a great quote!

My friend, Brian Coday, had this quote on his blog and I had to add it...

“Christianity has always been a youth movement. As we look over the pages of church history, we find, more often than not, that brave thrusts into the unknown have been led by the young. Can we not see in them the most powerful potential the church has? We must consider the child or young person as a dynamic personality, capable, under God, of realizing his/her best self. We must lead these souls to the point where they are set aflame with the adventure of serving Christ.” --Henrietta Mears

AMEN!

the joy of living out one's calling

Three times in the past five days, I've been able to experience the joy of fulfilling the passion of my heart - getting people connected with each other. On Saturday at Unleashed: the Student Leadership Conference, I was able to introduce a girl who's is starting to lead her to school's Bible Club this year with another girl in the next school over who is leading her Bible club this year. They really hit it off. I know they'll encourage and spur each other on through this school year (pictured right).

All summer, I've been trying to set up a meeting with one of our local high school principals and some youth pastors. We finally got to have that meeting on Monday. Only one of the guys was able to make it, but the principal was so open to us and gave us some great insight into what's happening at that school. We left really excited and encouraged. I loved being able to help connect my youth pastor friend with the principal at the school where most of his kids go.

Then yesterday, I met a couple youth pastors for lunch for the express purpose of helping them get to know each other. They're both in the same town, but didn't really know each other. Now they're gonna play raquetball together sometime soon. Man, I love this job. This is what I was born to do.

we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up

A new school year is beginning and last night I had the opportunity to speak about the principles that the book of Daniel has for students going back to school. My good friend, Dave Grimm and his wife were on vacation, so I spoke at his youth group for him (pictured right). Daniel and Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego demonstrated great courage, strength, and honor in the face of dangerous opposition. What great examples they are for Christian teenagers today. We have our "Unleashed" conference this coming Saturday at which we train and equip students to serve God in their schools. I'm looking forward to seeing many Christian students resolve in their hearts to worship nothing but the one true God. May God give all our Christian teenagers a great year of making a difference for Him!

Youth Pastors Cookout and Cornhole Tournament

Ah yes...the ancient game played by our ancestors in the old world - cornhole (?) What? Oh yes, cornhole-to-the-death (just kidding) was the game of choice at the annual Youth Pastors Picnic on Saturday August 4th at the home of Tom & Shannon Shrum. Pictured here are Jon Price from Murrysville Community Church and Eric Simpson from New Stanton Alliance. Jon is demonstrating proper form and throwing technique (I think...). Eric is thinking to himself, "He's way off - there's no way." The stakes were raised this year as the prize for winning the championship was a gift certificate for Cracker Barrell. The battle to dominate the cornhole field was on. At the end of the day, our gracious hosts became the envy of all when they won the coveted prize of cornhole champions. Tom and Shannon are below holding the prize. Oh the weeping and gnashing of teeth that we who lost experienced. Our hopes dashed, we finished eating and left having had a great time together.