Text

We recently finished our text series in TVM and it was extremely fun! We have a ton of left over questions that I will continue to answer on the Blog as we go along. As we near the end of the question we will open up the discussion again and allow for more questions to be asked and answered on the blog.

Here are today's questions:

1. do you keep a journal?
2. who thought of the idea of the TEXT series?
3. does god love bad people?
4. what time is it?
5. where do i live?

Do you keep a journal?

Not on a regular basis. When I go through something significant (good times, tragedy, new adventures) I will capture my memories and reflections in a journal, but as far as a regular journal... nope. I guess my blog is kind of a journal. I would like to discipline myself to journal more often but... maybe 2009's resolution.

Who thought of the idea of the TEXT series?

The majority of the creative ideas used in TVM are thought of and created by a team of people. While a specific person doesn't come to mind when giving credit for the TEXT series idea I'd blame Justin if you didn't like it. If you thought it was cool then give props to Josh Danskin.

Does God love bad people?

YES! Just as God created you and I who are hopefully "good" people, he also created those people we would call "bad." They weren't created to be bad, but have made choices to be who they are. I like to present it this way. God is the father of us all. In natural parenting you children will do things that are "bad," the disappoint you, hurt you, make you angry and on and on. However, just because they have chose a behavior contrary to what you'd desire, as a parent you still love them. The same is true with God. He doesn't look down and see the label; thief, murderer, molester, liar and so on, he sees a broken child of his that needs to be healed, forgiven and restored. Check out this scripture:

Romans 8:38-39 (New International Version)

38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God loves us all, good or bad. This doesn't mean he will go along with our choices and looks the other way. No he sees what is done and will discipline those who need it, but he still loves all of us, no matter what we've done or will do.

What time is it?
At the tone the time will be 4:47pm... beep! It's Christmas time! It's TIME for a word from our sponsors. Tool time? IT'S PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME, PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME! Take your pick I guess...

Where do I live?

You live at your house. Probably in Washington state or to be more specific Snohomish county.

Most of these questions were some of the funny questions we got. We will tackle some tougher ones in the next post.

Text this week...

Here are the questions we will tackle this week in our Text series:

Wednesday

• What should I do if I like someone from church?
• What’s the biggest age difference there should be in a relationship when you are younger?
• When is it okay to date? Around what get do you think it’s appropriate to start dating?
• If God told you that you were going to marry someone does that mean it’s going to happen? What if you don’t want to marry that person?
• What do you do if you really like someone who loves God and wants a relationship with that person, but they are distracting you from God?

Sunday

1st Service

• Do you know anyone that has met their wife or husband at 12? And in your opinion what are the chances of that happening?
• How should I treat a girl I like, but don’t want to pursue a relationship with them?
• How do I fix my heart after a break up when I feel like dying?
• How do I break up with someone at church?
• Can I have a boyfriend and a boo?

2nd Service

• What’s so bad about dating?
• How do you know when you’ve found that special someone?
• Is it okay to date people in the church because we are all brothers and sisters of God? Why is it so bad to date a non believer? Is it a sin if you do?
• How far can you go with your bf or gf?
• Is it bad to move in with someone you’re going to marry before u actually get married?

Announcing...

Gia and I have some very exciting news to share with everyone! We have a lot of people close to us and would love to tell each person individually, but that would be impossible due to all those we know and love. So consider this your personal message from us to you.

A couple of weeks ago we went to the doctors and found out that Gia is pregnant! Yesterday we went again and heard the heartbeat, which was awesome, and found out that the due date is May 23rd.

We are so excited for this next stage of life for the both of us! We cannot wait to be parents of our own child! Please pray for Gia because she's been sick and pray for strength and a healthy baby.

We will be keeping everyone posted via the blog on what's going on. Please if you have questions or anything don't be afraid to ask in person :-).

October to November Daily Reading Plan

Date Daily Word Daily Prayer
10/18/2008 Luke 5-6 Jesus I know you are calling me so I answer that call.
10/19/2008 Luke 7-8 God help me to shine for all to see. Bring people my way who need you.
10/20/2008 Luke 9 I choose to deny my self, pick up my cross and follow you. Help me!
10/21/2008 Luke 10 Worship and prayer night 7pm. I will go to people like the Samaritan, so I can help them.
10/22/2008 Luke 11-12 Jesus give me a fear of God. Not being afraid, but reverence and awe of you.
10/23/2008 Luke 13-14 Pray for church. Jesus help me to pay the price of following you with everything in me.
10/24/2008 Luke 15-16 God I will give up all to seek you and follow you.
10/25/2008 Luke 17-18 God increase my faith!
10/26/2008 Luke 19-20 God protect me from anything that would pollute my faith. Help me to stand strong.
10/27/2008 Luke 21 Jesus help me to watch and wait for you before I act.
10/28/2008 Luke 22 Pray for church tonight. Father I want to be great, so make me a servant of all.
10/29/2008 Luke 23-24 Jesus continue to reveal yourself to me in everything I do.
10/30/2008 John 1-2 Thank you that I overcome the darkness, Give me the strength to stand.
11/1/2008 John 3-4 Help me to decrease that you might increase along with my effectiveness.
11/2/2008 John 5-6 Jesus no matter what I will not turn away. Help me to be strong.
11/3/2008 John 7-9 God fill me with truth that it would make me free from anything holding me back.
11/4/2008 John 10-12 Jesus help me to know and hear your voice.
11/5/2008 John 13-15 Pray for church tonight. Help me to follow your commandments and your Word.
11/6/2008 John 16-17 Pray for Reach Teams. Turn any sorrow I have into joy!
11/7/2008 John 18-21 Jesus let everything in my life that doesn’t please you be finished.
11/8/2008 Acts 1-3 Jesus bring revival to our city and let people be added to our church everyday.
11/9/2008 Acts 4-6 Pray for revival in our city. We are taking our city. Pray for God’s power in our lives.
11/10/2008 Acts 7-10 Pray God would give you and everyone around you an encounter that changes lives.
11/11/2008 Acts 11-14 God bring a revival to our city that changes our city forever and use me in all of it.
11/12/2008 Acts 15-18 Pray for church. Let me be someone who turns the world upside down. Give us our city!
11/13/2008 Acts 19-21 Pray for Reach Teams. Give me the strength to talk about you to every person.
11/14/2008 Acts 22-23 Pray for your one person you are going to get saved and to a Reach team.
11/15/2008 Acts 24-26 Pray for your one. God you’ve given us this city now open the doors we need open.
11/16/2008 Acts 27-28 Pray for your one. God draw my friends and others to you. Open their hearts to you.
11/17/2008 Romans 1-3 Jesus I will not be ashamed of my faith, but I will live it and not hide it.

