for the cash I had in hand.” And he had enough left to pay for tags, taxes, and a full year of insurance, plus a little extra he’d already set aside for an emergency fund.
Brother Kraft clapped Jase on the shoulder. “I’d say the Father blessed you.”
Jase gave a little start. He hadn’t thought so when he got what he’d deemed a pretty minimal insurance settlement, considering all he’d lost, but now guilt pricked. He’d underestimated God’s goodness. Again. How many times had Brother Tony told him he needed to let go of his preconceived notions about earthly fathers and trust God to be the best, most attentive, most compassionate Father he could ask for?
The minister slid his hand into his trouser pocket. “Ronnie’s daughter, Sienna, brings her friend Kaia with her. In the past, she invited a young man named Brent, who’s become a regular attendee of all of our youth-focused activities. He’s the blond-haired boy in the green T-shirt who’s playing volleyball.”
One of the dads—his name tag read Rick—leaned in a bit. “My son, Zackary, is a senior this year, so he’ll graduate out of the youth group at the end of the summer. But if you need help corralling Brent, call on Zack. He’s helped Brother Kraft, here, with the youth for the past two years, and I think Brother Kraft would agree he’s been a good influence.”
The teen with the uncombed hair and glasses looked enough like the serious man peering through Coke bottle lenses at Jase that there was no question which boy was Zack.
Brother Kraft nodded. “Absolutely. Zack’s a strong Christian and a good example for the other kids.” Then he shrugged, a smile creasing his round face. “I think you’ll discover, as a whole, we have really good kids in the youth group. And with your leadership and encouragement, the group should grow both in number and commitment to the Lord.”
“Amen,” Rick said, and several others murmured their agreement.
Jase’s stomach panged. He hoped he wouldn’t disappoint anybody. All at once, he remembered the feeling of being washed in a warm flow, and he spoke without thinking. “The students and I will teach each other. We’ll grow together.”
Their approving smiles and nods both bolstered and challenged Jase. He’d need to live up to the statement.
A flurry of activity at the fellowship hall entrance caught Jase’s attention. The car salesman, Ronnie Green, with a petite woman and two young teen girls—one short with Ronnie’s wavy sandy-brown hair and blue eyes, the other tall and slender with straight dark hair and an olive complexion—rushed to the group.
The woman held her hands out in a defeatist gesture. “Sorry we’re late. You know how girls are, can never decide what to wear, and I made the mistake of having them pick up all the discarded items from the bedroom floor before we left. So you can blame it all on me if we’ve held you up.”
The shorter girl groaned and rolled her eyes. “Mom, you didn’t have to tell them that!” She adjusted the collar of her pink-and-white-striped top and turned a bright smile on Jase. “Are you the new youth pastor? I’m Sienna, and this is Kaia.” She drew her friend forward, and the second girl offered a bashful grin. “Kaia’s family moved to Wichita from Arizona last year, but they’re originally from Bangladesh.” Silver braces flashed as Sienna talked, competing with the sparkle in her eyes. “Kaia’s the first generation in her family to be a natural-born American citizen. Isn’t that the coolest?”
Jase smiled first at Sienna, then at Kaia. “Absolutely the coolest. It’s nice to meet both of you.”
Brother Kraft put his arm around Sienna’s shoulders. “Brother Jase, now that you’ve met the shyest member”—he coughed a laugh, and Sienna groaned—“of the youth group, how about we round up the whole gang and have her make the introductions?”
As if fired from a cannon, Sienna shot off across the tiled floor, and after a moment’s pause, Kaia trotted after her. The parents separated, forming a makeshift half circle, while Sienna darted from group to group, pointing in Jase’s direction and jabbering. The kids made their way over, some sauntering, some nearly trotting, and one—a Hispanic boy—dragging his heels. He reached the group last and went to Brother Kraft’s side.
Brother Kraft slung his arm around the boy’s shoulders and aimed a smile at Sienna. “All right, social director, do your thing.”
Sienna pranced to Jase and lifted both of her hands toward him, like she