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Living
and Serving in God’s City
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by Mark Petritsch
Detroit used
to be the furthest thing from my mind. Before coming, I couldn’t even imagine
living and serving here for a year of my life. I couldn’t fathom living
with religious brothers and working with inner-city kids. And yet I have
been serving here since September 2012 and finished with the Detroit
Summer Outreach program.
Before arriving
in the Motor City, my relationship with God wasn’t very good. I hadn’t
fully given God a chance. I grew up in a Christian family in New Jersey
with good and faith-filled parents. I always knew God was real but I was
more concerned about how I could get blessed than how I could bless others.
I was selfish and I wasn’t ready to sacrifice everything for God.
One day around
last June, I received a text from one of my youth leaders telling me about
a program called Standing in the Gap and encouraging me to apply for it.
Following his good advice, I applied and got placed in Detroit: probably
the last place I wanted to go. However, God had a plan and when I look
back I realize that this year has been amazing and I’ve received many blessings
from the Lord. I’ve learned a lot, but I’ve also realized that I have so
much more to learn.
Detroit used
to be the furthest thing from my mind. And now it has a special place in
my heart. I’m living and serving in God’s city…and I wouldn’t want
to be anywhere else. God sought after me – I didn’t seek after Him.
And now I know my need for God and the importance of having a relationship
with Him! What a great adventure the life He has for us!
[Mark
Petritsch grew up in the The People of Hope community in New Jersey, USA.
He did a GAP year serving with YouthWorks-Detroit
between August 2012 and July 2013. He is currently a student participating
in University Christian Outreach (UCO) in Lansing, Michigan, and participating
in a UCO men’s household.]
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