See You at the Pole

This Wednesday, September 28, is the annual See You at the Pole. The theme this year is “Converge” and the focus Scripture is Matthew 18:20 (CEV): Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you. Below is some information I gathered from their website, www.syatp.com:

What is See You at the Pole™?

See You at the Pole™ is a global movement of prayer which is student-initiated, student-organized, and student-led. It revolves around students praying together on the fourth Wednesday in September, usually before school and usually at the school's flag pole. It involves student in elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, high schools, and colleges/universities across the globe. Adults often pray in support of the students on campus by gathering nearby, at their places of work or worship, or at city halls.

Why meet at the flagpole in front of the school?

In 1990 when youth ministers in Texas first challenged young people to meet on a common day to launch their school year in prayer, one of the concerns what how to help those who wanted to pray together find each other. It was noted that virtually every school has a flagpole, and the flagpole provided an easy-to-identify place to gather. Also, one issue that the teenagers were praying about was the spiritual health of their country and their leaders, in obedience to 1 Timothy 2:1–2. Hence, the location and name of the event!

How did See You at the Pole™ start?

See You at the Pole™ was inspired by the initiative of student in one youth group in Burleson, Texas, early in 1990. The teenagers felt led to go and pray at night at several area schools during a weekend youth group retreat. They had a profound time of prayer, and their experience was shared with thousands of other youth from across Texas in the form of a challenge in June 1990 at a large conference. More than 56,000 students on 1,200 campuses in Texas and three other states were documented at the first See You at the Pole™ in September of that year. The movement continued to grow nationally and internationally from 1991 on.

I want to encourage every student to participate in this event. It is an opportunity to join with other Christians in your school to pray for your friends, your teachers, and your school. It is a great chance to be blessed and to be a blessing to others.

 

shine!

Jason

 

The mystery of God's love

This past weekend was our fifth annual Illuminate Youth Conference. Once again, dozens of volunteers from Rochester Church came together to make this a great event. In addition, we were blessed by a variety of people who helped deliver God's message around our theme of "Mystery." Wiley Lowe delivered powerful messages, Salient and DeeperStill both lead us in worship. Ambassadors provided engaging drama (in the style of Scooby Doo). There were quality breakout sessions lead by Salient, Ambassadors, Patrick Mead, Pat Pugh, Sara Barton, Scott Ockerman, Adam Hacias, Evelyn Van Sloten, and Jim Calkin.

I am always impressed by the Rochester Church family, but Illuminate weekend is one of the times when they truly shine. We put out a call for a few hundred cans of pop and bottles of water, and they provided over a thousand. We needed housing for youth groups coming from out of town and everyone had a place to say. Registration, security, lunch preparation, and a variety of other areas were all taken care of and done with excellence. This is only because of the dedication and hard work of scores of Rochester Church members.

One of the most poignant moments of the weekend for me came on Sunday morning. While the conference officially ended on Saturday evening, Deeper Still was with us on Sunday morning to lead us in worship. As she had on Saturday, Veronica was singing with the rest of DeeperStill. J.T. Spivy, a member of Ambassadors, came up to provide a message leading us into our time of Communion. One of the key points he shared was how one day we will all be able to sit around the table with those we have lost. It was such a fitting message as I looked up at the men and women standing on the stage. The last several months have been challenging for many of us, especially Veronica and the DeeperStill family. I thought that J.T.'s words were a message of hope and light in the midst of a time still overshadowed by the darkness of Jeremy's death.

Life is indeed a mystery. There are many questions that may never be answered on this side of eternity. But there are some things that are not a mystery. God loves and cares for us. There may be moments of difficulty and pain where it's challenging to see or experience that love, but Love is present. God has given us one another to be a source of compassion and strength. When we find ourselves overwhelmed, there are others who are here to hold us up. that also means that when we see others who are overwhelmed, we must be there to hold them up. We are a family that must love our neighbors as ourselves.

I was reminded this weekend of the mystery of God's love. A love that never gives up in the midst of a world filled with conditional love. A love that gives all when so much love in today's society is more about taking. A love that brings light to darkness and hope to despair. It is not a surface, happy-clappy love that acts like everything is fine. Rather, it is a love that sustains and endures, even in moments where all seems lost. That's the kind of love this world needs and it's the kind of love that reflects the Kingdom of God.

shine
Jason

We're in a battle

I have spent the last week on campus at Rochester College for Elevate. In one of our evening youth group devotionals, we discussed the fact that we are in a spiritual battle.

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:10-12)

Our battle is real and it is not for the weak-hearted. We cannot win the battle alone, but only when we rely on God, His power, and the strength we can only find in Christian community. Peter also warns us about our enemy when he writes:

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

If we are going to stand and stay alert, it requires us to have a firm foundation. Earlier in his letter to the Ephesians, Paul offered the following prayer:

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Following Jesus is not a spectator sport. It requires our involvement and dedication. It requires us to be empowered by the strength of the Holy Spirit, to allow Christ to make his home in our hearts, and to be rooted in the love of God. It is only when we live in the reality of all three of these that we will be made complete. It is not until we daily devote ourselves to time with God that we can find wholeness as God’s mighty power works within us.

shine!

