It's taken a little while to post this, but we are back from vacation and I'm still processing these last two days.
The last two days were the highlight of the week for us.
We chatted with Denise, the Community Life Pastor (also a very good friend of Lilly!) on Thursday morning. She just oozes love and it was an absolute joy to share our story with her. She had some very encouraging and wise words to say to us. We also got to hear Brad's story, another pastor on staff with MH. Just incredible stories to listen to. There are many more details about the conversation, but I will have to reveal them at a later time. Oh, and by the way, if you're in youth ministry and looking for some good student leadership craning material (or ANY training material for that matter), you must pick up Denise's book Leadership 101. It is by far the best book on student leadership I have come across. Interactive, easy to read, and a wonderful comprehensive look at skills and inner life in leadership. Seriously, go pick it up and check it out. You won't be disappointed.
Later we chatted with Steve, the Jr. high youth pastor, which was yet another encouraging conversation as we shared our story. It was great to hear his story as well.
It's amazing how God has worked in putting this staff together. Seriously just absolutely crazy stories on how they got where they are at.
Thursday night it was off to Schuler's book store to see Craig Gross of xxxchurch.com for a book signing. If you haven't checked out their ministry, it is by far one of the best in fighting pornography. We are so excited to see where God continues to take it. We got to meet the rest of the family as well (their kids are just priceless!), and then proceeded to have breakfast with them on Friday morning before we left. I got to play some pretty intense games of Care Bears Dominoes and Chutes and Ladders with their son, and their little daughter has a smile that will make you sing all day! She reminded me of one of the Anne Geddes photographs of the baby in the bed of rose petals with the big smile on her face. What a cutie!
The saddest part of our vacation came when we actually had to start the drive home. It was honestly one of the most refreshing weeks we have ever had and one of the best vacations we have taken as well. God is doing incredible things at Mars and I'm sure we will keep in touch with the many we met for years to come.
One observation I made to Julia in all of this. I used to have a star-struck syndrome about certain people in the Christian journey. But the amazing thing has been over these past two years that just like the rest of God's story, they're just ordinary people who God does extraordinary things with. This is the same story as the disciples. It continues today. Every new friendship we forge is continuing encouragement that we are not on this journey alone.
This journey also encouraged us in being in youth ministry. I've been at this for 9 years now, and even though there has been many frustrations, it's great to see students to amazing things for God. We need them in the church NOW. Their is so much more they can do now for the sake of Jesus.
Honestly, this was a week I will never forget. There are many more things that are not written in these blog posts that I can tell you, but I will have to save them for another time. I can't wait to tell the rest of the story, because it is absolutely inspiring! We are so grateful for this journey God has taken us on so far. We are even more excited to see what lies in store for us down the road!
Tags: Mars Hill, Rob Bell, personal, Craig Gross, xxxchurch.com
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