The power of prayer pt 2

Remember 9/11/2001? I do. If you are 12 and older you probably remember exactly what you were doing when you heard and saw the news that terrorists had attacked our nation. I was sleeping and my mom ran in and told me that America was under attack. I ran out to images of burning buildings, planes flying into symbols of freedom and prosperity. I can never forget the images of the twin towers burning and ultimately collapsing killing thousands of people I didn't know, but I grieved for like I did. I can never forget the images of the pentagon burning, or the stories of heroism and tragedy.

I remember going to work that day, broken and unsure of what would happen in our nation. Tragedy had struck a mighty blow, but our nation would respond with characteristics that make this the greatest nation in all of history. We began to pray. I remember prayer meeting after prayer meeting as the church and those not of the body of Christ, began to call on God for healing, hope and wisdom for our leaders. We prayed for families we've never seen as they grieved with the tragedy of loved ones. Stories of Heroism by men and women who gave their lives at ground zero and in the air, flooded our eyes with tears and a passion to pray and continue on.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (New Living Translation)

14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land

We are facing a tragedy that requires no less of our time and no less of our prayers. This time no one will die and there will be no heroics. We probably wont shed a tear or be filled with passion and patriotism, but this is no less an important moment for the church to shine. This time instead of losing life, people could lose, houses, jobs, retirements and investments. Instead of going without fathers and mothers, children may have to go without food.

The tragedy we face is financial and it's time for the church to arise! 2 Chronicles is clear. If we, the church who are called, humble themselves and pray then God will restore our land. Our land needs restoration financially, morally and politically and it's time for us to humble ourselves and pray!

It would be so easy to bury our heads in the sand of entertainment, soccer practice, routine, work and everything else, but we need to look around and be aware of what's going on and do our part. The church has the key to changing this situation and it's through prayer.

From now until election day, go to prayer at 6am, noon, 6pm. If you cant make those times read this post for ideas on how you can participate in prayer.

It's time to arise and shine. It's time to pray. It's time to be an anchor of hope, love and faith for those without it. Our prayers are powerful and they will bring healing and restoration to our land.

The power of prayer pt 1

This Sunday we announced daily prayer times from now until 6pm on November 4th. Prayer at 6am, noon and 6pm. Pastor Jeff and the leaders of the church are asking everyone to pray at one of those times a day here at the church, or if there's no possible way for you to be here then where ever you are. We're talking once a day for less than a month, EVERYONE should do this. I want to show you the importance and power of prayer with a couple of stories.

Hull

In the 1860s over a million people were added to the church. United prayer seemed to be the spark. This is what happened in Hull:

"There were united daily prayer meetings in the port city of Kingston upon Hull, supported by the established church and the dissenting denominations. Numbers of people were unable to gain an entrance to the central meetings, and so, many places of worship were opened each evening for prayer. A monthly united prayer meeting attracted more than 3000. As usual a rising tide of evangelism followed, and campaigns were still crowding halls in 1865 to excess, necessitating the hiring of the circus, at which ministers of different denominations preached. Other very successful campaigns were carried on throughout the year 1865."

Wales 1904

The Welsh Revival started in 1904. It began as a movement of prayer. A key figure was a former coal miner, Evan Roberts, who was studying at Newcastle Emlyn College. He attended a campaign held by Seth Joshua, a Presbyterian evangelist, who prayed at the meeting, ‘O God, bend us.’ Roberts had responded with ‘O God, bend me.’ Following this he kept hearing a voice that told him to go home and speak to the young people in his home church. On his return to Loughor, his home town, his reluctant pastor allowed him to speak only at the end of a prayer meeting.

Roberts told them, ‘I have a message for you from God:

You must confess any known sin to God and put right any wrong done to others.
Second, you must put away any doubtful habit.
Third, you must obey the Spirit promptly.
Finally, you must confess your faith in Christ publicly.’

The response to his message was remarkable and following a series of meetings a break occurred and the movement spread rapidly over Wales: in five months a hundred thousand people were converted throughout the country. The revival had a widespread social impact.

Edinburgh 1905
Soon after the beginning of the Welsh Revival in 1904, a man called Joseph Kemp from Edinburgh went to Wales, where he spent a couple of weeks observing and experiencing the work and power of the Holy Spirit there. On his return he attended a large meeting in Charlotte Chapel. As he recounted his experiences there was an eager response to his story. A man asked for prayer and was the first of hundreds who became Christians during the subsequent revival in Charlotte Chapel. For a whole year prayer meetings were held, increasing in number and intensity, and characterised by passionate praying.

New York 1857-1860

In September 1857, a man of prayer, Jeremiah Lanphier, started a businessmen’s prayer meeting in the upper room of the Dutch Reformed Church Consistory Building in Manhattan. In response to his advertisement, only six people out of a population of a million showed up. But the following week there were fourteen, and then twenty-three when it was decided to meet everyday for prayer. By late winter they were filling the Dutch Reformed Church, then the Methodist Church on John Street, then Trinity Episcopal Church on Broadway at Wall Street. In February and March of 1858, every church and public hall in down town New York was filled. Horace Greeley, the famous editor, sent a reporter with horse and buggy racing round the prayer meetings to see how many men were praying. In one hour he could get to only twelve meetings, but he counted 6,100 men attending.

Then a landslide of prayer began, which overflowed to the churches in the evenings. People began to be converted, ten thousand a week in New York City alone. The movement spread throughout New England, the church bells bringing people to prayer at eight in the morning, twelve noon, and six in the evening. The revival raced up the Hudson and down the Mohawk, where the Baptists, for example, had so many people to baptize that they went down to the river, cut a big hole in the ice, and baptized them in the cold water. When Baptists do that they are really on fire!

Here are four major moves of God and they all had one thing in common... prayer. Now is not the time for us to shrink back as the body of Christ. It's time for us to rise up! We are facing one of the worst financial disaster our nation has ever seen. We're also facing the most important presidential election in our lifetime, as well as, we are still engaged in a war for freedom. It's time to pray. It's time to call on God to move like He did in the above "revivals."

We cannot afford to live life like normal in this time. Everything people have put their trust in, economy, job, government, homes, 401k's, investments, are crumbling and now is the time for us to show them who to truly trust and that is Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday, today and forever and he is well able to take care of us in any situation.

It's time to pray church! Let the church arise! It's going to take sacrifice on your part, but your sacrifice may be the very thing that brings thousands to salvation. It may be the very thing that heals our land (see 2 Chronicles 7:14). I personally am fasting lunches from now until November 4th to spend my 30 minute lunch praying. Here's some ideas of what you can do:

• Students - find a classroom and pray with other students during lunch.
  