Jason

30 Hour Famine

Last weekend, thirty-three students participated in the 30 Hour Famine. We learned about hunger and poverty, served our church families and God’s Helping Hands, and raised over $2,300 to help Haiti earthquake victims (with some students still collecting).
During the weekend, we focused on the following passage from James:
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:14-26)
I was so impressed seeing our students’ faith in action this past weekend. They listened and participated in discussions where Scripture engaged our lives. Some students helped sort and organize at God’s Helping Hands, which makes it easier to help those who are hurting economically in the area. Other students provided childcare for the parents who attended our parenting seminar. All of them worked to surpass our goal of $2,000.
I am so proud of the students who participated, not just because of how much they raised, but because of their actions and attitudes throughout the weekend. They served without complaining. Some even asked for more work when they finished their task. In devotionals and discussions they were engaged. They continue to grow in their faith and actions as they work together.
Thank you as well to the adults who helped with the weekend: Karen Benedict, Bill Flowers, Barb Huey, Laura Stewart, Holly Hebert, Dalaina Harrell. Your time and energy are greatly appreciated!!

shine!
Jason

Upside Down

All of this past week I was at Elevate, a Christian camp for teenagers held at Rochester College. This is the sixth time I have been a part of this camp and the fourth consecutive year I have been a part of the camp since I moved to Rochester.
This year was an incredible year. For months I have been praying for God to move in some very powerful ways in our youth group, and He answered many of those prayers this past week. I witnessed reconciliation, unification, and spiritual growth. It was incredible to see God at work.
Two of the students from our group were baptized this week. I had the honor of baptizing Addy Laster into Christ and Hannah Harrell was baptized by her dad in the river. I always enjoy seeing someone being baptized into Christ.
The theme for this year was “Upside Down” and there were a lot of people whose lives seemed to be turned upside for the better. I listened to students share their burdens, recommit their lives, and seek God. The times of worship were incredibly powerful.
I spoke about the following passage on Monday morning…
“You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:13-16)
This week I was able to see students and adults, myself included, respond to God’s call for us to be salt and light to a world in need of the love of God. Whether it was in worship, through meditation on God’s word, in small groups, at our youth group devos, or during times of serving, the Holy Spirit was moving at Elevate this year. Praise God for the ways He shapes us and moves us to bring the Kingdom of God to life around us.

shine!
Jason

An anchor in a sea of transition

Transition can be a difficult time. Transition can mean loss, gain, or both. This week I am experiencing both.
I found out earlier this week that a friend from high school took his own life. We were in marching band together and would talk during band and in various other venues. He was a talented, intelligent, and enjoyable person. I don’t know all of the things that caused his life to unfold this way, but I know that he will be missed. My heart first and foremost goes out to his family. It is a time of difficult transition for them and for anyone who knew him at a variety of levels.
I had recently reconnected with him on Facebook and was looking forward to catching up on life. Loss brings about painful transition, especially when it is transition with such finality.
On the other hand, this week we are welcoming the new seventh graders into our ministry. This is an exciting time as they move into the youth group and begin a new chapter of their lives. I know that it is both an exciting and scary time for many parents, especially those who are sending their oldest child into new, uncharted territory.
I am looking forward to getting to know these new members of the ARISE family as they begin this part of their journey of following Jesus. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for them.
Whether it’s loss or gain, transition is all around is. It is inevitable. It is unavoidable. It is a part of life. In the midst of a world engulfed in change, there is only one thing – or rather one person – who never changes. The Hebrew author writes that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
When you find yourself in times of change or transition, look to the One who never changes. In times of good transition, we can tend to forget about God. In times of difficult transition, we tend to blame God. Instead of forgetting or blaming Him, let’s reach out and hold on to the One who is an anchor. Let me close with the words of the author of Hebrews:
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. (Hebrews 6:18-19)

