Unite is always incredible. This is the third year we have taken a group of students down to the beach for a week, for what we call, "Unite." However, something was different about this year, and I still am struggling to put my finger on what was so different. I am not sure if it was the weight of the Holy Spirit that was there from the very beginning, the desire of our students to truly know Christ more, or what, but never the less, something was different about this year. From the very beginning, God began to do work, and change lives...it was truly incredible. I have never been a part of something that was so life changing.
On Sunday night, Eric Samuel Timm (www.nooneunderground.com) kicked off our week and challenged our students to restore relationships among themselves, and allow Jesus to be repainted to them throughout the week. That is exactly what happened. Our students restored relationships with one another, as did our adults, and the floodgates were open for Jesus to begin to do some incredible things, and He didn't leave us hanging. It was the perfect way to begin our week, Thank you Eric for allowing the spirit to use you!
Monday morning we began our day with a Sand Castle Competition, and I must say, I was impressed with some of the castles, and rather impressed with some of the groups creativity in creating, well the Empty Tomb, and a plane crash! :) Whatever our students created, they all did a great job of working together to accomplish a goal!
Monday night was an incredible time of worship with the Starlit Drive, as they did an amazing job of leading us to the throne, and Shawn Spickler brought the Word about remembering our God is mighty to save, and He is bigger than all your doubts, fears, and struggles! Late night Monday night was amazing! We brought in PK from Atlanta, and they put on a show! It was incredible! They are so talented, and their lyrics are amazing! Thank you Marlon, and LaSonna for sharing your gift with us! (www.pkallday.com)
Tuesday morning we had our first morning session to recap what we did the night before, and Sarah D'Attoma, and Michael Allen did an awesome job leading us into throne! We dove a little deeper into Zephaniah 3:17 and really saw just how mighty our God actually is!
Tuesday afternoon at Unite means one thing: PAINT. This year, we decided to do paint dodgeball, and what a time it was. Despite the balls being incredibly difficult to throw, our students had a great attitude about it, and were rather surprised when I threw out noodles for them to use, and the free for all paint war of Unite 2K11 began! It was a spectacle to see!
Tuesday night, we worshipped, dug into the word, talked about renewing our minds, and controlling our thoughts. Shonn Keels from Team Impact joined us to bring the Word, and did an amazing job. It was so cool to see students hearts being changed by worship, and by the Word! We settled in late night Tuesday night for an outdoor movie night, as some healing, and growing took place in some lives, while others enjoyed "Despicable Me."
Wednesday was the pinnacle of Unite 2K11. It started off with a morning session that the presence of God, and Spirit were so evident, it was so thick in the room that I knew God was going to do incredible things on this day, and He did. We talked about dominated our thought life, and keeping as far away from sin as possible. Wednesday afternoon, we took our group picture, and then served the retreat center! I have never been more proud of our students, and the efforts they gave in that heat.
Now, if you told me before hand that Wednesday night session would be the pinnacle of this week, I would have called you crazy, and I would have been dead wrong, because it definitely was. There are no words to describe what Wednesday night was like. It was filled with the Spirit of God more than ever before. Students were surrendering everything they had to Jesus Christ. It was so evident that God was working in everyone's lives in that room that night. Students had the opportunity to nail to the cross a "Hello, my name is _____ label" and claim off of the cross a "Cursed but redeemed" label, which they are to keep with them at all times to help them realize that is where we are to live. In the state that we are cursed, so cursed, but we are redeemed not by what we did, but by what Jesus did! And if evening session wasn't amazing enough, Late night got even better. We had planned to do the late night slip n slide, but with the spirit being so evident, and GOd doing so much work, the Spirit led me to make a decision and change it to late night worship, and I am so grateful God led me to do that, because the late night worship session, was beyond words. Students were throwing everything they had in worship to Jesus Christ. It was incredible to see!
By Thursday morning, students had started to think about going home, and sadness began to sit in, however, we had one day left, and God was going to make it clear that He was not done yet, and that is exactly what He did! Anita did an incredible job bringing the Word during morning session on Thursday, Paige and James led our students in worship as some of us others made our way down to the beach for our senior session! We Challenged our graduates, worshipped with them, and prayed with them. It was a special time!
