A New Event JAM-PACKED with Fun and Purpose

That’s right- “If and overnighter and a retreat had a baby, this is what it would be.”

We are really excited to be taking 100 Senior High Students and Leaders on what should be one of the coolest, most jam-packed overnight trip to Ft. Wayne… EVER. It all takes place on March 9-10 and you really don’t want to miss it!

During our worship times and group times, we are going to be taking a serious look at Matthew 5:16 and focus in on these words: “Let Your Light Shine.” Come join us!

Here’s how it works:

  • Friday Night: Komets Hockey Game, Food, Worship, Stay in a Hotel
  • Saturday Morning: TAWG, Food, Laser Tag
  • Saturday Afternoon: Food, Worship, Jesus
  • Saturday Night: Jesus, Food, Jesus
  • Home by 8:30pm.

This might be the best event for $42 if you sign up by Sunday. The Final Deadline is February 26 and the cost goes up to $50. We are staying in a hotel and it’s going to be an awesome time to bond together and have a ton of fun. If you have questions, email me or send me a facebook message!

Helping a Student Know

Last Wednesday, Derry, at the end of the message portion, offered students the opportunity to respond, by standing, to their recognition of what God was doing in their heart. Many stood in response to the two different opportunities, whether that was to accept a relationship with Him for the first time or to reaffirm a relationship and not the standards of religion. Afterward, I had a leader ask me how to revisit the night, and those decisions, in their small group the next week. I gave her three pointers. Continue reading

Want to get involved?

If you attend NMC and have been looking for that opportunity to serve, I think I might have a spot for you. We are looking to raise up a few more teachers for our Sunday morning program. This ranges from Youth Class Teachers to Assistant Teachers to Elective Class instructors. We are looking for men and women who are ready to step up and answer the call that God has placed on their lives to work with Senior Highers.

If you think that that might be you, leave a note in the comment section and I will get in touch with your or send me an email and we can get the process started!

Elective Classes worth Checking Out

Our Sunday morning offerings change on a regular basis in the Senior High and we are kicking off our next set of 10:45am electives. I’m really excited about them. If you are a student, you should check them out! If you are a parent, you should encourage your student to check them out. If you are another person following the blog, ask me about electives and youth classes!

The Post Trip/Camp Crash

It happens every time that I go on a trip or get back from camp. The crash. The crazy part is that it usually takes a couple days to hit with its full force and with complete impact. This year, it has been a bit more than just fatigue, it has been serious wrestling with stuff going on in my life and ministry and trying to find discernment and wisdom through all of that. And in the midst of all of that, I have had to shift gears pretty quick with Teen Camp right around the corner, next Friday.

Truth is, I am learning through this one. The biggest lesson that I have been able to process through is that if I don’t trust Him through this one, it won’t go well. The potential of crashing is much greater if I try and figure all of the schedules, all the issues, and all of the truth out without waiting for Him.

Reality is, God is Greater Than it all. Reality is, God is in Control. And Reality is, He will make my paths straight. I know that He is Wise and I know that I am not. And I know that it is through Him that I can do all things because He strengthens me to be at peace with where He has placed me.

I’m ready.
I’m waiting.
I’m seeking.

He is so much more than my box. He is so much more than me.

He just is.
Period.

Senior High Camp To This Point

What an amazing couple of days here at Senior High Camp. I have been just blown away at how God has glorified Himself through some different situations and settings. Here are some of them:

  • Opening Session: So pumped to see how students responded to God’s call to allow Him to have His way this week. What an amazing response to His Spirit!
  • Thursday AM TAWG debrief: So cool to hear how students heard from God and how they were able to share that word with the rest of the students.
  • Cedar Point: I was so pumped to pray with JT as he just saw how our students were interacting with each other and were so joyful in doing so that He wanted some of that. It was pretty sweet some of the conversations I was able to have as a product of our students being themselves so we could be we.
  • Friday AM TAWG Experience: How cool it was to see students and leaders engaging in God’s Word and everything that He has for them. It was amazing to hear back from students and then to engage in worship as we all came together to praise Him. It seriously was awesome.
  • Friday PM Session: It’s so cool to see how students and leaders react to the sure conviction of the Spirit of God. As much as it can be painful and difficult to hear, it can be so valuable in the process of becoming more like Him. He spoke very clearly tonight and revealed, to many, the things that He wants to correct. It was a powerful move tonight.

I can’t wait to see how we continue to get closer to each other and closer to God in the coming couple of days.

Be praying for a continued move of His Spirit as we spend our last full day here at camp!

Check this Out: Claim Your Campus

Jeff Eckart visited us a few months ago for Fanning the Flame and introduced us, for the first time, to Claim Your Campus. I love Jeff’s heart and his passion for seeing people praying in every school around the country. The cool thing is that he has developed a process and the resources that someone would need to begin something like this on a campus anywhere.

If you’re a student and you want to see your school reached for the glory of God, I don’t know where else you would start but with prayer. Check out this website and see how you can get involved! I think it would be pretty cool to see this and Jeff’s mugg around our ministry a lot this year.

TONIGHT in Senior High!

I am so pumped about tonight! It’s going to be great! I love Stories & Songs nights because it allows for such a opportunity to hear from so many people that maybe we wouldn’t hear from. But tonight, I’m especially excited because you are going to hear one of the coolest stories I think I have ever heard from a student reflecting the power of prayer. I hope that you join us tonight! 7pm in the Fieldhouse. It’s going to be awesome!

Excited for Tonight!

I’m not sure that I’ve ever approached a Wednesday Night Service and not been pumped for it. But, this Wednesday is something different. It’s a focused attempt to focus us on His daily attempts to get us focused. Tonight, we’re going to celebrate like never before the good things in our lives. We’re going to celebrate what He has done, what He continues to do and what He is going to do in our lives.

I’m so pumped.

Here’s what you need to be thinking about:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise Him all creatures here below!
Praise Him among the Heavenly Host!
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Amen. Amen. Amen.

What are the blessings in your life? Have you given glory and honor and praise to the ONE who deserves it? Tonight, we will take some time to do so.You should join us! And bring a friend! I like meeting new people… :)

Come expecting.
Come empty.
Come ready to shout the name of Jesus. The One.

The Unity of the Church

This week, I get my first crack at our current series, The Spiritual Realm. As I’m plowing through this, I’m completely blown away at the way that Paul continually preaches unity amongst the churches. It seems that this is something he constantly is revisiting when he writes to the churches and remains alive through all of his teachings. It’s worth considering in both our community of faith and the larger body of the Church.

The reality is that we all have issues with people. We all have histories and experiences that press on our hearts and our minds and affect how we see the world and the people in it. But throughout all of these tough issues, we have to remember that, as Christians, our battle, the reason that we continue to live and press against, is not against people or flesh and blood. Until we can see past the people and see them as a teammate or a potential teammate, we will continue to fight the wrong fight and, in doing so, continue to divide the Church of Jesus Christ.