I have to say I am having a great day today. Got the opportunity to spend an hour at Starbucks with my boys while my wife was at work and my daughter at school. It truly was great time just hanging with Dade my 5 year old son and Taetius my almost one year old son. The boys had a great time.
A little less then a month ago we relaunched our Student Ministry. We did not know what to expect as we made some changes but as a leadership team we decided just to go for it. If the last month is an indication of what is to come, I am excited. We have seen some amazing things take place. Our last service I just really felt towards the end of worship that there were some young people struggling with their thought life. I made a simple call, to which I thought one or two would reply, there was over 15 young people that came forward. We had a great time of ministry. The exciting thing was as we ended prayer there was a young girl who asked if she could say something so I do something I rarely do and just handed her the microphone. She began to share her heart and the things she was struggling with. She poured her heart out. Without hesitation our young people rallied around her and began to pray. It was a beautiful site and this girl was touched by the sense of family. It truly was an incredible night. We are seeing more and more stuff like this happen as we continue to press as a leadership team. I am so thankful for the leaders God has surrounded with me. They are the reason we are doing what we are doing and providing a great place for students to grow with jesus and others.
What an incredible weekend we had at Lifecentre. It all started with our Nails dram. We had almost 2,000 people take in the three performances, and we raised almost $6000 to help fight Breast Cancer. Pastor Kim and the whole Nails team, cast, and crew did an amazing job.
Sunday was also a great day for us as a church. We had over 1000 in attendance. The place was electric. We are in for some really exciting times at Lifecentre. All I can say is WOW what a weekend!
Compassion is one of those amazing things that can actually move you to do something. We just spent a week in NYC where we had the opportunity to see the side of the city that most tourists don’t get to see. We got to minister to the homeless, work in missions, serve lunch in soup kitchens, and connect with patients at a hospital for the terminally ill. It truly was an incredible experience that allowed compassion to fill your heart. I believe with all my heart that compassion is the breeding ground for miracles. I say that because every time we read of Jesus being moved by compassion in the scriptures miracles happened. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in Mark 1,
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.
I see in this story Jesus using the opportunity to instruct both his disciples and us by demonstrating how we should respond to the challenge of exercising compassion for people.
We need to be willing to stretch out to those around us. Those that are hurting, broken, sick, lonely. I think we need to show more then token sympathy for those we see in need around us and be willing to stretch out beyond our comfort zone.
We need to be willing to touch lives. Think about how many people live in isolation, no one to love them or be there for them. We need to be willing to stretch out but also be willing to touch a live. That will look different for all of us depending on the situation. What does that look like. It may mean just listening, meeting a practical need, or simply just being a friend to a lonely person on your school campus.
The last thing Jesus did was He spoke. How many people are desperate to hear a word of encouragement. In a society that is so quick to point out faults and failures, how refreshing is it to hear someone speak into your potential.
Jesus did three simple things in this story when He was moved with compassion. We all have those around us that might not have leprosy but are hurting, lonely, sick, or even broken. What an opportunity for us to STRETCH,TOUCH, and SPEAK. You never know you might just see a miracle.
Today we had the opportunity to visit the Bowery Mission in the lower east side of Manhattan. What an experience. I have been to other shelters before, but this one was a truly incredible experience. We got to work with Nigel a student of the program that Bowery offers to those looking to get off the streets. His story was amazing. His one passion is to tell kids/youth his story and to hope that helps them avoid the pitfalls he fell into. We had the opportunity to do some kitchen duty and then serve lunch to all those staying in the mission. All those who take in the meal are required to atted a chapel service. The chapel is the original chapel and Abraham Lincoln hmself spoke it that chapel. After that service we served luch to the general public and then got a tour of the entire facility. It was one of those outings that will change you forever. To see the pasion that these people have to help those who are hurting, broken, down and out is awesome. I was truly humbled to see their desire to serve. The one sign I saw in the mission that said it all was this, “Serve like you are serving the King of Kings”. That is what I was looking at as we serbved lunch to about 200 people. What a day. I will share some pictures with you soon
Well we made it to NYSUM(New York School of Urban Ministry) yesterday. Had a cool experience on the flight, got to sit in front of Carol Alt from Celebrity Apprentice and hear all about how the show was a rough go but an incredible experience. On another note I had my first NY City subway experience last night and I loved it. What a great way to get around. We took the subway to the Port Authority to minister to the homeless at a shelter. We came with blankets, care packs, food, and water to give to those who wanted it. The awesome part was getting to know these people just a little. Jimmy was a guy I got to connect with last night. He was a great guy, loved football, loved his family and was just trying to get back to Ohio. Had the opportunity to pray with him, it was great. I am truly excited that my first trip to NY City is not to do all the normal tourist things but to be the hands of Jesus to those who are hurting, broken, discouraged. My prayer for our whole team is that through this experience we would truly understand what compassion is and would be moved by it to do something. I know this that everytime Jesus was moved with compassion, miracles happened. Looking forward to sharing more with you form our experience in NY.
Woke up this morning at 6:30am to the sound of freezing rain falling against our skylight. When I looked outside I was floored to see another 20cm of snow on the ground. Is it ever going to stop. The kids are loving it but I am getting sick of shoveling. I am thankful for the mystery plow that has been coming buy recently which is a total blessing that leaves me with only half the drive way to shovel. Who ever you are THANK YOU, I believe they are also paying our lead pastor Jason Boucher a visit.
One thing I have loved about the snow though is the way the neighbourhood helps each other out, shoveling, snow blowing, it is great to see the community rally around each other. This morning I had the opportunity to push two cars that were stuck.
I am even thinking about doing something drastic, wearing a Hawaiian Shirt as a prophetic statement.
What a weekend away we had. I wish I could go into everything with you but I can’t. We had an amazing time away. The purpuse of our time away was to answer three questions.
1. What is our current reality as a Student Ministry right now
2. What are the objectives for us as a Student Ministry over the next 12 months
3. What are the steps we need to achieve those objectives.
The leaders were awesome. The dove right in and the great thing was we were brutaly honest with each other. I feel that alone was a huge victory for us. We bonded as a team, relationships got tighter, and there was a sense of great things in store for us as a team.
This Friday we launch our new look, new feel Student Ministry and I can’t wait to see all the planning and prep work that has gone into to it fleshed out as we continue to prvide an environment where students can grow with Jesus and others.