Thursday afternoon came around, and it was time for our beach baptisms...and it was a powerful testimony as we baptized 21 students in the ocean, with hundreds of people standing around watching the Holy Spirit literally change lives before their eyes! We had one student, Hunter, who was not even on our trip or with one of groups, but was just watching our students be baptized, and He felt the Spirit leading him to make that decision as well, since He just accepted Christ a few weeks earlier. It was so neat to be a part of. I was so proud of our students.
Thursday night was where everything came to a head. It was again, passionate, exciting, incredible time in Worship and the Word, and we finished out the week on the beach, praying together, worshipping together, and thinking about who we really need to REpaint Jesus too when we arrived home. It was an incredible way to end, and incredible week.
I need to take some time and thank some people:
First, my Jesus, I love you so much. Just over 10 years ago, when you came into my life, I never thought you could be so incredible, and you continue to amaze me more and more. Thank you for your grace, and your neverending love that never fails. I do this for you, and only so that YOU receive the glory.
My wife, Sarah. You are an incredible wife. You are the most amazing women of God in the world, and you bring me so much joy, and our home so much life! You are a women of prayer, and support. I am so thankful, and blessed to call you my wife, and to serve with you. I love you so much.
My youth pastor, Kennon Vaughan. KV, you inspired me to allow God to use me to change lives, and you made such an impact in my life, I am doing everything in His power to allow Him to change me and use me daily!
My best friend, and Discipler, Danny. DH, you taught me everything I know about the Word, and the importance of discipleship. You taught me most of what I know about Student Ministry. You are my best friend man, and I am so thankful for you in my life!
My Assistant, Anita. NEEDS!!! STUART!!! :) You are amazing! I am so blessed to serve with you, and so thankful you put up with me! Thank you for all you do, and the support you give me behind the scenes of our ministry.
My Student Ministry Leadership Team! Y'all are incredible. Enough said. You make this ministry go. You pour into students, and love on students like I've never seen before. You sacrifice your time and energy to see students lives changed. You partner with me in living out the vision that God has given us for this ministry. You keep me accountable, and support me. You teach me so much as I continue to learn and grow. You trust me as I am trusting Christ, and that means the world to me. You always have my back, and I know that, and please know, I always have yours. I love y'all so so much, and am so honored to serve with you.
Our Student's Parents: Simply put, Thank you. Thank you for allowing us to assist you as you lead your students towards the cross! Thank you for trusting us as we attempt to love on your students, and help them grow and mature in their walk with Christ. Thank you for providing snacks on Sunday mornings, and reading my sometimes pointless monday morning emails! Thank you for raising some amazing teenagers who we love so much!
And Finally, our STUDENTS. I love y'all so much! I am so proud of each of you! I am so proud to be your youth pastor, and watch Christ transform you daily! Thank you for your openness this past week at Unite, and I know you were blessed because of it! I am so excited to see God transform our church, this city, this state, and this world through y'all! It is an honor to serve you on a daily basis! You truly are the best students in the world, and I sincerely love each of you, and am so proud of you.
Well, Unite 2K11 is in the books. That's a wrap. It was incredible, and it will never be forgotten. But with the end of Unite 2K11 means one thing: Time to start planning for Unite 2012! See you there!
Be Blessed,
Toes.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday Morning Recap
Well, Yesterday, and on Wednesday night we started a new series that we will be doing in Youth Worship all throughout the summer on the book of Habakkuk! The series came out of the Village Church, which is the church that Matt Chandler leads. It was incredibly eye opening to me as I was listening to it each week, and I knew the Lord wanted me to take our students through this often overlooked book!
Yesterday, we looked at how dangerous it can be when we are silent with God, and with one another. What I love most about Habakkuk is that he was honest with God. What would your life be like if you were just honest with God, and with one another? Truth is, our lives would be radically different!
The truth is that God wants us to be honest with Him, even in the times when we are frustrated and upset with Him, He would rather we tell Him, and be honest, than try to hide and cover up something that is impossible to cover up before the Creator. He sees all, knows all, and is in all...that's just who He is.
So just a simple blog post about being honest with God, and one another. So a simple question to end this post...are you honest with God? Are you honest with people? Focus on the Cross, and honesty with God will be one of your favorite things to do!
