Not too long ago, the young adult group at Smoke Rise met at Mariah and my house  to talk about how the group has grown and changed over the past two years and what we envision for the future of the group. In that conversation, we talked about having a name for the group that would be more than an age description. So, for two weeks, we took recommendations from the group, a spreadsheet was crafted, and the time came to make a decision. A total of 24 names were submitted for consideration, which meant we had a lot of decisions ahead of us. In true March Madness fashion, a double elimination tournament was held to decide our new name. For 2.5 hours, a fierce competition, full of laughter as well as serious conversations, raged in our living room. Many excellent names did not survive the bracket, some unexpected upsets occurred, and one name emerged in the end: Mosaic.

Mosaics are beautiful works of art. Each work consists of many pieces, often of differing shapes and colors, that together create a specific image. Many historic cathedrals and churches contain mosaic works going back centuries and many more modern churches may have stained glass in a mosaic style or a mosaic image in a garden. I can even remember being asked to make my own mosaic at VBS when I was in elementary school! I am sure my creation did not compare to the classic loaves and fishes mosaic many Christians are familiar with, but it was my best attempt to bring shreds of multi-color paper together to create one image. Together, the individual pieces give their full, whole, beautiful self (torn or broken though they may be) to show a picture larger than the individual pieces.

Young adulthood is a time when individuals are finding their place in the world, finding their career, discovering more about themselves, and seeing how we, in our own unique way, will offer our gifts to the world. We all have our broken edges along with our rich hues and we want to have a place to be welcomed, to belong ,and to give. This is why “Mosaic” seems to be the perfect fit for us. We are committed to being a group where each person is welcome exactly as they are, and we recognize that we are on a journey to discover our place within the larger, more complex, and astonishingly amazing image that all followers of Christ seek to portray: the love of God. This group at Smoke Rise is one part of one community within the whole body of Christ. We are perhaps one scene within a larger mosaic, and we are a place where all can find their place as we all seek to follow in the way of Jesus.

Our Mosaic now meets every other week at Mariah’s and my house for Bible Study. We gather once a month for Coffee Boat, a time of fellowship at a local coffee shop, and for activities and outings every other month. We welcome any and all young adults to come and join us whenever you can and to be a part of this journey with us!

– Jeremiah Hamby, member of Mosaic