August 25th, 2025
By: Alex Fortson
The Best Is Yet To Come
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send
us up from here.’
— Exodus 33:14-15
As some of you may have heard, my family and I have accepted a new role as Youth Alive
Missionaries in Northern New England. This has been something the Lord has been dealing
with us for over 2 years, and we believe God is ALL in it!
There’s a phrase that has been echoing in my spirit lately: “I don’t want to go unless Your presence goes before us.” When Moses spoke these words, he was standing in the tension between a promise and a presence. God had already told Israel that they would inherit the land, but Moses knew that the promise means nothing without the Presence.
That’s where I find myself today.
Where God Leads, His Presence Goes First
If God is doing something, I want Him to lead the way—not me. His Presence is not bound by the Ark of the Covenant; His Spirit is living and active, leading His people into His will. That truth gives me peace as my family steps into a new season.
That His Holy Spirit is leading me and my family, as He at the same time continues to lead
Altered Youth and the Revival Center. This is what brings about great peace, knowing that God is already ahead of us making a way. This is how we can be sure that the best is yet to come. If God is not leading, then we can be sure that the best is not ahead, but rather has already passed. With the Lord leading, then the best days will ALWAYS be ahead of us.
Let me take you back to a moment I walked through back in 2018. My youth pastor, Cody
Griggs, stepped into a new role as a missionary. I felt the weight of uncertainty. Questions filled my mind: What now? What does this mean for the ministry? What does this mean for me as someone who is a part of the youth staff?
But here’s the truth I learned—God is never restricted by circumstances or people. When one chapter closes, His Presence still moves forward. And when His Presence moves, we move.
Looking back, I can see how faithful God was:
● We accomplished more for Speed the Light than ever before.
● We built a new youth room.
● We developed amazing ministry teams.
● We have had more students become a part of this ministry than ever before.
The list could go on and on and on. But here is the thing: those weren’t our wins—they were God’s. We were just empty vessels doing what He already said would be.
From Genesis to Revelation, God never allowed things to just be. He always partnered with
people to bring about His will. And that hasn’t changed. God is continuing to lead people exactly where they are supposed to be and to do exactly what he has called them to do. I believe that is the same case here and now. We can be at peace knowing that God will provide and take care of all our needs.
We’re Not Leaving—We’re Being Sent
I like this terminology:
“We’re not leaving; we’re becoming an extension of this ministry.”
We’re not running from something—we’re running to something. We’re not leaving because
something bad happened—we’re leaving because we are pursuing God.
And when you pursue God, you go wherever He wants to lead you.
I cannot tell you how many times I have preached on being obedient to the call of God that is on our lives. It is now time to practice what I have been preaching.
There is an incredible need in Northern New England. There are less evangelical Christians
each year. According to statistics, Northern New England is currently between 4-7% evangelical Christian. There is an entire generation who has never been to church, never seen or opened a Bible, never prayed, and the only time they hear the name of Jesus is when someone is using it in vain. I believe we should do something about this. The time to act is NOW! I am reminded of something a close friend, Joil Marbut, once told me, “Alex, the need is the call.”
So we have two options:
1. Obedience
2. Disobedience
I think we all know there is only one answer...Obedience.
What Happens Next?
For us, it’s stepping into new beginnings. Which in our case requires a big move to another
state. We believe that the best is yet to come in Northern New England. We believe God has already gone before us. For this youth ministry, it means stepping into an incredible future right here—because the same Presence that led us is still here with you. My best friend, Cody Griggs, said it best, “Callings are permanent, assignments are temporary.” The greatest days are ahead—not because of who’s in leadership—but because God is the One leading.
So let’s echo Moses’ words in our own lives:
“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
The Best Is Yet To Come
“The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’
Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send
us up from here.’
— Exodus 33:14-15
As some of you may have heard, my family and I have accepted a new role as Youth Alive
Missionaries in Northern New England. This has been something the Lord has been dealing
with us for over 2 years, and we believe God is ALL in it!
There’s a phrase that has been echoing in my spirit lately: “I don’t want to go unless Your presence goes before us.” When Moses spoke these words, he was standing in the tension between a promise and a presence. God had already told Israel that they would inherit the land, but Moses knew that the promise means nothing without the Presence.
That’s where I find myself today.
Where God Leads, His Presence Goes First
If God is doing something, I want Him to lead the way—not me. His Presence is not bound by the Ark of the Covenant; His Spirit is living and active, leading His people into His will. That truth gives me peace as my family steps into a new season.
That His Holy Spirit is leading me and my family, as He at the same time continues to lead
Altered Youth and the Revival Center. This is what brings about great peace, knowing that God is already ahead of us making a way. This is how we can be sure that the best is yet to come. If God is not leading, then we can be sure that the best is not ahead, but rather has already passed. With the Lord leading, then the best days will ALWAYS be ahead of us.
Let me take you back to a moment I walked through back in 2018. My youth pastor, Cody
Griggs, stepped into a new role as a missionary. I felt the weight of uncertainty. Questions filled my mind: What now? What does this mean for the ministry? What does this mean for me as someone who is a part of the youth staff?
But here’s the truth I learned—God is never restricted by circumstances or people. When one chapter closes, His Presence still moves forward. And when His Presence moves, we move.
Looking back, I can see how faithful God was:
● We accomplished more for Speed the Light than ever before.
● We built a new youth room.
● We developed amazing ministry teams.
● We have had more students become a part of this ministry than ever before.
The list could go on and on and on. But here is the thing: those weren’t our wins—they were God’s. We were just empty vessels doing what He already said would be.
From Genesis to Revelation, God never allowed things to just be. He always partnered with
people to bring about His will. And that hasn’t changed. God is continuing to lead people exactly where they are supposed to be and to do exactly what he has called them to do. I believe that is the same case here and now. We can be at peace knowing that God will provide and take care of all our needs.
We’re Not Leaving—We’re Being Sent
I like this terminology:
“We’re not leaving; we’re becoming an extension of this ministry.”
We’re not running from something—we’re running to something. We’re not leaving because
something bad happened—we’re leaving because we are pursuing God.
And when you pursue God, you go wherever He wants to lead you.
I cannot tell you how many times I have preached on being obedient to the call of God that is on our lives. It is now time to practice what I have been preaching.
There is an incredible need in Northern New England. There are less evangelical Christians
each year. According to statistics, Northern New England is currently between 4-7% evangelical Christian. There is an entire generation who has never been to church, never seen or opened a Bible, never prayed, and the only time they hear the name of Jesus is when someone is using it in vain. I believe we should do something about this. The time to act is NOW! I am reminded of something a close friend, Joil Marbut, once told me, “Alex, the need is the call.”
So we have two options:
1. Obedience
2. Disobedience
I think we all know there is only one answer...Obedience.
What Happens Next?
For us, it’s stepping into new beginnings. Which in our case requires a big move to another
state. We believe that the best is yet to come in Northern New England. We believe God has already gone before us. For this youth ministry, it means stepping into an incredible future right here—because the same Presence that led us is still here with you. My best friend, Cody Griggs, said it best, “Callings are permanent, assignments are temporary.” The greatest days are ahead—not because of who’s in leadership—but because God is the One leading.
So let’s echo Moses’ words in our own lives:
“If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
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