• Families - Instead of family dinner or TV at the 6pm hour for less than a month. Bring the whole family to the church and pray. What better example could you show your children than to humble yourself and pray for others?
• Individuals - Find a time 6am, noon, 6pm to pray. If one of those times don't work, fast lunches, get up early, pray the whole way home. Don't miss out.
• Families - If you cant make it down, dedicate a room of the house until November as a prayer room. At one of those times, come together and pray.

It's time to act church! We need to make the sacrifices to pray for our nation during this time. As you implement different strategies, send a message to Pastor Jeff and let him know how you are doing your part in prayer during this season. Together we can turn the state of our nation through prayer!

Everybody needs a Nome...

Have you seen those Travelocity commercials with the roaming gnome. If not here's a pic:



Well everybody needs a Nome. Have you ever traveled somewhere you have never been before? Have you been somewhere where you didn't know the language, customs, places to go, places not to go? When traveling to a place you've never been it is always beneficial if not imperative to have a guide. Travelocity offers the roaming gnome to be your guide and the bible offers us the picture of a relationship between two women in the book of Ruth to be our guide.

In Ruth chapter one we see Ruth and Naomi. Naomi is Ruth's mother-in-law and both their husbands have died. Naomi informs Ruth that she will be returning to Judah from Moab and that Ruth should remain in Moab with her family. Ruth insists on going and they argue about it for a little while until Ruth says this: 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God."

Ruth wanted to go on this journey with Naomi and knew that Naomi could be her guide. Every body needs a Nome. We have a youth leader named Naomi and her nick name is Nome. That's why this blog is titled everybody needs a Nome. Every one needs a Naomi.

The moment we choose Christ we embark on a spiritual journey. The journey of faith and we need someone who has been down the road before to show us the way. They can interpret the language, show us where to go and where not to go, be that person we call when we need prayer or just to talk. They are the person who's house we can go over to, to have fun or get away from it all. Everybody needs a Nome, a Naomi. Someone we can follow, someone who can encourage us, correct us, love us and believe in us. Every body needs a Nome.

Who's your Nome? If you don't have one, one place you can look is at a Reach Team. Whether you are an adult or student Reach Teams offer the environment for people to find a Nome. You need one, so don't wait for them to find you, go find them like Ruth did. Get yourself a Nome today!

For more information on Reach Teams click here.

New video - Jedi Battle

Pastor Jeff, Pastor Rory and I had a little bit of down time, so we cut a little video. Check it out.

Soil

In Matthew chapter 13 we find many stories from Jesus about the kingdom of heaven, but I want to highlight one in particular, the story of the soil. In this story there are four types of "soil" or conditions of our heart. I'm going to list each with a brief description and the remedy for it if needed.

1. The footpath - These are people who not only don't understand the Word of God when it is preached or they read it, but they don't really want to understand. There is no desire in them to understand the Word. As a result the Word is stolen from their heart. Change - This person needs a desire to understand. Ask God for a desire to understand and ask others to explain the word.
2. The Rocky Soil - This person hears the Word, understands it and is excited about, but has no depth. This person lacks character and discipline. This is the person who never prays, never reads the word. This person is a roller coaster. They go up weekly when they go to church and down during the week. They are unstable and as a result they don't last long. They fall away as soon as problems or persecution comes. Change - Read the word, pray, surround yourself with people who are strong. Go to reach teams. Make it a daily pursuit and not a weekly event.
3. Among Thorns - This person hears the word and receives it, but is too concerned about the world. They are too concerned with what others think, what's hot on TV, music and in movies. Their desire is not for the things of God, but for the riches of this life, material things, popularity, and fame. They care more about their favorite celebrity and what they are doing that the Word of God and what He has for them. As a result the worries of this life choke the Word out and they produce nothing for God's Kingdom. They may come to church their whole life, but it is a waste because they never do anything for God, church is all about what God can do for them. Change - First repent. Then make a decision to crucify your flesh and your fleshly desires and follow Christ. You may have to fast (give up) what feeds that desire in you and read the word or pray. Instead of picking up US weekly pick up the Word. All that stuff is not bad, but it is if it consumes you. Ask yourself am I consumed by the cause and call of Christ or this world. Really examine and make the changes necessary.
4. The Good Soil - This is the produce who truly hears and understands God's word AND produces fruit. This is someone who reads the Word, Prays, invites people to church, is active in serving and lives a life open to God changing them. This person sees their friends, peers and family changed for Christ. This is the place we all need to get to.

Our hearts are like soil and the condition of it is up to us. Examine yourself and make the changes necessary so God can use you and you can thrive!

For more on this particular story click here.

Fall has arrived...

This morning I let my dogs out to use the bathroom and felt the chilly air even though it was sunny and realized for the first time fall has arrived. The seasons are changing and I am so excited!

The seasons are not only changing in the natural, but also in the spiritual. The summer has been a time of intense personal growth and devotion. We have seen many people overcome and explode with passion and devotion. We have focused primarily on personal growth and now that Fall has arrived a new season has begun. Summer was the season of devotional growth fall will be the season of numerical growth. We looked inward during the summer, now it's time to look outward.

Fall is always the greatest season of growth in the church and this year I am expecting God to grow our church. Begin to look for opportunities to share what God is doing and to invite people to church. In youth we are going after 100/100. 100 people weekly in services and 100 people in reach teams. I've asked every young person to find one person to pray for and invite to church then get them to a reach team.

Who is one person you could invite?

My one person that I've been working just gave his life to Christ on Sunday and is charging ahead! Choose somebody pray for them and invite them. Lets look outward, seize opportunities and watch God grow our church through the salvation of our friends, peers and family!

Authority

In Matthew chapter 12 we read that Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders of the day. They are saying false things about him and his ministry, telling others that he does his miracles through the power of Satan. The whole chapter we see Jesus walking in great authority. He did not back down to the crowds, but stood with authority and communicated the message. Jesus walked with authority every where. Authority when questioned about his faith, authority of the works of darkness and authority over sickness and even death. That same authority he had we also have...

When we choose Jesus we become children of God. Jesus told the Apostles that all authority in heaven and earth was given him and he has passed that on to us. That means that we have authority over sickness, we have authority over death and when confronted by those who do not believe we don't have to back down, but can be strong and walk with authority. You have incredible authority at your finger tips to expand the kingdom of God, but one thing must be done to walk with authority.

Submission... Four chapters earlier in Matthew eight we read about the Roman Centurion. He had a sick servant and asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus said yes he would go with him, but the Centurion stopped him. He told Jesus that he had the authority to make soldiers do whatever he wanted because he was under or submitted to a higher authority. He believed Jesus had authority because he was submitted to a higher authority, God, and therefore could heal his servant with only a word. Jesus marveled at his faith and his grasp of the concept of authority and healed his servant with only a word.