shine!
Jason

30 Hour Famine

The weekend of May 1-2, twenty-six of our students and several adults participated in the 30 Hour Famine. This is an event created by World Vision to raise awareness and funds to battle world hunger.
Starting after lunch on Friday, May 1, these students dedicated themselves to go without food until 6:00pm on Saturday. Around 6:30pm on Friday, we gathered at the home of Dave and Karen Benedict. Friday evening we spent time hanging out, studying God’s word, worshiping, praying, and played a game of hide-n-seek with a unique angle. Students were also divided into “tribes” that represented nations in South America where hunger is a major issue.
Our Bible study that evening focused on Jesus’ preparation for ministry through fasting. We looked at Matthew 4, and discussed how fasting was central to Jesus’ ability to resist Satan’s three temptations as well as prepared Him for the start of His ministry. We also looked at Acts 13 and 14, where we see fasting as a crucial component for selecting leaders or preparing for ministry.
We played a game called “Hide” where most of the students hid in the house while five “guerilla soldier” searched for them. This game brought to life for our students the reality that many in some countries deal with every day where gangs hunt down their rivals.
We woke up the next morning and began a day that was focused on serving others. After our morning juice break, we loaded up and headed out to Michigan Christian Youth Camp, where we spent a few hours helping prepare the camp for the summer. Several of the students commented about the challenge to work while not having eaten for almost twenty-four hours. It gave them a new appreciation for those who often go without food for that period of time.
After returning to our “home base” (the Benedicts), we went out into Clarkston for a canned food drive for God’s Helping Hands. In the course of a little under an hour, our students gathered 345 food items and $39 for GHH. We were all amazed at how much God provided in that short time period. The people in the community were so generous.
After returning to the Benedicts we held a few more competitions between our “tribes” that taught our students more about the plight of those in countries challenged by extreme poverty and starvation. I enjoyed watching students, some of whom barely knew each other at the start of the weekend, working together in teams.
Shortly before 6:00pm, we all gathered in the living room for a time of sharing. Students shared how God had been speaking to them throughout the weekend. It was incredibly encouraging for me to hear how so many of them had been touched in a variety of ways. I can’t begin to express how impressed I was with their insight and how proud I am of the ways they allowed God to work in their lives over the weekend.
We broke our fast together by sharing communion, praying together, and heading out to the kitchen for our first meal in 30 hours. Many students expressed how much they now appreciated the food they usually take for granted and how good it was to eat. Thank you to Bob and Susie Wilson, Dave and Carolyn Palmer, and Barb Huey for preparing our food. They were a huge part of this weekend – just ask the students!
Through 30 Hour Famine, our students raised over $1000 to battle world hunger (and some of them are still collecting funds), collected 345 food items and $39 for God’s Helping Hands, collectively served over 50 hours at MCYC, and were shaped by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives through fasting, prayer, and service. It was a great weekend where God came to life in a powerful way for many of our students. Thank you to those who donated, those who prayed for us, those who served, and the parents who are the primary ministers for their children. You are all a part of a community that is working together to develop our teenagers into followers of Christ.

shine!
Jason

Illuminate thank you's

Illuminate 2009 was a great weekend! We had over 250 students and adults registered for the event as well as a number of special guests who were a part of the weekend. Students from here at Rochester and around the region joined together for times of worship and teaching. In addition, there were several breakout sessions that included a variety of topics and learning styles. We had comedy and a very entertaining concert.
Don McLaughlin, from the North Atlanta Church of Christ, was our keynote speaker who brought the word of God to life in a powerful way. He also stayed and spoke on Sunday morning.
Sean Algaier, from the Jenks Church in Oklahoma, lead us in worship on Friday night and taught a parents/teens class on Sunday morning.
Our own Chris Lindsey led worship on Saturday as well as coordinating everything that happened during our worship times.
Ambassadors, from Ohio Valley University, provided dramas that enhanced the message of the weekend. They also led several breakout sessions.
Hoss Ridgeway provided a lot of laughs through his comedy and led two breakout sessions.
Pat Pugh, from Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach, led several breakout sessions.
Randy Hendrickson, from Parkersburg, West Virginia, shared his story in a breakout session.
John Reuben performed a great concert on Saturday night.
In addition to all of those guests, there was an army of people from here at the Rochester Church that made Illuminate happen. I want to thank each and every one of them for their time and energy to make this event possible. Without them, Illuminate would not have been possible:

KITCHEN
Scott Vasseur
Sue Vasseur
Gary Osborn
Dawn Osborn
Jim Lytle
Heidi Lytle
Paul Patrico
Michelle Patrico
Rick Hillman
Paul Shinsky
Barb Huey
Tracy DuBaere
Karen Demsich
Nora Muntz
Lisa Patrico
Jeanie King
Patti Jenema
Carolyn Palmer
Amber White
Dave Turner

SECURITY
Kerry DuBaere
Josh DuBaere
Jerry Ward
Reggie Hansen
Dave Palmer
Joey Kesler
Kevin Stewart
Duncan Mead
Gary Turner
Keith Huey
Bob Stewart
Allen Meinhard
Joe Demsich
Jim Lytle
Elijah Blake
Keith Huey

REGISTRATION & HOUSING
Laura Stewart
Barb Huey
Carolyn Palmer
Lisa Patrico
Heidi Lytle
Debi Gibbs

BREAK OUT SESSION REGISTRATION
Michelle Steckel
Betty Turner
Patti Jenema

GUEST HOSPITALITY
Katie Dear
Dana Spivy
Jenny Hoggatt

TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Gary Anspach
Jon Knutson
Dave Cassilly
Matt Brown
Woody Woodward

SET-UP/CLEAN-UP
Kevin O'Sullivan
Rick Hillman
Debi Gibbs
Joey Kesler
Trudy Kesler

