NLC Connect - Oct. 21, 2026

Last year, I learned something about myself.
Apparently, I don't handle missing Family Fun Night very well.
And in my defense, I had good reason.
I had spent weeks helping prepare for this event. Praying, coordinating volunteers, purchasing supplies, connecting with community partners, collecting candy, helping with setup, and making sure all the little details were coming together.
I had poured a lot of time, energy, and heart into this night.
There was just one small problem.
I wasn't going to be there.
Instead of spending the evening surrounded by excited kids, costumes, candy, and our incredible volunteers, I was in Pennsylvania for work.
Pennsylvania, friends--not exactly a quick drive back to New Life Community.
Now, I knew ahead of time that I would miss the event. I had made peace with it. Or at least I thought I had.
And then the pictures started coming in.
My sweet ladies from Bible study were sending me pictures of their kids dressed up in their costumes, along with messages saying, "Wish you were here!"
I know they meant well. I love them dearly.
BUT I ALREADY WISHED I WAS THERE!
And just when I thought I had accepted my fate, Pastor Brad called.
As soon as I stepped off the plane, he called to give me a live update on how Family Fun Night was going.
He was excited. Things were going great. Families were showing up. Everyone was having a wonderful time.
And he genuinely wanted me to feel like I was part of it.
It was such a thoughtful gesture.
It did not help.
Because now I had pictures AND a play-by-play of everything I was missing.
If there was ever a textbook example of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), I was living it.
But Here's What I Really Missed
As funny as it is to look back on now, there was something about missing that night that stuck with me.
It wasn't really about the costumes or the candy. Although, let's be clear, I do love both.
It was about the people.
One of my favorite things about serving at New Life Community is getting to be part of creating spaces where people feel like they belong.
I love watching people come together for something bigger than themselves. I love seeing volunteers use their gifts, sometimes in ways they never imagined they could. I love the conversations that happen when people feel welcomed and comfortable enough to let their guard down.
And I especially love those moments when we get to show someone that they matter, not because of what they can do or what they have to offer, but simply because they are loved by God.
That's what Family Fun Night means to me.
Sure, we spend a lot of time talking about candy, decorations, games, supplies, and volunteer schedules. And if you've been around me lately, you've probably heard more about Family Fun Night than you ever thought possible.
But behind every detail is a person.
Every volunteer who gives their time is helping create an experience for someone else.
Every bag of candy donated is a small act of generosity.
Every community partner who says yes is helping us extend our reach a little further.
And every family that walks onto our campus is an opportunity to make someone feel seen, welcomed, and loved.
That's the part I didn't want to miss.
Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us:
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together ... but encouraging one another." (NIV)
I love that Scripture doesn't just remind us to gather. It reminds us why we gather.
To encourage one another. To stir each other toward love. To be present in one another's lives.
And while Family Fun Night certainly isn't a replacement for gathering together in worship, I think it gives us another beautiful opportunity to live out that same heart.
We get to show up for each other.
We get to serve together, laugh together, and create memories together.
We get to welcome people who may be stepping onto our campus for the very first time, and hopefully help them feel like they're not strangers at all.
And sometimes, in the middle of handing out candy or helping a child find their way to the next activity, we get to be a small part of something God is doing in someone's life.
We may never even know the impact of those moments.
But that doesn't make them any less important.
So here we are, just days away from another Family Fun Night.
Once again, there have been prayers, phone calls, volunteer conversations, supply runs, candy collections, and plenty of little details to work through.
And once again, I am so grateful for every single person who has helped make this night possible.
But this year, there's one very important difference.
I actually get to be there!
No Pennsylvania. No pictures from afar. No live updates from Pastor Brad. (Although, Pastor Brad, I really did appreciate the effort.)
I get to be right in the middle of it.
And I can't wait.
Not because I expect everything to go perfectly. If you've ever helped with an event this size, you know better than that.
But because I know that somewhere in the middle of all the noise, laughter, costumes, and candy, there will be moments that remind us why we do this.
A child who feels special.
A parent who feels welcomed.
A volunteer who discovers the joy of serving.
A conversation that turns into a connection.
A family who realizes there might just be a place for them here.
Those are the moments worth showing up for.
And that's my encouragement to you this week.
If you've been thinking about coming to Family Fun Night, come.
If you've been wondering whether inviting a neighbor or friend would make a difference, invite them.
If you're volunteering, thank you. What you're doing matters, even if your part seems small.
And if you can't be there, please know that your prayers, encouragement, and support matter, too. I learned firsthand last year that you can still be part of something meaningful even when you can't physically be there.
But if you can be there, I hope you will.
Because there's something special about experiencing the joy of community together.
And take it from someone who spent last year's Family Fun Night in Pennsylvania...
The FOMO is real.
I'll see you at Family Fun Night.
And this year, you won't have to send me pictures.
I'll be taking some of my own.