Be Blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Yesterday, we looked at how dangerous it can be when we are silent with God, and with one another. What I love most about Habakkuk is that he was honest with God. What would your life be like if you were just honest with God, and with one another? Truth is, our lives would be radically different!
The truth is that God wants us to be honest with Him, even in the times when we are frustrated and upset with Him, He would rather we tell Him, and be honest, than try to hide and cover up something that is impossible to cover up before the Creator. He sees all, knows all, and is in all...that's just who He is.
So just a simple blog post about being honest with God, and one another. So a simple question to end this post...are you honest with God? Are you honest with people? Focus on the Cross, and honesty with God will be one of your favorite things to do!
Be Blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday Morning Recap
Well, it's Monday...it came again. It's like once every seven days, it happens again, and let me tell you, I am not a fan of Monday's. However, after a great Sunday, and an awesome dinner with my wife, and two of our students last night, it was easy to hop into the bed early, and get some seriously needed shut eye. It felt good to wake up this morning early, and head to the gym...trying to get myself back on track! It's going to happen!
Anyways, to recap yesterday, it was an incredible day with our graduates. The class of 2011...a very special class in our church. They will be truly missed. They're not the most outspoken group, well with the exception of one or two, but they were incredibly influential in so many ways. They will be greatly missed.
I challenged them from the book of Colossians on what to do now, now that they have graduated, what is next? Colossians 2:6-7 provides great insight on this question! If you'd like to hear the message, you can listen to it on iTunes, or at this website: www.northsidebaptist.org/belong/students. To briefly sum it up, I challenged them to walk in Him. It is now their time to make their faith their own. They can only live off of their parents faith for so long, and it is now time for Jesus to become real to them. For all of His mercy, His grace, His goodness, His glory to be revealed to them, and become real to them. I challenged them to know that God is enough, and He is always with them. Then we challenged them to continue to build off the foundation that has already been laid...we have done our best to lay the foundation of the scriptures in their lives, and its our prayer that they would build off of that daily. Read the Word. The Word can only change you if you read it! Study it! Memorize it! Live it! Love it! Nothing has changed my life more than an active love relationship with the word of God. Think about a love relationship in your life...how do you handle it? You pursue it. You think about it. You spend time trying to be with him/her. You are constantly doing anything you can to love that relationship- and that should be our attitude not only towards Jesus, but towards His Word as well. We should always be in a love relationship with His Word.
You want to see Jesus radically change your life, and your world? Read the Bible! It will change you!
Graduates, you are amazing. We are proud of you and we love you! Praying for you that God would do great things in and through you!
Be Blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Anyways, to recap yesterday, it was an incredible day with our graduates. The class of 2011...a very special class in our church. They will be truly missed. They're not the most outspoken group, well with the exception of one or two, but they were incredibly influential in so many ways. They will be greatly missed.
I challenged them from the book of Colossians on what to do now, now that they have graduated, what is next? Colossians 2:6-7 provides great insight on this question! If you'd like to hear the message, you can listen to it on iTunes, or at this website: www.northsidebaptist.org/belong/students. To briefly sum it up, I challenged them to walk in Him. It is now their time to make their faith their own. They can only live off of their parents faith for so long, and it is now time for Jesus to become real to them. For all of His mercy, His grace, His goodness, His glory to be revealed to them, and become real to them. I challenged them to know that God is enough, and He is always with them. Then we challenged them to continue to build off the foundation that has already been laid...we have done our best to lay the foundation of the scriptures in their lives, and its our prayer that they would build off of that daily. Read the Word. The Word can only change you if you read it! Study it! Memorize it! Live it! Love it! Nothing has changed my life more than an active love relationship with the word of God. Think about a love relationship in your life...how do you handle it? You pursue it. You think about it. You spend time trying to be with him/her. You are constantly doing anything you can to love that relationship- and that should be our attitude not only towards Jesus, but towards His Word as well. We should always be in a love relationship with His Word.
You want to see Jesus radically change your life, and your world? Read the Bible! It will change you!
Graduates, you are amazing. We are proud of you and we love you! Praying for you that God would do great things in and through you!
