Just Do It...Jes-U-it!

The past few days flirted with the miraculous.

This picture is from a response time at Malibu at the end of the week where kids can express if they responded to God's invitation to life together in Him.  It is always miraculous to see how God draws heart that are far from him to 'come home' to relationship with him.

A highlight this week was having friends Wayne and Georganne Smith from Ellensburg, who are on our Inland NW Regional board, be our adult guest hosts. Our friends Mike and Nancy Schaeffer came too (Everett friends Justin and Kylene's fam.) The Smiths brought some awesome friends with them and we all had incredible times together watching God at work.

My highlight this week was from the kids from the storied 'Jesuit HS' in Portland came.  These kids had a strong base of Catholic education and church, yet very little experience in encountering God relationally, face to face.  They were refreshed by Kent's talks, having real talk in cabin time, and the 15 minute quiet times we gave them.  I shared my 'life journal' with a few of the guys who were incredibly curious to see someone who encounters God regularly.  A few of them began to journaling LOT.  One of them, David, was praying and journaling on night 5. He wrote a few prayers and prayed that someone would help him figure out what God has next for him.  Just then, I cracked the door open to see if everyone was asleep during my night watch. He felt God prompt him to go outside and talk to me and that God would speak through me. God hadn't given me the same 'heads up' that this was coming.  I was scurrying around camp at 12:30 looking for a missing Hong Kong female camper and when we found her, i was heading off to bed, determined NOT to get to sleep later then 1:20am like the past few nights.  As I walked by 'crossroads' at 12:45am, David was sitting there. He said 'God told me to sit here and that you'd come to talk to me.'  I played the cool card and just sat down.  I told him I had no idea what God wanted to say to him, but agreed to try to listen to God as we talked.  He shared about being from a long line of highly accomplished leaders.  His grandfather was a captain in the Army, his dad was a high caliber leader. He felt pressured and always called upon to lead and faked his way through the roles that seem to be thrusted upon him.  Then, some words of clarity jumped to the forefront of my brain. I relayed words I felt were from the Lord.  "Be teachable and humble. Surround yourself with transparent leaders and friends you can be REAL with. Fight pride at all costs.  Especially spiritual pride.  Get a group of friends who are not impressed with you and your leadership roles yet deeply care, and be real.  Then the last word I relayed was to 'seek wisdom from God.'  Read the book of Proverbs. Read a chapter a day for a month. It is a book full of wisdom, avoiding pride and constantly being teachable.  His eyes were as wide as the Malibu pool olympics 'lilly pads.'  He opened the journal he had just started and showed me the words 'Talk with Jeff' and 'Seek wisdom from God.'  Then my eyes got big.  Why was I feeling surprised that God orchestrated this conversation?

The next day leaders and students from Jesuit HS kept telling me that David was visibly changed, and wondered how I 'did that.'  I just listened and relayed a few words!  That last night, I joined the the Jesuit HS group of 50 students in their area 'say so' where they shared what happened that week with God.  It was humbling, amazing, and (shouldn't have been) shocking as to how powerfully God got a hold of many of these kids' lives. They discovered how RELATIONAL God is and it finally clicked with their knowledge ABOUT God they'd already had.  Such a joy to see young Catholic kids connect what they 'know' with what they can experience with God.

As I exchanged info with David, I said 'I want to shake hands with your dad.  Sounds like a great guy.'  Two leaders pulled me aside and asked me if I knew who his dad was.  I didn't.  They said he is one of the more influential men in Portland. He was about to become the next CFO of Nike, but stepped away from Nike to be the President of Jesuit schools.  They continued that they had been praying for God to open doors for YL leaders at this school that is historically 'closed' to leaders.  With David's experience, who knows, the door may be more open than ever because God is at work in touching a family.  Who knew?  If I could summarize for us all what I think God could teach us from this..."just listen, and 'just do it.'

