Churches and Faith Communities as Third Places/ Third Place Stories
Did I find God here? A six-year old migrant from El Salvador. Did I find God here? A First generation-graduate. Did I find God here? A young woman. Did I find God here? A Latina woman. Did I find God here? A young-immigrant-Latina-woman, first generation graduate. Did I find God here? All wrapped into one identity. Each chapter, each label, has pointed me towards the God of the marginalized. The God of the in-between spaces. The God of the First generation youth. The sons and daughters of migrant parents. To serve the youth at my parish who one day without knowing, society will have already labeled them without getting to know their stories. The stories that have shaped their identity of who they are and who they will become just how they’ve shaped my story growing up. Youth ministry is where I found God face to face. I found God in the stories of the youth who share their culture, hopes, and dreams. Without judgement. Without condemnation. Without feeling labeled. Without societal masks. They are vulnerable and open to God. I asked myself how can they be so open, after all these labels being brought upon them unconsciously? But, then I remember they are only teenagers who have no idea of any of these labels.. At least not yet. So, my story is this: to enter into the kingdom of God, one must become like a child: open, vulnerable, and trusting. The youth have taught me this. They are not only my mission but instead they are my example. They remind me not to hide. Not to fear. Not to be defined by what the world says. Youth ministry, my safe space. Did I find God here? Yes, in every story, in every silence, in every shared in-between moment. I encountered the risen Christ.
-Katerin De La O Lara