The same power to heal and to stand resides in us and is available to us, but can only be released by authority. In order to walk in authority you need to submit, surrender, listen to, obey those in authority over you. You parents, pastors, teachers, police officers, government officials, coaches, bus drivers and so on even if you don't like them or they treat you unfairly. As you submit to authority you will have authority and the power to do great things for God!

Temptation

In Matthew chapter 4 we see Jesus enter the wilderness to face temptation. The devil and him have a chat and the devil tempts him to sin three different times. The writer of Psalm 119 in verse 11 says that they hid the word of God in their heart so they would not sin. In Matthew four we see Jesus using the Word of God to overcome temptation and not sin.

Three different times he says it is written, or the scriptures say, depending on your translation, and then uses the following scripture to overcome temptation. Temptation is going to come knocking on your door, will you be ready? Read the word and hide it in your heart so you will not sin.

For more on overcoming temptation check here.

Next Steps

Last night we had a service called "next steps." It was one of the most important services we've ever had in youth ministry because I unveiled the vision God has given us. This Sunday I will again communicate it for those who missed last night, but I also want to lay it out on the blog.

Why does TVM exist? To connect people to life! That is our purpose and mission. What is our vision for accomplishing this. Well read on...

In Joshua chapter 1, 3 and 6 God is speaking to Joshua about the promise land. In chapter one he tells Joshua to be in the word, follow it, be strong and courageous and He will make his way successful. In chapter three he tells the people to purify themselves because God is about to do wondrous acts among them. Then in chapter six God tells Joshua that he's given them the city Jericho and all they have to do to take the city is obey and praise.

Over the last seven months God has been speaking to me about these three scriptures. Every time I go to him about vision He says the same thing over and over. "I have given you this city." Over and over I have heard Him say that He has given us this city. In other words, nothing can stand in our way from taking this city for Him. Nothing can stand in the way of our friends and peers who are hurting and lost, from being healed and saved by Him. He has given us this city and now it's up to us to obey and praise like He's given it to us, pray like He's given it to us, Give, serve, and act like He's given it to us.

The vision of TVM is very simple. We are taking our city for Jesus Christ. This is the vision. Now just as the Israelites had to take "steps" (theirs were literal) we also must obey the steps and in doing so, step by step, we will take our city. Here are the first few steps we will take. You ready because God has a place for you in each of these and it will take all of us in order to take our city. Oh and if you're from another city, don't worry, after we take Monroe and there is an army of us living for Christ, we will take your city too! Here are the steps...

1. The Word - the foundation of our ministry is the Word. It is built upon the Word and it is the Word that we stand upon. Joshua 1:8 says Study this Book of Instruction (The Bible) continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. ONLY THEN WILL YOU PROSPER AND SUCCEED IN ALL YOU DO. You reading your bible will be the very thing that brings us success. Every person has got to be in the Word everyday, it is then we will prosper and succeed. To help in that we have a bible reading plan available here and for pick up on Sunday.
2. Prayer - The word is the foundation, prayer is the power. The word gives us a foundation to stand upon, prayer gives us the grace and the power to accomplish the vision. With the bible reading plan is a daily prayer nugget. We've got to be in prayer everyday for our friends, our lives, our families, and the vision. We will also be doing monthly prayer and worship times to be announced soon!
3. Wednesday Nights/iNights - We need a service we can invite our friends to and that is Wednesday nights. Beginning October 1st we will be doing weekly Wednesday night services with worship and preaching. Also once a month on the last Wednesday beginning in November we will have iNight services. iNight stands for invite night. These will be great services to invite your friends too. We need every person to be at Wednesday nights and to be inviting their friends with no faith to come. Here are some upcoming series we will be doing:October - "What the... Hell?" - A series on hell, the devil, eternity, repentance and salvation. November - "Text" - A series where we answer questions about anything that you text in.
4. Reach Teams - I cannot stress how important it is for you to have a leader that is discipling you, praying for you, encouraging you, holding you accountable and correcting you. You will not thrive in Christian life unless you have this and this will happen in Reach Teams. Some are weekly, some every other week, but EVERYBODY needs a Reach Team that they go to. Sign ups on Sunday! Do it!
5. 100/100 - 100/100! This step is 100 weekly in services and 100 in Reach Teams. Right now we average between 60 and 70 weekly in services and we want to see that grow to 100/100. Here is your part in this. If everyone of us will go after 1 person. Just 1, pray for them and invite them every week. Get that person to church, see that they find salvation and get them to their Reach Team we can take this step before the end of the year. I want you to go after 1! Get them to church, pray for their salvation and get them to your Reach Team. Now here's the deal. Your one person cannot be someone from another church. I'm not interested in young people from other churches. They have a church and a pastor and they need to help their church grow. We want people who have no faith to encounter Jesus and become full of faith. Go after 1! Who is your 1 going to be?

These are the 1st five steps in front of us. Now it's our turn to obey and to praise. Get in your word, pray, be at Wednesday nights, go to a Reach Team and get 1. Together we can take our city. Together we can see friends and peers we never thought would know Christ, bow their knee and live the life you know! We are taking this city the question is will you be one of those who takes it with us?

Be there Sunday for more and be ready because God is going to use you!

September to October reading plan

Date Daily Word Daily Prayer
9/18/2008 Matthew 1-3 God use me to show others that Jesus is the Son of God.
9/19/2008 Matthew 4-5 God open my eyes and heart to follow your Word.
9/20/2008 Matthew 6-7 God create in me a clean heart that is for you and that trusts in you.
9/21/2008 Matthew 8-9 God fill me with faith and use me and others around me to reach my city.
9/22/2008 Matthew 10-11 God send me to my friends, my peers, and my school.
9/23/2008 Matthew 12 God show me the authority and power I have in your Son Jesus.
9/24/2008 Matthew 13 See you at and after the pole. Pray for this day.
9/25/2008 Matthew 14-15 Show me what to give and give me the strength to give it.
9/26/2008 Matthew 16-17 Lord reveal yourself to me. Let me know you more.
9/27/2008 Matthew 18-19 Lord help me to give you everything. Even the things and areas of my life I don’t want to.
9/28/2008 Matthew 20-21 Lord MAKE ME a servant you can use.
9/29/2008 Matthew 22 God I give you everything I am.
9/30/2008 Matthew 23-24 Help me to recognize the signs around me and hear what you are saying.
10/1/2008 Matthew 25 Lord I offer my time, talent and treasure to you. Use them to build your kingdom.
10/2/2008 Matthew 26 Lord I receive what you did for me on the cross.
10/3/2008 Matthew 27 Let it be finished in my life. Pray for anything that needs to be finished.
10/4/2008 Matthew 28; Mark 1 God I will go. Open doors for me to speak to my friends.
10/5/2008 Mark 2-3 Pray for your leaders today. Pray for strength and blessing for their lives
10/6/2008 Mark 4-5 Ask for boldness and then take the step to reach someone.
10/7/2008 Mark 6 Lord give me a proper perspective on suffering.
10/8/2008 Mark7-8 Purify my heart, so out of me will flow rivers of living water.
10/9/2008 Mark 9 Fill me with faith to do the impossible.
10/10/2008 Mark 10-11 Show me areas where I'm sinning and I ask for forgiveness.
10/11/2008 Mark 12 God show me anything that I love more than you!
10/12/2008 Mark 13-14 God give me a willing heart to worship you no matter the cost.
10/13/2008 Mark 15 Lord let me be in your presence everyday!
10/14/2008 Mark 16 Lord give me the faith to believe for miracles and let me see them come to pass.
10/15/2008 Luke 1 God make me strong in the Word, Prayer and faith!
10/16/2008 Luke 2-3 Lord give me wisdom!
10/17/2008 Luke 4 Give me such a burden for my generation that I must tell them.