WestSnoCo YL is here this week.  Praying for more miraculous, world changing moments!  Not just for me, but for leaders, our team, families, and YOU too!    -jeff-

Leaving space for God to move

Such a great first week in the books. Hong Kong, Issaquah-Sammamish, Portland (Mostly Sunset and Jesuit) and Wichita, Kansas.  I already have a page half full of notes from answered prayers. God is on the move. I found myself asking "Why would we be surprised with God actually 'working?'"

A leader from Sunset HS in Portland came to Malibu with the phrase "Leave space for God to move" on his heart from God.  During a leader meeting, he thanked me for the encouragement to 'be watchful, listen, trust and be responsive' for how God might prompt each leader this week with their YL kids.  Day 5, one kid opened up about how he felt discouraged and hopeless in his life and in himself.  That Sunset leader took a story I shared and immediately customized it. He asked his cabin of guys to each go around and share what they saw in their discouraged friend. They shared the truth of what they see in him, which in turn, spoke life into him. He was in tears of joy, hope and healing.  Then they prayed for him.  So powerful.  The next morning their cabin went for a hike up 'inspiration point.'  The leader was still looking for space for God to move. It started already when a kid asked if he could bring his guitar up the hike.  Sure, why not, make room for God could move. At the top, the kid played his guitar and invited the whole group of 30 to sing a few songs like 'Good good father.' Its created a significant moment while at this breathtaking, overlook point. Then a girl asked if she could share something from her journal. 'Of course!' (Making room for God to move, right?) She poured out pure gold from her journal and kids hearts were stirred. Then, the leader offered for the kids to take a 10 minute quiet time to think and pray at this lookout point. During the time, he felt God whisper to him that one kids just opened their heart to Jesus for the first time. At the end of the 10 minutes, he felt compelled to ask, "did any of you JUST open your heart to God for the first time?"  Immediately upon asking that, he second guessed himself. He felt stupid and completely set up for failure to even ask that. Then, a wide eyed kid responded "Uhh, yeah, I literally JUST DID. How the heck did you even know that."  I'll go ahead and answer that...it's because he made room for God to move...and he DID!

Incredible highlights came also from kids from Jesuit HS in Portland. I'll share in the next post. I'm still shocked at how amazing our God is and how he works not only in big ways, but subtle, small and undeniable ways that completely capture our hearts for Him. :)    -jeff-

Leavenworth student D'Andre's loss and gain

Earlier this year, Cascade-Leavenworth HS student D'andre Vasquez was in a car full of relatives heading down to Mexico to visit family. D'andre's mother, father, grandmother, and uncle were on the road in a car that was struck by other vehicles. D'andre and his family were rushed to the hospital in Spokane but only he and and his uncle survived the tragic accident.

 

TJ Ka'Apuni, our compassionate and responsive YL leader there, showed up to the school immediately after this happened and was invited to drive 3 hours with Cascade HS's principal to Spokane to the hospital where D'Andre was at, alone, and in a complete whirlwind of pain and loss.  since this moment, he has been covered in prayer and loved from folks all over. Due to this tragic loss, D'andre spent this year fatherless, and motherless, fighting hard to keep a smile on his face. D'andre was handed custody to his older brother David. 

He signed up last minute to come to WFR-Canyon, thanks to prayer, persistent invitations from caring leaders and friends, and YL scholarship money raised from generous friends like you. We celebrated that he signed up.  Well, he just returned from camp at WFR-Canyon. TJ reported that D'Andre's week was incredible. He noticed something different about faith compared to his understanding of faith before. He did not realize how relational Jesus is, and that its hard to talk some catholic folks about Jesus openly like he can with his YL leaders. The camp speaker, Kent McDonald, made it easier to understand what a relationship with Christ is like. By the end of the week, D'Andre said he is fully on board with Jesus, Young Life, and he wants to help reach the world of hispanics in Leavenworth!  Hopefully, Lord willing, even beyond. Lord Jesus, you are close to and lift the brokenhearted, in 'all things' you work good for those who love you, you make our greatest pains become our greatest purposes.  May you raise this young man up.

