CU at the new Youth Hub

SEELEY LAKE – "I have a desire to create the opportunity for the kids to go 'What do I believe?'" said Bryce Smith, youth leader for Christ Unrivaled. "If this is it, then where does that take me?"

Bryce and his wife Stefanie are looking forward to welcoming area youth in grades six through 12 to the new Christ Unrivaled Youth Hub Wednesday nights from 6 – 8 p.m. in the basement of Faith Chapel, 3260 Highway 83. Their mission at the Youth Hub is for the youth of the community to learn their identity and what they believe through building relationships that will help them navigate the challenges of adolescence. They also want to inspire youth to serve and love others.

"If you believe truly God is there and you are establishing a relationship with a person instead of establishing a pattern of behavior with a religion, it changes your perspective on how you follow and what you believe you are doing," Bryce said. "I'm trying to show a heart of what I believe God is trying to say - you are valued, you are loved, you are special to God's kingdom and earth in general."

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Stefanie grew up in the Catholic Church. Bryce compared his church experience to a history class. Neither felt their experience held any power, changed or guided them into adulthood.

Bryce joined the Navy in 1998. It wasn't until 2014 that he married Stefanie.

The Navy required them to move a lot. They were attending a church in Arlington, Washington when they were saved.

"God was robbed of all His power and presence," Bryce said about he and Stefanie's faith in their youth. "God is a lot bigger than what I thought He was. If I believe that God is God, then it starts changing dynamics in how you think about Him, what He is capable of and what you believe He is doing."

After living in Arlington for only 11 months, the Navy moved them to Woodland, Washington in December 2014. Being new Christians who wanted to share their faith, they found a church and plugged in immediately. The Promise Church had about 85 members and was growing quickly.

"We kind of got jerked up so fast at the other place," Bryce said. "We just had this [feeling] like we want to be a part of this and see what God is doing with this church."

The Smiths volunteered with the children's ministry and quickly became leaders. They helped with special events, led weekly meetings and went on a mission trip to Belize. Within five years, the church had exploded to 500 members.

"The thing about a growth that fast for any church is you find that there are not as many volunteers as there are people that have things going on. It becomes really essential that everybody is on everything," Bryce said. "It kind of built in us a heart for kids."

After 20 years serving, Bryce retired from the Navy in 2018. In 2019, they moved to Whitehall, Montana to help his mother and continued to look for a place to call home.

Stefanie said they were interested in moving to a small community in the mountains that was close to family.

"Seeley Lake just kind of popped up on the radar and we were like okay, we are going to go there," Bryce said. "Some of it is just kind of a God thing."

They moved to Seeley in September 2020 and joined Faith Chapel. With no active middle and high school youth ministry going on in the community, the Smiths really wanted to start something. They want to provide a safe place to help adolescents successfully navigate this transitional stage in life through relationships with them, the volunteer team and a relationship with God.

"There is only one thing worse than doing something that you don't necessarily know what you are doing and that is doing nothing at all," Bryce said. "We just feel it is a way for God to have an impact."

Through a social time with food, games, worship and conversational message, the Smiths plan to share their faith and encourage the youth to explore what they believe while having a lot of fun. Bryce said they are not out to coerce anyone into a place of faith, instead it is more about an opportunity to explore what they believe.

"What I believe now is not what I grew up with," Bryce said. "I've come to a place where my belief system is definitely different than my parents."

Whether the youth consider themselves Christian or not, Bryce said there are a lot of things Christians believe that are applicable across society.

"It comes down to how do we treat their neighbor. Do we love our neighbor? And do we take care of our neighbor?" Bryce said. "You build community around those ideas of do we care about each other. Do I help somebody out when they need help right next door to me?"

"To most, missions is overseas but missions is out your door," Stefanie added. "It will change the world if there are kids raised knowing how much God loves them."

The Smiths named the new group "Christ Unrivaled" because it is a declaration of victory. They believe in what Christ achieved on the cross and the enemy is already under his feet.

"It is unrivaled. It is not something that death can take away," Bryce said. "Paul said 'To live is Christ and to die is gain,' either way I won. What He did on that cross has made me a victor."

The abbreviations C.U. is also significant. Bryce said in Luke 15 it talks about Jesus leaving the 99 sheep to find the one.

"It is about seeing you, the one, as an individual and as special and loved by God and recognizing that that one is worth it," Bryce said. "To get one kid to recognize their value in Christ and in life is worth it, it is worth that one."

It is a Youth Hub because it is "a center of motion.

"Out of it will spawn community and identity for other people beyond us," Smith said.

Bryce continued, "We don't know where they are coming from or what they believe or their life experiences. We just want to be there for them, even if we can't solve every problem. God promised to walk with us through it."

"I just want them to know they are loved," Stefanie added. "I want them to be on fire and change the community."

Wednesday, March 2 at 6 p.m. is the kick-off of the Christ Unrivaled Youth Hub. Come for pizza, games, worship and a message. For more information or to request a ride message "Christ Unrivaled" on Facebook or call Faith Chapel Pastor Gary Wayne 406-210-1221.