Baptism

Today we began a brand new Bible reading plan in TVM. We are reading through the new Testament between now and the end of this year. Today's reading was Matthew 1-3 and I want to highlight one area of the scripture we read today.

In Matthew 3:13 we find that Jesus goes to the Jordan river to be baptized. John baptizes Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes upon him then he is lead into the wilderness to be tempted. Baptism is a very important step in our journey of faith. If Jesus felt the need to be baptized then surely we should be baptized.

What is baptism all about?

Rom 6:3-6
3 Or have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. 6 Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. - NLT

Baptism is identifying with Christ. It’s saying I go under the water as this old sinful, foolish person, and rise out of the water made brand new through the cross and now I am associated with Christ. Baptism says that I'm not longer associated with the world or who I used to be, but my association and identity is found in Christ. It is a doing away with the old and bringing of the new. It's a doing away with the power of sin and walking with the power of Christ!

Baptism is a command of Christ and one each of us should follow. Many people get baptized when they are young and don't really understand what it means. If you've never been baptized before or did it when you were young and didn't understand what you were doing you need to get baptized. The next time you hear about a baptism get signed up!

Thoughts on the seventh anniversary of 9/11

Seven years ago today, our country was rocked with the news of a terrorist attack on the twin towers in New York. I can still remember the feeling of grief and sadness as I and other mourned the loss of people we didn't even know. I remember the uncertainty that I felt, the fear and the sorrow. I remember the shock and horror of the images that I saw as our fellow countrymen were killed senselessly. That was seven years ago and yet the memory is still fresh in my mind.

As I went about my business today, I've had great joy because of all that God is doing in our city and our church. He is moving and touching lives like never before. In the midst of all my to-do's I have had a deep sense that I need to remember. While we cannot change what happened seven years ago we can do some things to honor and remember those who died without need and those who died as heroes.

With that in mind here are some things we should do today:

• Make sure and tell the ones you love, how much you love them... Many people didn't get that chance.
• Be thankful for what you have and don't focus on what you don't... Many people would trade it all to have what you have.
• Say a prayer for the families of those who lost a loved one... Their memories and pain run far deeper than ours.
• Pray for the soldiers... they have given their lives to keep us safe from this happening again.
• Pray for the family of soldiers... they have given their mom's, dad's, husbands, wives, children, brothers and sisters to make sure we are safe.

Take a moment today and remember. Pray and ask God to continue to heal our nation and to bring salvation. Honor those who gave their lives with your time and prayers today!

Volunteerapalooza

On September 21st at 6pm we will be having a festival of funness for all you volunteers. Be sure to save the date and sign-up at the Information Kiosk. Cost is $10 per person with family rates available.

This is a night where we will honor all of our volunteers, so make sure you come! There will be games, prizes and dinner! See you there.

Oh yeah, you need a ticket to get in, so sign up ASAP at the information kiosk.

My nieces and my LifeSavers Children's ministry experience

This previous weekend my wife and I had the honor of watching our twin nieces, Jordan and Taylor, while their parents went away for their anniversary. They are only a month old and they kept us up most of the night, but it was a lot of fun.

I have to say that our children's ministry is absolutely outstanding. This was my first experience ever bringing kids to church with me. You should have seen all the faces and heard all the questions we got as people thought they were ours. :-) It was priceless.

Anyways, the check-in experience was swift and informative, the drop off was warm, the people welcomed us and I felt comfortable leaving them there (it's a little scary when they are not your own), in fact I felt peace because of the high quality of our volunteers. They took great care of them during service and they were sleeping peacefully when we picked them up. We have an incredible Children's ministry and I know when I have kids of my own (many, many months down the road) I will feel safe and at peace leaving my kids there!

Invite

Read: Matthew 22:1-13, 25:14-30

How will they know unless they are told? This is the question I ask you about your friends and family. How will they know unless they are told? Think about when it clicked for you and you realized you had a need for Christ. Where were you? Most people were at church when this happened. They didn't know there was an answer to the hole in their life until they were told and usually that happens at church. Your friends and family need to be at church.

How will they come unless they're asked? Often we pray and pray and pray for our friends and our families to come to the knowledge of Christ and yet we do little to get them to come. I know I have. I've thought if I pray for my friends they will get saved, yet I never invite them to the place where I got saved. There are opportunities all around us to invite some one to come. It's up to us to take the step and invite them.

There are many more people than you think that would come to church with you if you asked. You need to pray for them, but more importantly you need to ask them to come. I forget the exact statistic, but it's something like 85% of all people who come to church do so because they were personally invited. It's time for you to invite. If you are going to double and disciple then you need to invite.

Who is someone you could invite this week? Give them a call, text or face to face and invite. You will be surprised at how many people come because you invite. It's time to invite.

Prayer: God give me the courage and boldness to invite someone this week. Go before me and place a desire in them ahead of time, so when I invite they are willing in Jesus name!

Make disciples - "double and disciple"

Read: Matthew 28:19, 9:37; John 8:31, 13:35; 15:8.

This year you have a goal, well an opportunity to make a goal and accomplish it. You ready for it? Well here it is: I will double and disciple this year! Sound good? Great, now go do it.... What? You want to know what that means? Well, okay then.

This year make it your aim to bring one person to Christ. Just one. Yes pray for your school, work place, family, community to come to Christ, but set your sights on one person. Choose that person right.... Now! Got them in mind? Now write their name down and begin to pray for them everyday. Look for opportunities to invite them to church and to lead them to Christ. This doesn't mean you don't invite others, but this one person is your goal for this year.