Be Blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, May 20, 2011
Class of 2011
Each year, in a youth pastor's life, comes a time when they have to say goodbye, good luck, and thanks for being apart of our ministry to several students. That time has arrived for myself, and our ministry. This Sunday, we will be honoring our graduates of the class of 2011. I wanted to dedicate this post to them, and let them know how proud I am of them, and how excited I am to see what God is going to do in their lives over the course of the next several years, and many years to come.
This is going to be short and sweet, but please understand, and know: I am very proud of you, it has been an honor to serve you, and do life together with you for the past two years. You have been a blessing to have around our ministry, and each of you has added so much to our ministry. I am so excited to see what YOU are going to do for the Kingdom.
My encouragement to you is this: Stay strong, hold the faith, and lean on Christ in all things. Never trust yourself more than you trust Him. Never allow your pride to overshadow what Christ, and His grace is doing in your life. Never neglect your Bible reading time, always get in that Word, consistently. Pray, pray, pray, and when you think you've prayed enough, pray some more. Allow the power of His Word to change you, daily. Become more like Him, and less like the world. In the good times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In the crappy times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In all things, HE IS ENOUGH AND HE IS WORTHY. NEVER FORGET THAT!
Thanks for all you've done for me, and for our ministry, you will be missed.
Love you guys, and Congrats!
Be Blessed,
Toes.
This is going to be short and sweet, but please understand, and know: I am very proud of you, it has been an honor to serve you, and do life together with you for the past two years. You have been a blessing to have around our ministry, and each of you has added so much to our ministry. I am so excited to see what YOU are going to do for the Kingdom.
My encouragement to you is this: Stay strong, hold the faith, and lean on Christ in all things. Never trust yourself more than you trust Him. Never allow your pride to overshadow what Christ, and His grace is doing in your life. Never neglect your Bible reading time, always get in that Word, consistently. Pray, pray, pray, and when you think you've prayed enough, pray some more. Allow the power of His Word to change you, daily. Become more like Him, and less like the world. In the good times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In the crappy times, praise Him, seek Him, and love Him. In all things, HE IS ENOUGH AND HE IS WORTHY. NEVER FORGET THAT!
Thanks for all you've done for me, and for our ministry, you will be missed.
Love you guys, and Congrats!
Be Blessed,
Toes.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Smith
Well, my first wedding as the officiant is officially in the books! It was an incredible time of worship, commitment, and celebration of two people's love for one another, and for our creator. It was in a beautiful setting, with beautiful families and friends, and I was honored to be apart of it. I will be honest, I was incredibly nervous. I usually do not get nervous speaking in front of people, ever, no matter who, or how many people...however, someone's wedding day is a completely different idea than preaching! If I screw up while preaching, or really blow it, I get to try it again next weekend, however, with a wedding, for these people, it's their only shot! Therefore, the pressure was on! Prior to the wedding, I found myself making joke after joke, I guess to keep the mood loose, and my mind off the magnitude of the opportunity that God has provided me with, and my friends had entrusted to me!
Well, the time came, and the door opened, and it was time to make our way to the banquet hall where people were waiting, and expecting a beautiful ceremony! And you know what, that is exactly what we gave them! Michael and Megan, and their families, and friends, did amazing! It was beautiful!
To one of my best friends, Michael (not sure you'll ever read this) but it was an honor to be apart of your special day. I am incredibly proud of you, and proud to be your friend bro. Megan, (who probably will read this), you looked beautiful, and Michael is incredibly blessed to call you his wife! \
To the both of you, we are praying for you, always here for you, and remember- never lose that joy of your first date! :) Proud of y'all! Thanks again for allowing me to share in your day! Love ya'll!
Be blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Well, the time came, and the door opened, and it was time to make our way to the banquet hall where people were waiting, and expecting a beautiful ceremony! And you know what, that is exactly what we gave them! Michael and Megan, and their families, and friends, did amazing! It was beautiful!
To one of my best friends, Michael (not sure you'll ever read this) but it was an honor to be apart of your special day. I am incredibly proud of you, and proud to be your friend bro. Megan, (who probably will read this), you looked beautiful, and Michael is incredibly blessed to call you his wife! \
To the both of you, we are praying for you, always here for you, and remember- never lose that joy of your first date! :) Proud of y'all! Thanks again for allowing me to share in your day! Love ya'll!
