I love social media.  It allows you to stay connected with people you care about even when they are far from you.  Gone are the days of having to wait to see pictures of those special moments. Today you can actually experience life with your family and friends as it is taking place. The newest superstar on the social media block is an photo sharing app called Instagram. If you haven't heard of it, it's a quick and simple way to capture moments in your life and post them on social media for others to see in an instant.

Every Wednesday at Metro Life Church people of all ages come to experience Words with Friends or WWF as we call it.  And while most churches experience a summer dip in attendance, our WWF nights continue to attract growing numbers.  Why? People want to connect.  People want to build meaningful relationships. We thought it would be neat to show you a few Instagrams of people who have plugged into WWF so that you could see the power of connection in their lives.

Accepting an invitation to attend church on Easter Sunday from their daughter's English teacher, the Garmin family is now loving the relationships they are building at WWF.  Lillie has connected with the youth at Hanging with Friends while her dad Bruce is being challenged "In the Cage" with the Goodfellas and her mom Elisa is enjoying the Womanity group "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands".  The entire family has made MLC part of their everyday life.  Click here to see their Instagram at our recent Family on the Fourth event.

Both Aisha and Hazel have been attending MLC for over a year but their friendship was  formed in a WWF small group.  As they put it, they have a relationship where they can share their hopes and strifes, encourage and pray for each other and most of all laugh while referring to each other as two coconuts brought together by God's love and MLC.  Today both ladies each lead a small group in the powerful Breaking Free Bible study at WWF. Click here to see their Instagram heading to a lunch with other MLC friends this past Saturday.

Ramani and his wife Grisel were dropping off their son at a local school in Doral when they drove past and noticed MLC for the first time.  They had been looking for a church near home and decided to give it a try. Since that initial visit, the entire family has plugged into WWF where Ramani is loving "In the Cage" and the small group connections he is making.  It was recently discovered that Ramani is a professional Salsa instructor and this Saturday he will be giving lessons for the second time immediately following our service.  Click here to see his Instagram of the first time he shared his gift of salsa dancing at MLC.

Life's not meant to be done alone and WWF provides a great opportunity to connect, build relationships and even use your gifts for others to enjoy.  We hope you join us tonight at 7 pm as we make more Instagram memories to be shared with family and friends.

Are you already attending WWF at Metro Life?  Let us know how it has impacted your life...

Today's blog is written by my son, Christopher Alessi who accompanied Metro Life Church's Infuz Youth Ministry to Camp Decision. 

It’s Monday morning at 5:45 A.M. I’m driving with my sisters and Michael Martinez in the car and the only light outside is coming from the oncoming headlights of other cars. “Did I really ask 120 youth, possibly 120 families, to be at church at 6 A.M.? What if some parents didn’t get the memo? What if half of our people are late? We’ll be late to camp! Oh man that would be the absolute worst way to get this week started.”

These were the thoughts flooding my head as I pulled onto 17^th street, with the church around the corner. As soon as my headlights hit the MLC Jamz side of Metro, all fear and doubt seemed to simply disappear. I saw 120 kids eager to get this week started. I saw 120 kids ready for an encounter, not just a bus ride.

As we pulled into camp you could sense the expectation rising in each bus: kids eager to experience something different, something real. By that Wednesday night, I could feel that God was doing something different with our kids this year. God continually reminded me that He is a God of the right now, a God who doesn’t need preparation. He is a God who was going to do something within this generation RIGHT NOW, not waiting until they are older.

Thursday night was here, the night where people expected miracles. As worship began, you could sense the true worshippers finding their identity as such. I could sense an understanding rising within this generation, an understanding of who God is and what He’s done. And because of that, who they are and what they can do.

And then it hit. The Spirit of God fell in that room of 1200 young people as if a blanket had been laid over the congregation. Suddenly, every young person in our group begins to make their way out of their seat, finding someone to pray for. As I walked by, I could hear God giving each young person the words to speak LIFE over every situation and individual.