SICK ROOM
Tammy Ward

VIDEOGRAPHY
Lee Higginbottom

PRAISE TEAM
Chris Lindsey
Vicki Lindsey
Jeremy King
Veronica King
John Knutson
Holly Knutson
Steve Corp
Brenden Davison

PRAISE TEAM BAND
Chris Lindsey
Sean Algaier
Andy Robinson
Neil Graney
Teresa Graney
Ben Ayers
Aaron Mize

BREAK-OUT SESSION TEACHERS
Patrick Mead
Brian Bowers
Robert Martin
Sara Barton
Scott Ockerman
Shaun Hover
Adam Hill
Adam Hacias
Katy Hacias
David Watts
David Rotberg
Krystal Rotberg
Ty Warczinsky
Brandi Warczinsky
Joe Howard
Chris Lindsey

SPONSORS
Rochester College
Ohio Valley University
York College
Harding University
Great Lakes Christian College

STAGE PREPARATION
Jodie Anspach
Vicki Lindsey

BABYSITTERS FOR VOLUNTEERS
Kerri O'Connor
Allyson Huey
Melody Hastings
Sarah Ageno
Meghan Palmer

PEOPLE WHO HOUSED (approx. 100) GUESTS
Russel & Karen Wilkinson
Bob & Sheila Sparks
Jerry & Tammy Ward
Bob & Laura Stewart
Gayle Flanigan
Duane and Pat Harrison
Bill & Paula Flowers
Todd & Patti Jenema
Mark & Linda Dear
Jeff & Mollie Debandt
Tom & Sara Hayman
Dave Cassilly
Jerry & Julie Parks
Scott & Renee Tekely
Dave & Karen Benedict
Gary & Dawn Osborn
Rick & Merry Hastings
Fred & Lisa Hartman
Keith & Barb Huey

EVERYWHERE
Trudy Kesler
Michelle Steckel
Jason Steckel

Once again, I want to thank everyone who was a part of the weekend. I hope I have not forgotten anyone’s name here, because I really appreciate all of you. Let me end this article with a comment from one of the youth ministers who was here for Illuminate:
“Illuminate was AMAZING! It is quickly becoming my favorite event of the year. Everyone involved did a great job. John Reuben was, as expected, excellent. Well, I am running out of synonyms for really good.”

shine!
Jason

The day after

Well, it's the end of amazing weekend. I will have much more to say tomorrow, but I have to take a minute to thank the wonderful people of the Rochester Church. Over 100 people volunteered to make Illuminate happen. When I did the math, I estimated that over 1,500 hours of work went into making Illuminate a success. Wow!
Over the last several months, I have probably put about 75 hours of time into Illuminate 2009. People ask me how I made Illuminate happen. It wasn't me all that much. There were another 1,425 hours of time put in by an army of people. I only contributed 5% of the time put into this event. The other 95% came from others who brought a variety of talents and abilities to the table.
Most of all, I want to thank God for being present in an amazing way! I was reminded once again this weekend of the power of God and the value of community. The Holy Spirit moved powerfully this weekend through the hearts, minds, and bodies of scores of people at the Rochester Church. I am blessed to be part of such an incredible church family.

shine!
Jason

Can you hear me now?

This past weekend, twenty-three students and a handful of adults went up to Michigan Christian Youth Camp for a retreat. Our theme was “Can You Hear Me Now?” and we focused on hearing God’s voice. Adam Hill presented our lessons and challenged us through his words and a few activities. Chris Lindsey led us in worship. I also want to thank Deanna Butka, Katie Dear, Keith Huey, and Michelle Steckel for spending the weekend with us. I will let some of the students tell you more about the retreat…

When I came to this retreat, I knew that I already believed in Jesus and made the commitment to follow him. But I realized that the way I was living for Him wasn’t exactly the way He wanted me to. I learned that I’d been believing in Him, but not acting on that. I’m going to try to act like I should and follow Jesus instead of just believing in Him.

God has spoken to me in ways I couldn’t even imagine before this weekend. I was lost and now I am found. Before now I never heard His call. I never heard His voice and now I do…I’ve learned no matter how many mistakes I have made I will always be surrounded by His joy, His mercy, grace, and love.

This weekend has changed my whole perspective of God. He’s not just a figure to worship. He’s now…something more tangible and real. This weekend, He showed Himself, a light, a small candle flame in the darkness that grew brighter and brighter…I feel like I can actually hear Him now. Before, He was just a murmur, a small dim light in the darkness. Now…it’s completely opposite. His quiet whisper is now as loud as the booming thunder.

This weekend, I became more spiritually aware. I feel more in tune with God, and more ready to hear His voice and do what He wants me to do.

God has shown me that prayer is not just thinking about stuff, it’s connecting with God. God has taught me that silence is very important.

This weekend the main thing I learned is how many distractions are in my life, and most importantly, how to deal with those distractions, get rid of them, and enter a new stage of my relationship with God.