How many people did you lead to Christ last year? How many people were you trying to reach? Many of us would answer zero to the first question and thousands to the next. You see the problem is that our efforts are scattered. Jesus said Go into all the world, preach and make disciples, we make disciples one at a time. If each of us would set our sights on one person we would see that person come to Christ. Focus on one person and when they come to Christ your job is half done. Then it's time for the real fun.

After your one has come to Christ you have doubled. One (you) plus one (your friend) equals two, you've just doubled. Now it's time to disciple. Many people run from this because they feel totally unequipped to disciple. They don't know all the scriptures on giving, baptism, healing, why you should read the bible. They don't have a degree in theology, or a fancy business card that says Youth Pastor. Because of this they feel unqualified to disciple, but it is not man or knowledge that qualifies you it is God and because you have faith you are qualified. So how do you disciple? Here is how it's done:

Discipleship is taking someone from where they are to where you are. 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, "follow me as I follow Christ." That is what discipleship is. The person you lead to Christ is going to need to know about baptism. Tell them what you did, how it transformed you and what you know about it. They are going to sin, show them how to repent. Show them how YOU pray. Read the bible with them, Show them how to worship. Talk to them about giving and what it's done for you.

Discipleship is showing others what God has done for you and helping them through all the experiences that you were helped through. It's not as hard as we make it. You are qualified, just be you, use your experiences and what God has shown you and you will make a disciple. Don't worry if something comes up you are not equipped to handle, call the person who discipled you and they will help.

This year double and disciple. Once you've done this, you and the one you discipled should double and disciple again. You are equipped to double and disciple. Begin praying today and watch how God will use you!

Prayer: God help me to double and disciple this year. I pray that you would work on _______'s heart and that I would have opportunities to invite them and lead them to Christ. Help me to disciple them and not be afraid. I am equipped!

Persecution

Read: Matthew 5:10; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 6:22; John 15:20; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 4:12-16.

Any time we talk about standing up for what God has done in our lives, we have to take a moment and talk about persecution. It would be unfair for me to paint of Christianity as the end of all trouble and pain. As Christ followers we will experience trouble and pain because of our stance but we don't have to go through it alone.

When evaluating persecution we know three things: It is guaranteed to happen, we will make it through it, on the other side is blessing. This is what the Word tells us about persecution. We will look at each aspect of this below after we address what persecution is and isn't.

What it is? Persecution is being made fun of, treated unfairly and unjustly because of what you believe. It is what people do to you when you stand for truth and they don't like it. I've seen parents persecute children and vice versa, friends persecute friends, teachers persecute students and on and on and on. Persecution is not suffering pain because of sin. If you sin and people do this things to you or you go through a hard time that's your own fault, you sinned. Persecution is suffering because you stand for Christ and it is an honor.

1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!

It's guaranteed - In John 15:20 Jesus basically says you are going to be persecuted because you love me and stand for me. Above it tells us not to be surprised when we are persecuted. Persecution stinks! It's painful and not fun, but it is the price of devotion and discipleship and every time you pay a price for Jesus, He always makes it worth the pain of paying it.

You'll make it - No matter what happens in your life God will always be there. He cannot leave you or forsake you and you cannot be separated from His love. 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 tells us that even though we go through stuff, God will be there to help us. In the midst of persecution God is there and it is the fiery trials of life that cause us to depend on Him more and grow closer to him. It may feel like everyone has abandoned you and you cannot make it another day, but God is there and you will make it. Run to him and call on his name for help.

Blessing - Always on the other side of persecution is blessing. Jesus said that anyone who has given up friends, family, houses, etc... for his name will receive 100 times more in this life and the next. The other side of persecution has greater blessing, greater anointing, greater friends, greater victory, and a greater relationship with God. Every time God asks you to pay a price for him the reward always out weighs the pain of paying it. There is great blessing for you on the other side of persecution.

Every person who stands for God and takes ground from the enemy will be persecuted. I've been persecuted by family, friends, enemies, teachers, and other Christians. I've had rumors spread about me that weren't true, I've been labeled as many things and lost friends because of my stand. It was painful and it really stunk, but I wouldn't trade the blessing I've received and where God has taken me to go back.

Persecution is coming, God is ready to help and it will be worth it. Stand and endure!

Prayer: God give me the right perspective when I am persecuted. Strengthen me to endure and stand for you and bless me on the other side.

Confess

Read: Matthew 10:32; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 4:15.

"Everyone who acknowledges (confesses) me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." Matthew 10:32-33

Confession. The bible is full of it. In fact according to Romans 10:9-10 you cannot receive salvation without confession. Confession is the key to forgiveness of sin and the healing of a sinful past. There is one area of confession that often doesn't get mentioned.

After you've confessed that Jesus is Lord, confessed your sins and been healed, had your life completely transformed, it is natural when you get around people who know nothing about the power of God and transformation to slide under the radar as the same old, so and so. It's easy to go back to school and go back to the same friends, have the same conversations and make the same choices. That is easy and natural, but you've been changed, radically transformed, you cannot go back, so now it's time to confess.

It's time to live the transformation and tell others about it. When your old friends ask what has changed about your old life, you confess. When they want you to do the same old stuff you used to and engage in the same conversations you used to, you confess, I've been changed, I don't do that anymore.

It's easy not to confess because of fear and rejection. Yet Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:8, "So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord." If we confess Christ before our friends they may mock us and reject us, but God will accept us and continue to transform us. If we deny him and what he's done for us before our friends then he will deny us. It's time to stand and confess what God has done for our lives.

Fear - Fear is the greatest enemy of faith. There are many people that have missed what God wanted to do through them because of fear. Fear will paralyze you and keep you from the purpose God has for your life. Take fear by the neck and throw it out of your life.

Timothy was a young man was radically transformed. Paul knew it might cost him his friends, his popularity, and much more if confessed God, so he told him never be ashamed, so right before that he shared with Timothy that God has not given us fear, but power. Paul knew if Timothy would pay the price, God would use him and he did. Timothy was the pastor of one of the largest churches in the world in his day, as a young man.

Fear will keep you from your destiny. Confront it head on and confess what God has done for you. It may be painful at first, but you will be in complete shock at what God does through you and for you. You will be amazed at the friends you never thought would come, are now living radically for God.

Rejection - I hate being rejected. I have never woken up and thought, "man I'd love to get rejected by people I care about today!" Yet rejection is a part of life, especially when you begin to stand for what God has done and is doing. In fact Jesus was rejected by his own family because of his stand. We too may be rejected as we confess what God has done, but because Jesus was rejected we are accepted by God. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be accepted by God and have Him place people in my life, than be accepted by everybody and be rejected by God. As you confess you may be rejected, but you will always be accepted by God and your church family.

Confession can cost you, but the reward or confess far out weighs the cost. As you go back to school transformed and changed, confess Him and watch what God does in your life!