The moving of the presence of God was so tangible that night as I sat and watched this generation on the move, on the prowl. As I began to pray over a few students myself, doubt started to creep its way into my Spirit. “Lord, you are having me pray some pretty hefty things over these kids. Is it realistic to think that what we are praying for will come to fruition in this youth group?”

And then it happened.

One of the older kids within Infuz came over to me, laughing and smiling in a way that almost seemed disrespectful to the moment of ministry going on before us. But he put his arm around me and said, “I finally get it Chris. I finally get that God wants to speak to me directly, and God wants to use ME!”

A lot more was said that night, but the realization of this young person really sums up this year’s Camp Decision experience for the young people of Metro Life Church.

This generation gets it. This generation finally understands that God wants to use them RIGHT NOW. Not only when they are older, but right now. They have found an answer that most college students are searching for. They understand God wants to use them, right where they’re at. They understand that every day, when their feet hit the floor, the enemy is trembling at what they can accomplish that very day.

This realization is not something only young people need to find. God wants to use YOU, right where you’re at. He wants to do something with you right now.

So take heart. Know a generation is rising up to take back all that the enemy has taken. They are a generation growing up with the “Take It Back” mentality.  This generation will be a force to be reckoned with.

Today's blog is written by David Roman who returned from a weeks missions trip to Nicaragua with Metro Life Church's Project Love Team.

“Sometimes there is nothing more exciting than an opportunity, and sometimes there is nothing more frightening than an opportunity.” Every morning we wake, we have the great privilege of deciding how we will choose to view the different opportunities that cross our path. Honestly, I wish I could say opportunities never scared me but the truth is they can, and at times they do. I have a feeling I’m not the only one, and once we all come to the place where we look at the opportunities at hand and choose to get excited about them, we just might live a courageous life.

Living a courageous life does not mean we have to pick up a long sword, throw on our kilts, jump on horses and dash into battle. That epic act of valor is actually sometimes simpler to perform because it easier to understand. I think living a courageous life means we live out the opportunities we have as bravely as we possible can in spite of danger or criticism or threat. I think that’s one of the many lessons I learn from Jesus when it comes to serving.

For certain, Jesus’ death on the cross is perhaps the most epic, most courageous thing ever performed or witnessed but it is not the only example in the life of Christ. Hours before He heads to the cross, in John chapter 13, Jesus takes the opportunity of a dinner party to show what courage looks like. Against the back drop of deception & betrayal and the end of His life, the bible says that Jesus decides to wash His disciple’s feet. Jesus places Himself in the position of a servant by performing the job of a slave.

The obvious question is WHY? Jesus is willing to die for His friends (for all humanity) in a few short hours, why isn’t that enough? Peter is so totally wrecked by this act of service that he missed, and sometimes we miss, the point: 

“The opportunity to show love does not always mean you have to die for someone else, sometimes it means you have to be willing to die to self.”

Jesus courageously chooses to humble himself not only to the danger of the cross but also to the danger of living a life filled with criticism and threat by choosing to become a servant. The opportunity to serve may not always seem glamorous or necessary but if a need presents itself how we respond, excitedly or scared, will determine the results we get.

Last week a group of young adults from Metro Life Church's Project Love, were given the chance to venture onto the mission field, die to self & serve in Nicaragua. We clothed many, served food to the hungry, used our construction skills to paint walls and repair electrical lines,  and even had the chance to wash the feet of a community of elderly people who have been abandoned. At first we were a little scared of washing feet, but our fear was overshadowed by the excitement of bringing joy and peace to hurting lives. Thanks to the prayers and generosity of our Church family who had our backs, we were all a part of this life changing opportunity to serve.

And you too can have the courage to serve. At the end of July, our Project Love Team heads out again to Cuba, this time to support and encourage local ministers at a Pastors conference, construct and repair a church’s roof, and with the partnership of our CIC Network (Churches in Covenant, Dallas, TX) purchase an automobile for our dear, courageous friend, Pastor Faustino. He will soon be able to easily travel across the island to support other pastors and churches. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated and give us the courage to serve, for though you may not be able to go, you can courageously serve by praying and sowing.