God showed me that even though it is dark sometimes, there is always hope and light.

This weekend showed me that to follow God’s will you have to hear Him, but to hear Him, you have to listen first.

This was the first time I shared my addictions with a large group and I feel renewed after, because I knew people would be praying for me.

Even though silence is scary, it is needed. I need to stop and listen to what God is telling me instead of going with what I think it best.

This weekend has helped me in sooo many ways. I am so busy and just have a lot going on in my life right now, and a lot of stress. It gave me the break I needed and really helped me. I felt like Adam was talking right to me; it was amazing. I love Chris and his worship; it uplifted me a lot. This weekend was absolutely perfect for me; it touched me in so many ways.

Ironically, it is in the absence of noise that God’ voice is clearest, and it is not meant to be merely an occasional luxury, but an every day practice.

It was a much needed weekend for me to refocus, and more importantly, realize how much God loves me, and knowing that He wants us, and can use us, wherever we are on our journey.

It was a great weekend. I was so impressed by our students and how seriously they answered every challenge placed before them. Thank you to everyone who was a part of the retreat!

shine!
Jason

Mission: Cincinnati Wrap-up

This has taken me a few days to sit down and write because I have been recovering. My body was reminding me that I am 38 now.

Anyway... I wanted to take a few minutes to reflect back on M:C2008.

Last week was a great week. I have already talked about some of our adventures in my previous posts, but this is a chance to look back at the week as a whole.

As I have mentioned earlier, everyone on the team did a GREAT job last week. I don't remember ever having to ask someone twice to do anything. (Well, except when it was time to leave the center. Then I had to ask a dozen times, but I understand that.) They were more focused on their purpose than ever.

Last night in our Wednesday night youth gathering we had "circle time" (a time where we sit in a circle, turn off the lights, and light a candle in the middle of the room). Our sharing time centered around how Mission: Cincinnati 2008 impacted those who went and - just as importantly - how it was going to change the way they live now that they are back home.

One theme that surfaced several times was a desire to be a more welcoming group. Like most youth groups, we often struggle with integrating new people. One of the things that was really cool about our mission trip was that it didn't really matter what grade students were in, our team was a team. I watched juniors and seniors in high school interact with middle schoolers. There didn't appear to be an attitude of "we're better than you" that often haunts youth groups. This was a team in every sense of the word.

In addition, we struggle with welcoming people who are visiting our youth group. Whether it's the friend of a youth group member or someone who just moved into town, or even more shy students who have been at the church for a long time, we struggle with helping those students feel included. It is good to know that our students realize that and want to change it.

While there are several amazing things I could share from the trip and last night, the other one I want to focus on is the idea of boldness. Last night one of the students shared an experience from earlier this week. She talked about how she was in line at a clothing store and got into a conversation about God with a guy in line with her. She talked about the fact that she had never really done that before and she was somewhat surprised by her boldness.

Another student talked about how she met a guy who did not go to church, but the more they talked about Jesus, the more intrigued he was. That weekend, he ended up going to church and when they saw each other again, he thanked her for giving him a new outlook on Christians.

One of phrases I remember from last week was "crazy enough to believe." This was something Pat Pugh said a number of times as he talked about how God is working in Cincinnati. Whether it was their new building, the direction their ministry is going, or the ways he sees God at work, Pat kept telling us he is crazy enough to believe.

I am crazy enough to believe that God has changed the lives of some of our students. That He is about to unleash something powerful through the students in our ministry. That God is about to pour out His Spirit among us in a very powerful way.

I am crazy enough to believe that God will fulfill His promises when we are crazy enough to follow.

shine!
Jason

Mission: Cincinnati Update #2

I have a few minutes here in the middle of the day to send out another update. First of all, I realize that some readers may not know the details about our trip. Here is the short version:

Several years ago I met Pat Pugh. Pat serves in a full-time inner-city ministry called Cincinnati Urban Ministry Outreach (CUMO). For the last seven years or so, Pat has been leading CUMO. For the last several years, he has worked in the Millvale Community. Two years ago, we brought a group of eleven students to spend a week working with the children in this community. Last year we brought nineteen students. This year, thirty-five students are serving here in Millvale.

Much of our work occurs in the Millvale Community Center. We build relationships with the children through games and activities. We help Pat in his ministry through various tasks. And we usually end our time at the center with Bible time. I hope this provides a brief overview of our work here.

The picture with this post is the new building that CUMO will be moving into next month. God has truly blessed the ministry with a great opportunity in the middle of a community that needs God's love.

Yesterday morning, we traveled to the location (it's a few minutes from Millvale) to pray over the community, the church building, and the move. We met Yack while we were there. Yack (obviously his nickname) has family in the neighborhood. When it came time to pray, Yack joined us and began our time of prayer. It was truly an encouragement to meet and pray with this man. This is further evidence that God is at work in inner-city Cincinnati.