Prayer: Lord give me the strength to confess you and not deny before man. When I fear or am rejected help me to stand and know that you are taking care of me!

Yearbook yourself!

Here's what Gia and I would look like through the decades:

50's:


60's:


70's:


80's:


90's:


Good times! You can do it too here. Have fun!

GO!

Read: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 15:16; Colossians 1:6, 23.

Now that we have received Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit and are a part of the church family it's time to go. Too often people get transformed and they do nothing with that transformation. I've heard this analogy many times and I'd like to share it with you.

In the middle east there are two seas that are not far from one another. One sea is teaming with life and the other is completely dead. In fact it is incapable of supporting or sustaining life. They are the Red Sea, full of life, and the Dead Sea, well it's name says it all. The only difference that can be found between the two is this; one goes and the other stays. Both seas have rivers pouring into them, but only the Red Sea "go's" or has a river coming out of it. You see it is because the Dead Sea keeps all that is poured into it that it is dead. There must be pouring in and pouring out.

The same is true in our lives. God has poured his transformation and life into you and now you must go and take it to others. If we stay, what has been poured into us will eventually die. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and tell others. This means getting out of the four walls of the church and telling others about what God has done.

We don't have time to stay, we have got to go. We need to pour out what is being poured in. As we pour out and go, God pours new and fresh anointing into our lives. It's time to go!

Prayer: God I will go. I will not be afraid. I will pour out and believe that you will pour in to my life!

Evangelism Reading Plan

Monday GO! Read: Matthew 28:19, Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-48; John 15:16; Colossians 1:6, 23.
Prayer: God I will go. I will not be afraid.

Tuesday Confess Read: Matthew 10:32; 1 Timothy 6:12-13; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 4:15.
Prayer: Lord give me the strength to confess you and not deny before man.

Wednesday Persecution Read: Matthew 5:10; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 6:22; John 15:20; Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; James 1:2-5; 1 Peter 4:12-16.
Prayer: God give me the right perspective when I am persecuted.

Thursday Make disciples Read: Matthew 28:19, 9:37; John 8:31, 13:35; 15:8.
Prayer: God help me to make disciples of every person I bring.

Friday Invite Read: Matthew 22:1-13, 25:14-30
Prayer: Please place spiritual mothers in my life to nurture me and encourage me.

Saturday Pray Read: Matthew 5:44; John 17:20-21; Ephesians 1:18, 3:17-21; Colossians 4:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1
Prayer: Please help me understand my role in the family.

Sunday Live Read: Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 5:13-16; 2 Corinthians 4:6.
Prayer: Please help me to fulfill my role in the family.

Your role in the family part 2

Read: Acts 2:42-47; Romans 1:8-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; Romans 12:9-13.

As I mentioned last post each of us has a role to play. Here are more areas each of us need to contribute to the family of God. Sharing our time, talent and treasure and prayer.

Time - Each of us has time. We use that time to work or go to school. We use that time for TV, the Internet, to hang out with friends. We use our time to do many things. One area we need to share our time is with church family. We need to spend time volunteering, discipling, helping, and hanging with church family. It is important to give your time to your church family.

Talent - God has given each of us a talent for one purpose. To contribute it to the church family. You have talents that you can share with the church family. When each person shares their talent the church family grows in health and number. What are your talents? Share them with the church family and watch God grow the church family and your life.

Treasure - Finances, money! We each have it in different measures. Some have tons, some have little. Each of us should share with the church family out of the measure they have. It is so important to give your finances to God and to His family because it shows that your heart is for him and his family. The tithe, offerings and blessing others are ways to share your treasure with the family of Christ. Give and it will be given to you even more. Share your treasure and God will bless you with more.

Prayer - Pray! Pray for your church family, pray for your pastors and leaders. Pray for others! This keeps you focused on the needs of others and not yourself. Remember there is no room for selfishness in this family, only those willing to serve. Prayer eliminates arguments and grudges. Pray for everyone, people you like and don't like, friends and enemies. Pray for your church family!

Each of us has a part to play. It's time for you to begin playing yours. Share your time, talent and treasure and pray! Don't wait, start now.

Prayer: Father I am going to share my time, talent, and treasure with my church family and I will pray. Use me to grow the family of Christ.

Your role in the family part 1

Read: Galatians 6:10; Matthew 20:25-28; Proverbs 17:17; John 13:35.

The moment we choose Christ we become part of a church family. There are huge benefits of being a part of the family. Leadership, guidance, destiny, identity, DNA and much more. The joy of having a spiritual father and mother, brothers and sister and on and on. Each person has a part to play and role. Here are a few roles that each must fulfill: Do good, serve, love and friendship.

Do good - In everything you do, with every word do good, especially to those who are in the family of Christ. Many families are built around selfishness. The attitude of what can you do for me is the attitude of most people. In the family of God our attitude needs to be what can I do for you? In every possible way we should do good for and to each other and not harm. Every time you have an opportunity, do good!

Serve - Jesus addressed this one. He told us that it's natural to lord over people. If we are older or have achieved more we feel we have earned the right to be served and honored by people "under" us. It's natural to flaunt our authority, yet Jesus commands us to serve. Instead of fighting over who's in charge and who should be listened to, we should serve one another, listen to each other and submit to one another. This means treating our younger siblings and those "under" us with respect and serving them. It's crazy, I know, but in this family we serve each other.

Love - The church family is built on the foundation of love. Love endures, it keeps no record of wrong and it covers sin. In this family we are quick to forgive and love all even if we don't like them. There is no room for grudges, gossip and hate, but love and forgiveness. It is your duty to love others and help them. Read 1 Corinthians 13 for a greater understanding of the love we should have for each other.

Friendship - As a part of the family of God we have a role of friendship to play. We have a duty to be friends to others in the family. Friends are loyal and trustworthy. Friends help us through difficult times. You need to make friends and be friends with people in the family of God. My best friends are those who are in God's family. They encourage me and help me through things and I return the favor.

Each of us has a role to play in the family and this is only the beginning. If each of us will play our part the family of Christ will be irresistible to those who are outside. People will know that Jesus is who He said He is when we each play our part in the family.

Prayer: Father please help me understand my role in the family and help me to fulfill it!

Spiritual Mothers

Read: 1 Timothy 5:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:3-7; Proverbs 6:20-23; 1 Thessalonians 2:7

Spiritual Mothers! Everyone of us needs one, just as you need a spiritual father you need a mother. Proverbs tells us to tie our mothers teaching around our neck as a constant reminder to us. Spiritual mothers pass on genuine faith and godly character. They also draw out our destiny and bring encouragement. I know in my life my natural mother has been my spiritual mother as well. The above four things have been huge in my development as a man of God. Let's take a look at each using Timothy and Jesus as our examples.