Be blessed,
Toes
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, May 13, 2011
A friends wedding !
Well, as I sit in the airport today waiting for a flight to Columbus, OH, I am reminded of the grace and mercy God continually shows me in my life! I am heading home to perform the wedding of one of my best friends from high school, Mike Smith. It is a completely humbling experience to be asked to perform their special day as they enter into their marriage. As I sit here with my lovely wife, it reminds me of our wedding day just under two years ago! I remember the nerves, the anxiety, the stress, the joy, the laughter, and the love that was celebrated at our wedding! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for Mike and Megan, but to y'all, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for allowing me to be apart of your special day! See you in Ohio peeps!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Friday, March 4, 2011
DownLine Mens Summit Recap 4
Loved this final session by Chandler!
DownLine Summit Final Session
Biblical Pragmatism
Matt Chandler
Matthew 5:13-16
- One of the problems we find in evangelical circles is an over emphasis of ONE thing at the expense of everything else.
Matthew 5:13-16- Most certainly is a passage on discipleship
- People do not like salt- they like what salt flavors
- Salt doesn't make people do crazy things- they want salt on something
- Salt on earth- what occurs when we hear the word of God and are transformed by the Word of God so that we live in such a way that we become light to the World
- Salt comes before light
- In our culture there is an obsession with acquiring more and more information that we have no intention of applying
- Christianity in the west has become a joke- "muslims are serious- talk about them, get yourself killed."
- We have information, but we do not have transformed lives-
- Anyone can spout information, but they have no life to point to
- If you have information, but not transformation- it is worthless- throw it out to be trampled on by men
How did we get here? (a place where we have information but not transformation)
1. A unnecessary emphasis on width over depth
- When people do not apply what they know, its hardening to the truth
- Can't teach people who can't add to multiply
2. Absolute lack of authentic community
- Two things we always need: 1) encouragement and 2) Rebuke
3. Lack of submission to and understanding of Biblical Authority
4. Overemphasis on light
- proclamation without transformed lives ends up being trampled on by men
5. We have no idea how people change because we live in a culture of speed
- Spiritual growth is not a super highway
- "It's climbing everest in your underwear"
- People grow like children- you can't see it, but you can measure it
If all we did here is get information, then we are guilty of the very problem that is eroding away what we want to see happen in the lives of the men we pour into!
When all said and done, WE WIN! The glory of God covers all the earth!
Be Blessed,
Toes
DownLine Summit Final Session
Biblical Pragmatism
Matt Chandler
Matthew 5:13-16
- One of the problems we find in evangelical circles is an over emphasis of ONE thing at the expense of everything else.
Matthew 5:13-16- Most certainly is a passage on discipleship
- People do not like salt- they like what salt flavors
- Salt doesn't make people do crazy things- they want salt on something
- Salt on earth- what occurs when we hear the word of God and are transformed by the Word of God so that we live in such a way that we become light to the World
- Salt comes before light
- In our culture there is an obsession with acquiring more and more information that we have no intention of applying
- Christianity in the west has become a joke- "muslims are serious- talk about them, get yourself killed."
- We have information, but we do not have transformed lives-
- Anyone can spout information, but they have no life to point to
- If you have information, but not transformation- it is worthless- throw it out to be trampled on by men
How did we get here? (a place where we have information but not transformation)
1. A unnecessary emphasis on width over depth
- When people do not apply what they know, its hardening to the truth
- Can't teach people who can't add to multiply
2. Absolute lack of authentic community
- Two things we always need: 1) encouragement and 2) Rebuke
3. Lack of submission to and understanding of Biblical Authority
4. Overemphasis on light
- proclamation without transformed lives ends up being trampled on by men
5. We have no idea how people change because we live in a culture of speed
- Spiritual growth is not a super highway
- "It's climbing everest in your underwear"
- People grow like children- you can't see it, but you can measure it
If all we did here is get information, then we are guilty of the very problem that is eroding away what we want to see happen in the lives of the men we pour into!
When all said and done, WE WIN! The glory of God covers all the earth!
Be Blessed,
Toes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)