It’s now been made clear, that if a participant/leader isn’t found the team would cancel their trip. After a conversation with the leaders, meeting with my parents, and a pastor (all in less than 24 hrs), I decided to join the team as one of the leaders. One of the first times, I formally accepted a role of leadership.
This moment was life changing for me. For so many years I had run from any opportunity to lead, out of a belief that my obvious failure would lead me to be defined as a failure. But, for some reason I felt differently this time, I felt confident. My identity was not wrapped up in the title of leader, my identity was in trusting in God’s hand, to walk with, to guide, and to pick me up when I made a mistake. I was enough.
To this day, I would argue a relatively “insignificant” decision to go to a large youth gathering, and a significant impact on my life. Over the following years I would continue to take on different forms of leadership, and whenever I was afraid of failing I reminded myself, “this does not define me”. My identity is found in Christ, it is found in an ongoing pursuit of healing and reconciliation whenever I meet failure.
It's only in hindsight I can see the great significance in this experience, the opportunity for someone to recognize, and encourage me in my “gifts”. Coming into our Youth Gathering 2025, my hope is that participants and/or leaders might experience a new-found belief in their own gifts. That the courage to step into this community, will inspire them to further live into the unique being God created them to be. See you in July!
Paul Peters is on the planning committee for Youth Gathering 2025. He is Senior Development Associate at Canadian Mennonite College in Winnipeg, MB.
Registration for Youth Gathering 2025 is open. Join us this summer in celebrating the unique gifts that make up our community. For more information, please visit Youth Gathering 2025.