Genuine Faith – 2 Timothy 1:5 says the genuine faith that is in you which was first in your grandma and your mom. Timothy had genuine faith because it was passed from his grandma to his mom and then to him. Spiritual mom's are instrumental in passing on genuine faith. I know that my mom constantly spoke faith and still does into my life. When my faith is weak I call her and she always knows what to say and pray to stir up my faith. Spiritual mothers will pass on genuine faith.

Godly Character – 1 Timothy 4:12 says be an example of Godly character. Timothy had Godly Character, he had integrity, he was pure, had faith, loved others, conducted himself as he ought to. Spiritual mothers teach Godly character by modeling it in their life. Mom's typically spend more time with children instructing them and showing them what is right. Being around a spiritual mother, receiving the teaching and instruction will fill you with Godly character. Godly character is so important to becoming and maintaining who God calls you to be. Another way to explain this would be DNA. Natural mothers pass on DNA, Spiritual mothers pass on Spiritual DNA, faith and character.

Destiny - It is the job of a Spiritual father to give destiny and identity, but the job of a spiritual mother to draw it out of them. Jesus' mom drew the destiny out of Jesus at the Wedding of Cana. Jesus thought it wasn't his time yet to begin ministry, to step out and fulfill the destiny he had, but his mom had another idea. She was right and Jesus began to perform miracles. Spiritual mothers draw the destiny out of you. They nudge you when it's time to be who God has called you and comfort you when you are afraid.

Encouragement - Mothers encourage. They always know what to say when you need it. Their smiles, words and hugs are HUGE to keeping you going when things get tough. Spiritual mother will encourage you and comfort you when you need it.

Spiritual mothers are so important to your life in Christ. Surround yourself with older ladies that can be mothers to you, can pass on faith, character, draw out destiny and encourage you. If your natural mother is a woman of God let her be your spiritual mother, if not God has a spiritual mother for you.

Prayer: God please place spiritual mothers in my life to nurture me and encourage me. Let me receive the faith and character that they pass on!

Ignite Recap Videos

Check them out! You can copy them from Josh Danskin's YouTube page here.

Day 1 and 2


Day 3


Day 4


What an incredible week! I cant wait until next year.

See you Sunday!

And the superstar volunteer of Ignite camp goes to....

Tristan Berg! Jenny Brien! Tiffany Bourgeois! Nate Caldwell! Tina Chavez! Justin Crouch! Josh Danskin! Heidi Levesque! Jon Levesque! Terryl Padilla! Anna Tatham!

Each one of these guys made Ignite Camp the most incredible week this summer.

Tristan Berg

Tristan has been a faithful volunteer at GRID 2911 for many years. He works an insane schedule and still makes sure he is at everything. Tristan took a week off of work to volunteer at Ignite Camp. His leadership and passion was and is contagious. He did an incredible job leading the G's for Jesus with his co leader. Thank you Tristan!

Jenny Brien

Jenny has also been an incredible volunteer at GRID 2911 for many years. She took a week away from her husband to lead with Tristan the G's for Jesus. She was a vital part in helping work out details for the camp. Her prophetic voice at camp was inspiring, her leadership, passion and compassion were incredible. She had the opportunity to help some young ladies through some tough issues and she did it with power and anointing. Thank you Jenny!

Tiffany Bourgeois

Tiffers co lead Team ID with her future brother in law Terryl. Hailing from the island of Guam Tiffany's passion for our generation is evident and contagious. When she took the mic God's anointing was so evident, it certainly broke chains off of people. Her leadership changed the lives of many young ladies, especially those who didn't want to be there. Thank you Tiffany!

Nate Caldwell

Nate was our utility player at camp. He came early, worked day and night to set up and get things ready and was always willing at a moments notice to do what ever it took to make it the greatest week of the summer. Nate not only was vital to Ignite camps success, but pulled double duty and lead at Accelerate Kids Camp. Nate's desire for the things of God and to see people's lives changed was key to the success of Ignite and Accelerate. Thank you Nate!

Tina Chavez

WOW! Tina's leadership was absolutely amazing. She had to lead through some real difficulties and did it with strength and anointing and many, many, many, many lives were changed because of it. As the leader of Magma I saw her students transformed in a real powerful way and it was because of Tina's passion, love and leadership. Thank you Tina!

Justin Crouch

Justin was my right hand man at Ignite. He oversaw the audio production set up and ran it. He made the youth worship team sound really good and he co lead team R2D2 with Anna. One night Justin took the mic and preached the most anointed seven minute word I have heard in a long time. His passionate prayer and leadership was outstanding and lives were change because of his faith! Thank you Justin!

Josh Danskin

Josh was the media maniac at camp. He got there early too to set up lights and video. All week Josh worked his can off to film and produce highlight videos. Not only did he film, edit and run video during services, he lead, prayed, and tore it up with all the young people there. He was the adopted leader of Team ID. One night he stayed up until 4:45am to produce a highlight video, that was off the heezy by the way. Josh is the man! Thank you Josh!

Heidi Levesque

Heidi! She also took work off for the week, lead team D4 and drove the bus down and back and down and back and down and back. Few people knew, but Heidi got up early or drove late on several occasions to drop off and pick up buses. This was her first camp leadership experience and she knocked it out of the park. Her passion and faith are evident and have changed many lives. She is an incredible spiritual mother to many! Thank you Heidi!

Jon Levesque

Jon was only able to get the last couple days of work off, but he did it and he showed up with an explosion of faith and passion. He stepped right in and helped his wife lead team D4 and did an incredible job. His leadership was outstanding and in only a few short hours gained the trust of his team and was able to help many change and grow. Thank you Jon!

Terryl Padilla

Terryl took his leadership to a whole new level! He co lead with Tiffers team ID and help many young men develop a passion for God. His team were found on many occasion reading their bible, engaging in passionate worship and hungry for God and it was his leadership and passion that sparked this. He taught from the stage on worship and helped take camp to the next level. His prayers and teachings were outstanding and vital to Ignites success. Thank you Terryl!

Anna Tatham

My nickname for Anna is quiet thunder because she's always been quiet, but extremely powerful. At ignite the thunder roared as Anna unleashed the passion and incredible leadership that is inside of her. On several occasions she took the mic and preached the word. It was incredible to see the anointing on her life. She stepped up and stepped in to help any in need. Her faith and leadership certainly transformed many! Thank you Anna!

Each one of these leaders contributed in far more ways that a little paragraph can say and deserve far more thanks. Ignite could not have been what it was had it not been for their leadership, passion, faith and prayers. When you see them give them a HUGE thank you!

Others who contributed and deserve mad props: Ryan Brien, Kristian Gorman, Jaime Flippin, Kat Bourgeois, Chuck and Stephanie Richter and Mark Wilmot.