My Epic Journey

Day Three.  Not really much different than Day Two.  Worship was done by Station 2 and the devotional was given by Duffy Robbins (by the way, Duffy Robbins is one of my favorite youth workers.  His love and passion for students is contagious.  If you haven’t picked up his book, The Ministry of Nurture, do so).

Today, we were back into the 8-hour track intensives.  Rahn and Klein are doing a fabulous job.  I am thankful I chose this track.  My hope is to make it applicable to our (Olentangy School District) current expanding dilemma.  To many schools, to few youth pastors in them.

Tonight, we had the privilege of hearing from Doug Fields, founder of Simply Youth Ministry and Teaching Pastor at Saddleback Community Church.  He challenged us with taking simple coins in our pocket and using them to remember God’s faithfulness to us.  Here were his points:

    P–Past (Ephesians 1.6-7; Colossians 1.13-14)

N–Now (Romans 8.11; 15.13)

    D–Determined Destiny (John 5.24; Romans 5.21)

Q–Quality Growth (Matthew 13.4-8)

This talk was a great challenge for me to remind myself of how great God has and is and will be in my life.  Next time you look at the coins in your pocket, remind yourself of God’s faithfulness.

Day 2 started early in the morning–at least for this youth pastor.  Worship began at 8:30 am with Station 2 leading and Duffy Robbins speaking.  It was an amazing time of reflection and a great way to start the day.

After worship we began our 8 hour intensive tracks.  Thankfully they weren’t 8 hours straight.  After wrestling what may be the best track for me to take I decided that Dave Rahn and Chuck Klein’s track, Moving Your Ministry on to the Campus, would be most fitting for me.  Our church is located in the fastest growing school district in the state of Ohio.  There averaging a new Middle School every two years and a new High School every three years.  It is hard to keep up but it is also an amazing mission field.  Over the past year I have been racking my brain as to what is the best way to get a vibrant campus ministry going.  I was extremely pleased to have some great insight from Rahn and Klein as to what has worked well for them.

Later that afternoon I got of watch Megan Vallely at a cheerleading competition that was also being hosted at the Convention Center.

I left early and missed the evening talk which was led by Kay Warren, pastor’s wife of Rick Warren and Saddleback Community Church.  It was Anna and my 11 year anniversary.  We got rid of the kids (thanks Upchurch family) and went to the Cheesecake Factory.

Overall Day 2 was a great day and it made me look forward to Day 3.

i am excited.  very excited.  tomorrow i am heading to the national youth ministry conference.  one great thing is, i don’t have to go to far because this year the conference is held right here in columbus, ohio. 

i am excited for a couple of reasons:

1. i am tired.  i’m not sure if it because of the grad class, just a packed ministry winter, or satan using people to pick on the little things, but i am tired and i can feel it.  i’m afraid my ministry can feel it as well.  i need a fresh look, a creative springboard but even more, i need to be with my peeps.
2. hanging with my peeps.  i need to hang with my peeps.  the ones who know what i am going through, that have the same passions i have and the same love for the same group of people that i love.  I need my peeps.

i am hoping to take away from this conference:

1. a renewed love for my amazing epic volunteer staff,
2. a renewed love for my students,
3. a new love for the students in my community,
4. a new love what God has called me to,
5. but most importantly, a renewed love for my God.

i am asking for your prayers this weekdend.  pray that my passion for ministry is renewed, that i am reminded as to why God called me and that i come away with an excitement for ministry that i have never felt in the past 11 years working with students!