During the time at the Community Center, our students have continued to shine! Even now, they are playing sports, talking with children, and building relationships. At our evening devotionals, students have shared how much these kids and this experience have touched them. It is obvious to me that the children here in Millvale are impacting our students as much as - if not more than - our students are impacting them.

Our team has continued to do a great job of serving and laying down their lives. They have poured everything they have into this work. They are maturing as Christians right before our very eyes. I believe that many of them are experiencing life-changing moments this week. God is certainly at work!

This morning, we went to the school here and assembled over 400 bags of school supplies for the children. We were visited by the principal during our time there. We asked him if we could pray for him and he was excited to let us do that. Our team of over forty people surrounded the principal and another staff member and we spent close to 10 minutes praying over them, for the students, for the staff, and for the upcoming school year. We could sense that God was present among us in a special way.

Well, its almost Bible time and I need to get back. I just wanted to let you know how things are going. This will probably be my last update until our return. I will likely not have internet access again before I get home. Thanks again to all of the parents who allowed their children to be a part of this experience. You may not get the same person back that you sent down here.

shine!
Jason

M:C 2008 Update

I am taking a break from the craziness and sitting in the computer lab at the Millvale Community Center. This is only our second day here at the Center and so much has happened already. :-)

Monday was mostly a travel day. We pulled out of the RCC parking lot shortly after 9:00am and started the journey south. After a few bathroom breaks and lunch at Wendy's/Taco Bell, we arrived at Pat Pugh's house in time for dinner. We spent most of the evening hanging with Pat, his family, and a few friends who were there. We ended our time there with Pat bringing us up to speed with what is going on in their ministry.

I want to share with you something Pat shared with us. He told us that at the beginning of June, some of the people from the church started meeting an hour before service on Sunday mornings and walked about the community. They would stop at certain places and pray. This is something that have continued to do. Then in a meeting about a week ago, some of the officials from the community informed Pat that the crime rate had dropped significantly in the community for the month of June! Praise God for His faithfulness!! Before we left, we surrounded Pat and prayed for his, his family, and his ministry.

When we arrived at the retreat (our home base for the week) everyone unloaded and got settled in. We ended the evening with a brief devotional. It was good to hear many of the students share what they hoped God would do this week.

Tuesday morning we awoke to rain...a lot of rain. We were supposed to go hand out postcards in the community for a few hours, but instead we went to the center. This actually worked out great. We were able to connect with the kids in the center. After lunch we ran an obstacle course and played kickball. I was so impressed with the way our students worked together and worked hard, without having to asked very much.

When it was Bible time, our students went right to work again. They were singing, smiling, and helping the children get engaged. And when they went to class time, they jumped right into their tasks. It was amazing to see how hard they working and how on task they were. I told them last night that this was my seventh mission trip with a group of teens and Tuesday was the best day on a mission trip I had ever experienced. Every time I looked, everyone was working. I didn't have to ask anyone to do something more than once. They always did it the first time. When they were with the children, they were focused on the children and not engrossed in each other.

If you are a parent of one of the students on this trip, you should be proud. Your children are doing an awesome work down here. They are displaying the love of Christ. They are revealing their character. They are growing spiritually right before my eyes. Thank you to the parents who have labored for years to plant the seeds that are now bearing fruit. You have helped make this trip unfold the way it is. Your work has not gone unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you!

On a less serious note, we did get to enjoy dinner at Sonic yesterday. The troops were very happy! :-)

shine!
Jason

Countdown to Cinci

It's hard to believe that a week from now we will be traveling down I-75 on our way to Cincinnati. This year we will have 34 students, 7 adults, and Matthew. It's hard to imagine that just two years ago we took only 11 students. I can't wait to see what God will do this year. Please be in prayer for our team as we prepare. I would also ask that you pray for the Millvale Community and Pat Pugh, who labors for the Lord in that neighborhood. Pat is a true servant of the Christ. More to come...

shine!
Jason

Enjoy the ride!

This week was our annual “Destination Unknown” trip. For this year’s adventure, we traveled to Muskegon, Michigan, and Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park.

This is the first time Matthew has been to an amusement park since he has been tall enough to ride the big rides.

As soon as we got to the park, Matthew saw Shivering Timbers and wanted to ride. This is the tallest roller coaster in the park and is also a wooden coaster.

I wanted to warm up a bit and enjoy some other parts of the park, so we went to the Corkscrew and some other smaller rides. We also spent some time in the water park where Matthew was able to splash around.

In the water park, Matthew decided he wanted to go on a slide. I am not talking about the little ones either. This was a long, enclosed tunnel. After Matthew and I discussed the slide so I knew he knew what he was getting into, he was off. He grabbed a tube and headed up the stairs to the top.

So here I am, a fairly typical parent of a 7-year-old, waiting at the bottom for him to emerge. It seemed like it took forever, but finally he came flying out of a tunnel. He loved it and wanted to go again. But we decided to take a pass on the return trip up the slide and ventured off to other areas of the park.

