September 15th, 2013.

Father God,
Guide my words as I write. Guide my steps as I lead. This world is yours. I am yours. Lead me like only You can. I love you, mighty King. :)
Your Girl.

There's a lot to say in a short time, but I am so honored to share stories with you.
Some days It's hard to believe that I'm here. 23 years old, working for a church who has blessed me in countless ways, where the hearts of the people who serve here are inspiring and welcoming, a place far away from what I've always known and yet I feel like family. A place that believes in me, supports me, prays for me and encourages me. I never pictured a place like this.
I never pictured being a 23 year old youth pastor at a church who is 3 years old and never had a youth pastor before. I never imagined starting something like this from the ground up. I never thought I'd gain the skills, understanding, or drive needed to do something like this, and I still have a long way to go.
But God knew. Isn't that cool?
And looking back He has been preparing me in steps and seasons all along the way for things coming in the future. He knows me. And He's bigger than anything, so my inabilities don't compare to His ability and His power. 
With that being said I am daily humbled by His power; by His choice to move in and work with His people. I'm doing something I love! And I'm doing it with God. So when I look at my inability, my lack of understanding, my own failures, He's quick to remind me of His peace and His placing.
I am not at The Eastside by accident, and that's cool too.

And so with all the nerves in the world, but as much trust as I have in a faithful God, the first ever TEVC Youth Event was held on Sunday, September 15, 2013!
The goal was to build relationships.
Simple. Let the students come.
Let them be themselves.
Offer them snacks.
Facilitate conversation.
And help them to know that here, with these people, they're safe.
So without any previous time spent altogether I watched as kids came walking through the front door to be a part of an evening full of students their own age, conversation, s'mores and games.
Most of the students I have had a chance to begin getting to know one on one through church. So, seeing them in a setting like this was new. Not to mention most of them didn't really know each other.

So first, we grabbed snacks. Donuts, cider, chips, salsa, cookies, etc. and we talked.
"Let's go around and say our name. Tell an interesting fact about you or what you're into" was the opener.
And as kids got chances to talk about themselves cool connections were made. Doors were open.
Throughout the night we played games that I thought were awesome, but most of them hated.
(like Catch Phrase....c'mon now.)
And yet still, connections were made through that, and people came out of their shell.
As the night progressed we made our way out to the bonfire even with misty rain falling.
We roasted s'mores, played more games, asked each other questions and I could not help but be impressed with the students. They were allowing themselves to be themselves and I didn't have to do any prodding.
They felt comfortable.
And they were excited to be there.
I was so delighted and loved watching their personalities come out!
One student brought a football with him, and while he was the only kid in the group who played a sport, everyone jumped up to play.
Most of them saying "I've never played before, but i'll try it out!" and not scared to potentially look like a fool.
Relationships.
Safety.
The rest of the night was a mix of games and conversation and cold wet feet.
The night wrapped up and slowly kids started getting picked up.
With the help of the awesome hosts, we cleaned up the place and I drove home late that evening with excitement.

As Dan told me in our meeting that following week, he had prepared to give me a pep talk. Thinking with the rain, the little amount of students we have in our church who fit the age group, and this being our first event ever, that maybe it would end up just being me and this would have been just a start to making something happen.
But when 9 students came, 4 of whom don't attend our church, and 5 out of the 9 being boys (which was unexpected) we were all smiles and thanking God.

We at Eastside firmly believe God is up to something here. I feel totally not equipped, but I know He is preparing me day by day and that He has it.
I'm just excited to be along for the journey =]

So whatever you're wrestling with God about.
Wherever you're feeling you're not capable of.
Whatever nerves are sprouting up and getting you to sit still rather than move forward,
Trust in God.
If He wills it, He'll do it. and He is faithful.
Just try.
And had the night been just me and no kids, it would have been ok.
Cause it's not failure God is concerned about, it's development.
See what He is doing, and join in!

Thanks for being a part of this with me and for all your prayers :)

Something worth telling.

Lately I've been thinking about what it is that drew me into Jesus.  How did I decide that He's worth following and who was it that first helped me understand who Jesus is.
What was it for you?

A youth pastor?  Your family?  Kids at school? A billboard, tv show, magazine article?  A desperate situation? Your own curiosity?
I don't know whether you follow God or don't care about God, but this I know, no one's story is the same.  And there is no one model for telling someone about the God who saves.  Every person has their real story with their real hurt, their real curiosity and their very real needs. Praise God He meets us where we're at rather than asking us to fit a mold.

I'm currently reading a book titled Jesus Brand Spirituality where author Ken Wilson writes:

I had been to confirmation class as a kid.  I memorized the Ten Commandments and the Apostle's Creed and the longer Nicene Creed. The class influenced and informed me, but at the time it didn't take. I got hung up on a question I never bothered to ask in class: 'Why would God want to be praised? Is He some kind of egomaniac?' I couldn't swallow the package, and I didn't feel that questioning the package was allowed. After confirmation, I stopped going to church.
Several years later, I read the gospel of Matthew in a weak moment. My fascination with Jesus had begun, and reading the Bible only made it worse. I was impressed by the Jesus portrayed in Matthew.  ....I didn't have any opinions about whether the Bible was the Word of God and, if so, in what sense. I didn't have any opinions about whether Jesus was born of a virgin. I didn't have any opinions about the existence of or the nature of heaven and hell or whether Jesus was the only way a person could connect with God. I had impressions from the teaching of Jesus in the Gospels about these things, but they were sketchy. I wasn't always sure how he was using terms and what exactly he meant by things he said touching on these topics.
The package that drew me wasn't the system of Christian doctrine. The package was the person, Jesus. And thankfully, thankfully, thankfully - the people around me who were on their own path toward the center thought that was just fine. I didn't feel any pressure from them to swallow any faith package whole. I just felt a sense of shared excitement with them about taking one step closer to knowing.
So I offered myself to Jesus as a disciple, a student, a follower. (pgs. 64-65)

Coming into this job I have a heart created by God to reach out to teens. I believe there is hope for them that they rarely get a chance to see. I know that what might be effective for one as far as sharing that hope may not be effective for another.
So as a person working in a church, but more importantly as a follower of Jesus Christ himself, I pledge to get to know God's people. Not for who I think they should be. Or for what they may be in the future. But for who they are now; a person wired and created by God to know Him and to impact the world for His kingdom through their own unique life.
I'd like to think I could spew the same information at every person and expect it to make all the difference, but how much more exciting to have the opportunity to get to know the heartbeat of everyone I come into contact with? And to see how God is a part of every single story no matter the age, race, denomination or history. That's a God I love serving. That's a God passionate about adventure.
Invite Him in.
Share what He's done for you. 

Thanks for being a part of the story :)