Truly Appreciative: 17/25

Dear Doug,

From the times spent going to lunch in the park after vacation bible school to the weeks at Synod School to the quick visits when we are both home, there has never been a time in my life that I haven’t had you as a friend. And I don’t know what I would do if I knew there might be a time where I didn’t. Thank you for your friendship

I could start writing about the countless crazy times we have had, but I wouldn’t know where to stop. Through all of those times, both fun and serious, you showed me how to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. Your drive, your passion, your confidence, your compassion, your generosity, your faith, and your friendship are all things I admire.

I am truly grateful to consider you my best friend. We haven’t live near one another for almost seven years, but it never feels like much has changed when we see one another. If that isn’t friendship, I don’t know what is.

Thank you for all you have done for me, my family, and my faith; I appreciate it more than this letter could ever say. God bless you.

Truly appreciative,

Brian J. Moles

__________________

Doug is my best friend. We attended church together from the time he was born until the time he went to college. I look up to him more than he knows.

Truly Appreciative 16/25

Dear Bruce,

I have been a Presbyterian my whole life. I was born into Central Presbyterian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana, where I attended and served for more than 24 years, and now attend and serve Second Presbyterian in Nashville, Tennessee. Being Presbyterian is part of who I am.

Throughout the course of this Presbyterian life, I have attended events at the local, Presbytery, Synod, and national levels. With each event came new understandings. With each new understanding came a new step in my faith journey.

Along the way, there have been many, many people who have helped me along the way, both knowingly and unknowingly. You are one of those people and I am grateful for that.

The presence you brought to the position of Moderator of the General Assembly had a striking effect on my journey. Your willingness to serve the world, to the best of your abilities, in the name of Jesus is amazing. I believe your understanding and acceptance that the youth are the current church, and not the future as it is too often said, helped drive mine and the younger generation of Presbyterians to cry out for a world built on peace, love, and forgiveness.

The PCUSA has presented me with opportunities that have helped form my morals, my passions, and my faith. Your leadership within the church has played a part in all of those things. Thank you for that.

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I led a group to the Presbyterian Youth Triennium this past summer and enjoyed hearing your sermon there. I look forward to hearing your message again, either in person, on Twitter, or on Facebook. Thank you, again, for your leadership.

Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

________________________

Bruce Reyes-Chow is the former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). He currently serves as the pastor at a church in San Francisco. He transformed the position of Moderator into one that identified the current state of the church, understood the youth and young adult movement, and revolutionized the social media world for persons of faith (i.e. brought it to the Presbyterian masses).

Truly Appreciative 15/25

Dear Keith,

I have attended many, many church events over my life. Some have been better than others, but they are all memorable. The time we spent together on the planning team at Montreat in 2004 was one of the most memorable for me.

I had never been to Montreat, so I was learning as the week went on, all while trying to act like I knew what I was doing. I had also never been in a true leadership role at such a large event before, so I was intimidated, but up for the challenge. With your guidance, I was able to find my place on our team and learn so much about myself.

I remember watching you prepare each morning and night, so jovial but also very focused. I remember how tired you seemed after each keynote. And I remember being proud that, in some small way, I had helped get your message out. Thank you for your words, your guidance, your respect, and your faith that week, and each week after.

The following summer, I started working with the youth group at my church in Indiana and have not stopped since. I have been in Nashville for three and a half years and my work with the youth at my church is the glue that keeps me in this city. Without our week at Montreat and without you there to show me how to lead, I’m not sure I would have found it within myself to be the leader I am able to be today. Thank you for your inspiration.

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. As I said, I have been in Nashville for more than three years now. I’m working as a Business Manager at The United Methodist Publishing House (Cokesbury) and spend many hours each week dedicated to the youth at Second Presbyterian. I also love attending Vanderbilt basketball games and playing ultimate frisbee and softball.

I appreciate all you have done for me, my faith, and the Presbyterian Church. You are a true disciple.

Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

___________________________

Keith Harris is a Presbyterian minister currently serving in Urbana, Illinois. He is famous in the Presbyterian church for his energizing leading abilities (YouTube energizers). He is famous to me for being an amazing man.

Truly Appreciative 14/25

Dear Aunt Barb & Uncle Jeff,

Throughout my childhood, my youth, and into adulthood, it's hard to think of better times than those spent with my family. The time spent in Grandma and Grandpa's living room, sitting around laughing for an entire afternoon or opening presents on Christmas morning in your basement are some of my fondest memories. But those times provided more than laughter.

The two of you showed me how to enjoy life, you showed me how to be generous, and you demonstrated the best work ethic I've ever seen. Most importantly though, you showed me what it meant to be a Christian servant to the world. You are both integral parts of my life and I can't thank you enough for all you've done.

I wrote this letter to both of you because for the majority of my life, I knew you as a unit. The timing of your divorce corresponded with my move to Nashville, so while I have heard very much about the goings-on, I have not been there to see it first hand as much as I would have prior to moving. I know we are all dealing with the change in our own ways, but it’s because of the things in this letter that I know we’re going to be okay.

If either of you ever need anything, you know you can always ask. Thanks for all you've done and all you'll continue to do. I hope I can return the generosity, laughter, and love. Thank you, thank you, thank you...


Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

___________________________

Aunt Barb is my father's sister. Uncle Jeff is her ex-husband. I moved to Nashville day after his father's funeral and the day before he moved out. They were unable to have children, so me and my siblings became their children. There was nothing we loved more when we were little than spending time with them. Though we have grown and our family has changed, they will always be two of my favorite people.

Truly Appreciative 13/25

Dear Annette, Erin, Katherine, Katie, Jennie, Madeline, and Trey,

Youth group has been one of my favorite things since I was in fourth grade. I got to attend youth group that young because Jeff was in sixth grade and my parents led the events. I never felt out of place because I had always been the young one in the group with Jeff, Michael Shaw, Cathy McLaren, and Chris Moulton. Then, after high school, I didn’t stop attending youth group. I was now the old one in the group with Sarah, Douglas Shaw, Amanda Green, and Ryan Giltner.

But then, I took a few years off. I didn’t have any of my good friends around in youth group and I had to focus more on college. In 2005, I decided that I was going to join you on the mission trip to Michigan. From that moment, I haven’t stopped working with the youth group at Central or at Second, here in Nashville.

From our trip to Michigan to our trip to Triennium in 2007, perfect bookends around my two years leading the Central Presbyterian youth group, I was able to grow as a Christian, a friend, and a leader. The seven of you were at the core of that experience and I am very grateful to each one of you.

Thank you for being willing to listen to someone only a handful of years older than you. Thank you for trusting me. And thank you for calling me out when I needed it (a strong point of the Cen. Pres. youth group). I would not be half the leader I am for my group at Second without the seven of you. And most of all, as we’ve all grown older, thank you for being my friends.

I often find myself comparing my current youth group members to you guys. You set the bar very high and I’m proud of that.

I hope this finds all of you well. I love Nashville and all it has to offer me at this stage in my life. If any of you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you know how to reach me. Thank you, many times over for your friendship; it is greatly appreciated.

Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

___________________

This letter says it all. These seven young men and women helped find my passion for youth work. They helped me grow as a person and in my faith. Their friendship means the world to me and I would literally do anything for any one of them.

Truly Appreciative 12/25

Dear Second Staff, Members, and Friends,

I spent the first 24 years of my life attending the same church. My mom was our Christian Education Director and my dad taught Sunday School and led our youth group. Church was my second home.

And then I moved to Nashville.

After moving to town, I initially considered finding a different church. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to handle a church that was so open with their love. I wasn’t sure if the God I knew approved of some of the things Second stood for.

And then I found my Second home in Nashville.

I can not imagine where my life would be today if it weren’t for the open hearts and minds of the people at Second Presbyterian. You have helped expand my world view, open my heart to love the way Jesus loved, and explore my budding passion for social justice. I am all the better because of the kind words and works of everyone at Second. Thank you.

The future may take me to another place in this world (I have no plans to go anywhere, don’t worry), but I am truly glad that I know I will always have a home in Nashville at Second Presbyterian. Thank you, all, for all you have done for me, my family, and my faith; I am forever grateful.

Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

“When we stop loving the people that Jesus will never stop loving,
we have lost the essence of our faith.”
-Tony Campolo

_____________________________

Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee is my current home church. I have attended regularly since I left my job at HH Gregg in November of 2008. I am a volunteer youth advisor and a member of the Youth Committee. Second has more passion for social justice than any group of people I have ever met or even heard about. Their ability to show love is truly extraordinary.

Truly Appreciative 11/25

Dear Central Staff, Members, and Friends,

Aside from my parents and grandparents homes, Central Presbyterian is probably the place where I have spent the most time. I was almost literally raised in and by the church. Central helped form my faith, has provided me countless opportunities, and been the source for many of my best friends. Thank you.

From John Chironna to David Perkins to Lant Davis, and from Francis Failing to Judy Lowder to Buck Brown, Jr., Central has had leaders within the church who have shown me what being a Christian means. These influences, along with hundreds of others, have certainly had an impact on the man I am today. Without my church family, I would not have the career I have, the relationships I have, and my passion for youth work.

My favorite worship service every year is the Christmas Eve service at Central. Coming home and seeing all of the people I grew up with makes me feel like a child again. I’m sure as life continues there will be many Christmas Eve’s spent elsewhere, but I will always look forward to returning home.

I hope this letter finds my church family well. It’s been three and a half years since I moved to Nashville, Tennessee, but that time has flown by. I am working as the Business Manager for Worship Resources at The United Methodist Publishing House. I am a volunteer youth advisor at my church, attend Vanderbilt basketball games, enjoy playing softball and ultimate frisbee, and root as hard as ever for my Cubbies.

Thank you, all, many, many times over for helping me grow as my life progressed. I look forward to seeing all of you soon.

Truly appreciative,



Brian J. Moles

“When we stop loving the people that Jesus will never stop loving,
we have lost the essence of our faith.”
-Tony Campolo

____________________________

Central Presbyterian Church in Terre Haute, Indiana is my home church. I attended and was a member from my birth until I moved to Nashville in August of 2007. Other than my parents, my grandparents, and my brother and sister, no one group has had a larger impact on my life than my church family at Central.