A little later we found ourselves in line for Shivering Timbers. Matthew was so excited, but I wondered if he had any idea what he was really about to experience. As the line in front of us continued to shrink, Matthew became more and more excited.

Finally, it was our turn. Michelle, riding behind us, was the nervous mom. I was the excited dad. As we headed up the first hill, Matthew’s anticipation kept increasing.

Then we went over the first hill and Matthew was grinning ear to ear. He enjoyed the whole ride. It was a combination of fear and excitement. But when it was all over, all Matthew could say is “again!”

When we wholeheartedly follow Jesus, it can be like a roller coaster ride. There are times that are scary and exhilarating. It has it’s up and downs.

I find it ironic that in a youth culture where so many teens want to be risky and daring, they shy away from the adventure of following Jesus. Maybe it’s because we have turned discipleship into attending church and being “good people.” Following Jesus is not a stroll in the park or a kiddie ride. It is the hardcore adventure of following Jesus wherever He leads. Jump in, strap in, and enjoy the ride!

shine!
Jason

Elevate Wrap-up

Well, I had intended to post a few other updates during the week, but didn't really have a chance. Whenever I was back in my room I was exhausted. But don't feel bad for me. This isn't a bad exhaustion; it's the really good kind.

If I am going to be honest, I feel completely spent by God. But it feels really good!

If you have ever been there, you know what I mean.

This week I was able to hear the stories of teens who were able to share their struggles - some of them for the first time.

I was also able to witness the spiritual rebirth of some teenagers.

Elevate 2008 was a week I will remember for a long time.

I was reminded once again that today's teens don't want a simple, shallow answer. They don't want to be simply told what to do. My experience has been that they want the journey to be meaningful and real.

This week I was able to have some deep - and often challenging - conversations. Did I offer my thoughts and advice? Sometimes. But usually it was after a lot of listening. That can be hard for me.

One of the biggest lessons God has taught me over the last decade of working with teenagers, is that they often learn more when you say nothing than when you try to tell them everything. Often they just need an ear to hear them out and help them work through things.

The theme for this year was "Unashamed." If we really want this generation of students to be unashamed, we need to be willing to hear them out. Listen to their fears. Feel their pain. Be a safe place. And offer advice, but only after we have really listened to them and tried to understand their situation as much as possible.

As I have said before (and I am sure will say again), teenagers today live in a world that is vastly different than the one I grew up in twenty years ago.

We cannot just tell them, "I was a teen once, and..."

Yes, all adults have been a teenager. Yes, we understand some of the basic emotions they share with our experience. But, we are not in their schools. We didn't live in a culture exactly like the one they know today.

I know there are still things about their world I will never completely understand. But every day I strive to listen a little better, learn a little more, and love with reckless abandon.

I was reminded again this week that those three things are crucial in our calling to help teenagers grow in their relationship with God and bring the Kingdom of God to life in this world.

shine!
Jason

Elevate update #1

Well, the second full day of Elevate has come to a close. I am sitting in my room and about ready to call it a night. It has been a great couple of days!

Sunday evening was basically a time to meet new people and say hi to old friends. I spent most of the evening assigning 102 campers to their Choose Your Own Adventure selections. Yeah for Excel!

Monday we hit the ground running. It was a great day where we focused on going into the deep end. Keith Huey had a great lesson Monday evening. (For the record, I miss being a small group leader like I was back in the early 2000's. And that just made me sound old. LOL)

Anyway, one of the highlights of each day for me is the devo time for our youth group. We meet around 10:30pm each night and everyone has an opportunity to share what God is doing in and around them. Last night I heard some great things that God is doing. We ended our time together by pairing everyone up. We stayed in our circle, but each pair prayed out loud for their partner. It was really cool to hear everyone praying for someone else in the youth group.

Today we focused on our gifts. We have all been blessed with abilities and talents and were challenged tonight by Randy Speck to put those to use for God.

In addition to that, there was a cool concert featuring Riley Armstrong. As usual, Riley was both entertaining and thought-provoking. He has a way of shifting from comedy to a serious moment flawlessly.

Minor Measure, our own youth band, opened for Riley and rocked the house as usual. There should be a video from that soon on Facebook.

Tonight in our youth group devo time, we shared how God is amazing. I was really moved by some of the things our teens shared. We ended our time together by laying on our backs facing up to the sky. With our eyes open, we went around the circle and prayed. It was a great ending to a great day.

On a personal note, please be in prayer for the teens who are here this week. I have had a chance to talk to several teens (who are not all from our youth group) who are wrestling with some heavy stuff this week. Please pray for God to break down walls and pour His Spirit into their lives. I know that He can do more than we can ever ask or imagine, but let's ask anyway.

shine!
Jason

Reborn Identity

This past weekend, 8 students, my family, and I traveled to Beamsville, Ontario to attend the 2008 Great Lakes Youth Rally. It was a great weekend where I saw old friends and made new ones.

