Grit at SSYO

​Dear SSYO Family,

We hope this message finds you in good health & high spirits. Thank you all for your continued prayers, love & support. The amount of gratitude that we have for all of you, cannot be overstated.

During these uniquely challenging times, we as a staff have experienced many different emotions. Trying our best to trust God & navigate life through this global pandemic, has not been easy. But we do believe that much good has come out of this past 12 months. An example of such a thing, is that we’ve really had a chance to see what type of responses we have when things get tough or even overwhelming. One of my personal favorite SSYO core values, is “Grit.” And it’s been a very interesting chance for us to see what type of grit we really have within us.

A football coach of mine once told me,”You don’t know who you really are as a player until you see how you respond to adversity.” That’s always stuck with me. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said,”The true measure of a man is not where he stands in times of comfort & convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge & controversy.” This quote has been very applicable in this time as well. Both of these quotes are directly connected to having grit. But I do think there’s a different type of grit that we as Christians, are called to.

You don’t know who you really are as a player until you see how you respond to adversity."

Grit is normally referred to as the ability to “dig deep within ourselves” in order to find more strength. Or to “pull ourselves up by the bootstraps” in order to power through difficulty. What I’ve been learning through these past 12 months, is that there come times in life when I just don’t have another ounce of strength left in me. And I’m powerless to do anything on my own. It’s become evident to me, that I have to look to God at times for the grit to keep going forward. Especially in times of overwhelming challenge & discouragement. So maybe as Christians, the grit we’re called to have is the type that doesn’t depend on our own strength or ability to get back up. But a grit that says we’ll trust God & keep going with His strength & help. The type of grit that’s fully dependent on a faithful & all powerful God that will always be able to provide the strength to take one more step when we think we can’t. 

It’s been a joy & an honor to see our staff display this type of godly grit, if you will, over this past year. We also have the same gritty prayers & support from all of you. Our encouragement to you all, would be to continue walking with God in this type of faith founded grit. When you feel empty, discouraged, hopeless, exhausted, etc., look to Him. Call on Him. Trust Him. And find your strength within Him. Keep moving forward Family. We’ll do it together. Thank you again for your continued prayers, love & support. Please let us know how we can be praying for you all. We love & appreciate you all.

Sincerely,
​
Jake Moevao

Jake Moevao

Liavaa Iakopo Moevao is known to most, as “Jake.” Jake is currently serving as the Executive Director at SSYO. Prior to joining the Team here, Jake served as a Youth Pastor at Calvary Corvallis & also was involved with coaching high school varsity football at both Santiam Christian & Crescent Valley. Jake is very passionate about doing Family & Leadership well. Outside of work, Jake loves: spending time with his wife & daughter, hanging out with Family, traveling, watching sports, & having time alone to play sports video games.