On October 16th of 2024 Jason Evert came to Church of the Resurrection to give two talks. Both of them truly astounded me, but especially the second one.

In the first talk he went into depth about high school relationships and the importance of finding the right partner. Instead of just giving pure statistics and information, he used real stories as examples. He shared about teens he had talked to and their inspiring stories. Through those I was able to think about my dating life and the importance of keeping chaste until I marry my future husband.

A major theme in his second talk was gender identity and navigating society’s views. Many people identify as transgender or non-binary. Even though they might think they are these identities, many of them regret the decisions they had made when they were 15 or 16, or perhaps even 12 when they had gotten surgeries. This truly made me heartbroken for many of the children whose parents consented to these kinds of things. These children were brainwashed with ideologies from such a young age that they thought that they should change so society would like them. This talk made me reflect on how to accompany those who might be suffering from this, and how to show them God’s love. He challenged the idea that people aren’t born into the right bodies, and instead suggested that they were born into the wrong culture, one that encourages conformity instead of celebrating individuality.

Through his talks I gained a new lens on how people viewed their lives. I reflected on how I can show God’s love and mercy to those who might be suffering, and how I can accompany them through their journeys. Evert’s messages inspired me to find a compassionate way to engage with others and show them God’s love while holding onto my own convictions.

I had read one of Jason’s books prior to meeting him, however hearing him speak in person deepened my understanding of these topics. I am grateful that I had this opportunity.