Even with heatwaves and wildfires, World Cup fever, and U.S. 250th celebrations behind us, it still feels like the dog days of summer. However, the Christian Service Brigade National Headquarters and field staff, along with volunteer Unit leaders across the country, are gearing up for a new and exciting ministry year! In my personal devotions recently, I was reading 2 Corinthians 3 about the glory of God revealing Himself in Old Testament times, and how it pales in comparison to the glory of Christ revealed to us. And more exciting, in verse 18, is how we, as Christ followers, are reflecting His glory. Not in ways that diminish, but in ways that are increasing. From glory to even greater glory! This is the beautiful process of discipleship. We are guiding boys, and very soon girls, into the journey of surrendering and following Christ. As we help leaders across this country do that, they grow in Christ’s likeness, reflecting God’s goodness to a world that desperately needs it. We are “Building a Godly Generation for Tomorrow!” With the help of so many faithful donors, our dedicated board, and our committed staff, we have successfully increased our sustainability and organizational structure and function over this past ministry year. We’ve begun this new ministry year with a renewed focus to build upon that success to grow and to serve in greater degrees. Christian Service Brigade is not slowing down; we’ve hit a new stride and we’re progressing from ‘glory to glory,’ and it’s all for the Lord’s Kingdom and glory! As we reach more church leaders sharing the opportunity Brigade provides them towards activating the adults in the congregations towards discipling and fulfilling the Great Commission, and as we encourage, equip, and train CSB Unit leaders in taking progressive steps in executing more pieces of The Full Brigade Experience, and as we officially launch our new same-gender intergenerational discipleship program for girls (read a word from our Wildflowers Committee Chairwoman below), I am asking you to pray for us. We do not fret or look for the devil behind every leaf, but we are also not ignorant of his schemes. As Christian Service Brigade renews its resolve to build God’s Kingdom and build an even greater discipleship movement, our enemy is not happy. Pray for continued unity, sustainability, fortitude, and renewed energy amongst our staff, our board, and the amazing Unit leaders across the country. In His service, Michael O’Hara CSB President |
by: Heather Mattiuzzo, Wildflowers Chair
There is something uniquely beautiful about a wildflower.
Wildflowers don’t only grow in perfectly tended gardens. They grow along roadsides and across open fields. They push through rocky soil, withstand changing weather, and take root in places where you might not expect something beautiful to grow at all. They are delicate and beautiful, but they are also remarkably resilient. And perhaps one of the things I love most about wildflowers is that they aren’t all the same. Different varieties flourish in different places, bloom in different seasons, and display their own colors and characteristics. Each was created with a purpose, and there is something especially beautiful about seeing a field filled with all of them together.
That picture has become increasingly meaningful to me as we prepare to launch Wildflowers, Christian Service Brigade’s new discipleship program for girls in grades 3–6. Our girls are growing up in a world that is constantly trying to tell them who they should be, what they should value, and where their identity should come from. We want Wildflowers to give the local church another place to speak something much stronger into their lives:
God created you intentionally. Your identity is rooted in Christ. And He is shaping you into the woman He created you to be.
That doesn’t happen overnight. Strong wildflowers need deep roots. In the same way, we want to help girls establish roots in God’s Word while they are young. We want them to know Scripture, understand who they are in Christ, develop Christlike character, learn practical skills, build relationships with godly women, and discover that following Jesus influences every part of their lives.
And as those roots deepen, something beautiful begins to happen. 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”
From one degree of glory to another.
I love that picture of spiritual formation because it reminds us that becoming more like Jesus is a process. We aren’t asking girls to arrive at Wildflowers already knowing all the answers or displaying perfect character. We are creating a place where they can grow. Week by week. Truth by truth. Experience by experience.
Our prayer is that the roots established in these formative years will grow deep enough to help them remain strong wherever life takes them and wherever God chooses to plant them. And through all of it, we want our girls to understand that becoming the woman God created them to be doesn’t mean becoming like everyone else. Just as a field of wildflowers is beautiful because of the uniqueness of every bloom, God has intentionally created each girl with her own gifts, personality, story, and purpose.
Our calling is to help her become more like Jesus as she grows into exactly who He created her to be. That is the heart behind Wildflowers. We want to see girls rooted deeply in Christ, growing in character, resilient in their faith, and ready to bloom wherever God plants them. And I cannot wait to see the beautiful field God grows