We left Friday morning and headed to Port Huron, where we would cross the border into Canada. Crossing the border into Canada was pretty easy. The lady at the border didn't ask to see any papers or anything. Maybe it was the van full of teens and all the subsequent paperwork that scared her off.

Before heading to Beamsville, we decided to head over to Niagara Falls. Most of the students had never been there before. It was amazing to be reminded of God's power as we watched millions of gallons of water flow over the Falls. God created some pretty cool stuff.

While we were at the Falls, we ran into the guys from Watershed. It was really random, but it was pretty cool at the same time.

Then we arrived at Great Lakes Christian College (which is actually a high school). The people there were amazingly friendly and welcoming. From the minute we walked in the door, I felt like I was among friends.

The entire weekend was a great experience. It was great to worship with Watershed. I felt honored to be a part of their last weekend together for a while. I know it was an emotional time for Chris, Vicki, and the other guys in the group.

Our teenagers had a great time making new friends, growing closer to one another, and experiencing God. On Sunday morning during our worship time, Luke Jenema had a chance to share a little of his experience with Mission: Cincinnati. It is always encouraging to hear how God is working in the lives of students. 

One of the most amazing parts of the weekend were two guys that I was able to meet. Ryan was born with a hole in his heart. We sat and talked for quite a while on Saturday afternoon about his life and what he had been through. According to the doctors, Ryan shouldn't even still be alive.

Then there was Joey. Joey was attending Great Lakes until he was diagnosed with cancer. As I sat talking with this teenager, I was amazed by his faith and his attitude. He shared with me that he had been in the hospital on Wednesday (two days before the youth rally), but how glad he was that he was able to come for the weekend. I was humbled by the faith of this 17-year-old. Although he has been through chemo and a host of other medical procedures, Joey continues to live life to the fullest.

The theme for the weekend was "Reborn Identity." It was a time to be reminded of our purpose and our identity. God created us for more than just going to church; He created us to be the church. My prayer is that each of us can find our place in the world to serve others and bring the love of God into this world.

shine!
Jason

I'm glad God isn't a CBP agent

This week we are getting ready to make a journey to Canada. I am speaking at a youth rally up at Great Lakes Christian College (which is actually a high school) in Beamsville, Ontario. It should prove to be an interesting weekend.

As we have been preparing, our group has probably killed a few trees with all of the documentation we need to cross the border. Passport. Birth certificate. Photo ID. Parent consent letter. We need all of these forms just to cross an imaginary line from one parcel of land to another.

Every time I travel out of the US, I get a little nervous when it's time to deal with the CBP folks (CBP is another government acronym which stands for Customs and Border Protection.) I always breathe a sigh of relief when I am through that ordeal. Generally it goes smooth, but occasionally you get the extra questions. Then you never know what will happen. Full body search. Open your suitcase. You are at their mercy.

I am so glad that God doesn't work for the CBP. When you cross into His Kingdom there are no forms. He doesn't ask a bunch of questions. While He asks for commitment, He doesn't ask you to jump through a bunch of hoops.

I love the simplicity of the Christian message. Engaging in the Kingdom of God is about joining in God's dream for Creation. God doesn't want to keep you out. He wants to let you in. Everyone is welcome.

The flip side of that is true as well. God doesn't keep anyone in through coercion. God's grace and mercy does not function that way. He always has open arms waiting to welcome you in. And that is something I doubt you will ever see a CBP agent do.

shine!
Jason

College trip update

It's Tuesday morning and I am sitting in a hotel in Edmund, OK. We are in the midst of a tour of Christian colleges. Here is a recap of our trip so far:

Saturday afternoon we headed out from Rochester. We ended up in Chicago and celebrated Easter at Willow Creek's main campus. It was an uplifting and encouraging morning. The lesson was challenging. It was a pretty amazing experience.

Most of Sunday consisted of driving. I found out why they call it The Great Plains. I have never seen so many fields in my life. The best thing is that the speed limit in some places was 75 mph. After about ten hours of traveling, we arrived in York, Nebraska.

I was pleasantly surprised by York College. I had never been there before. I didn't know what to expect from a small Christian college in a small town in the middle of Nebraska. The people were very friendly. The campus was nice. It was a good experience.  I would recommend that you check out York if you are looking at Christian colleges.

Yesterday afternoon we jumped back in the van and headed south. Last night around 9:00pm we arrived in Edmund, OK. The cool thing is that we had homemade pizzas waiting for us. Kurk Ziegler, one of the students from ministry in Amherst, Ohio, is now a senior at Oklahoma Christian and made food for us! It was good to see Kurk. He looks so grown up! Anyway, we hung out with him for a bit and our two teen boys spent the night there.

I am about to shut this down and head over to campus for our Oklahoma Christian experience. Tonight we travel to Harding. We might want to stop and have pontoons installed on the church van before traveling to Searcy. We will get to experience the floods first hand. More to come...

shine!
Jason