Hong Kong kids at Malibu

This week, a group of 61 campers came all the way from Hong Kong. I've never seen kids quite like these, especially when visiting cabins at 12:30am for 'lights out' and finding all the kids with their AP and SAT prep materials, calculators, and math study books. What the HECK, its MALIBU!  Kids were very responsive to YL's style of fun, but mostly sharing of the gospel, in which our speakers share their 'story' with transparency, humility, including our failures and mistakes. This is NOT the norm in HK. There is a 'saving face' culture, which makes it more difficult to get past the protective walls around kids hearts.

A few special moments with them involved walls breaking down.

Two kids were always the last two to the cabin at night. They would come from the 'smokers pit' where they would smoke cigars they brought.  When the leader asked about it, they were silent. When Josh dug deeper, they said they did not want their parents to find out. Apparently, as a cultural norm, in this culture, they keep all kinds of secrets out of fear of rejection. They are afraid of their intense, success-driven parents who offer little to no grace. Their secret lives go much deeper and darker then merely cigars.  Josh broke the ice by sharing his own mistakes, sin and imperfections from his own life. They were shocked. For the next hour, these kids began to let their guards down and open up their pain, hurts and sin they had never opened up to an adult before. As the week went on, more of the same continued with the kids with their leaders and our head leader team.

Also, after Kent Williams' message on night two, expressing how none of these kids are 'mistakes', they are known and loved by God, not because they earned it, but because they were made in his image. A group of HK kids were in tears afterwards as this realization that they are more loved than they will ever know.  Many have heard the words 'useless' 'a waste' 'an accident' and 'failure' over and over.  God is at work healing broken souls.

What a rare yet precious gift for all kinds of kids to have adults who care, share transparently, and earn the right to share the love of Jesus.  Perhaps the kids that encounter Jesus from Hong Kong could be the very ones who God could raise to change the world.  Let's pray big for every kid. -jeff-

JUNIOR becomes a SENIOR

Two summers ago at Malibu, a student from North Central HS named Junior came to camp with little to no faith. I was invited to join cabin time and got to witness God's amazing love. We took turns sharing ‘God’s thoughts’ for each person in the cabin, and as we spoke, a tsunami of grace knocked down the walls around these kids' hearts. The next morning, Junior and another non-believer prayed with their leader, Kolby, to open their hearts to Jesus because that was ‘the realest’ experience they’d ever had with God. **See his video here for more of his God-story**

Fast forward two years. Last week, Junior and a group of guys went with Kolby on a YL hiking trip. One of the guys, Chaz*, had endured a series of challenges. During the previous year, Junior had been sharing with Chaz how God had changed his own life, but in his hurt and anger, Chaz continued to avoid God. However, while at camp, Chaz confided to Junior and Kolby how life was not working out and how empty he felt. After sharing this, Chaz went off by himself for a while. When he returned, he pulled Junior over to talk.

Chaz shared that he had felt God’s presence, and as he had looked around and considered it, he had sensed that God is huge and could be his strength. Junior asked Chaz if he wanted to pray to start a relationship with Jesus. Just as Chaz responded, “Yeah man, let’s do it!” a strong gust of wind pummeled them for six seconds straight, nearly lifting them off their feet. “God is so powerful!” Chaz exclaimed. They prayed, and, with Kolby next to them a silent support through the whole conversation, he gave his life to Jesus. 

So much awesome in this picture: God moving mightily, presenting himself to Chaz through nature and Junior’s changed life; Kolby’s consistent presence as a YL leader; and Kolby's discipleship of Junior over the past two years, guiding him to the driver’s seat so he could lead his friend to Jesus.

Chaz reflected as the wind gusted in that burst, “My faith is like the wind, just because I can’t see it, doesn’t mean it is not there.”  Let's pray for kids at camps this summer that they would be overwhelmed with gale force winds of the Holy Spirit and would see and respond to Jesus' invitation to follow Him.    -jeff- 

PS- Junior will be on summer staff at Malibu 3rd sesh with me starting tomorrow. Such a treat! 

North Spokane and the cost of saying yes

I Planned a celebratory post about the new hire for North Spokane YL today. Two calls were made to the two AMAZING finalists. Both were prepared to process the decision with their spouses. Their current teams where they serve. One received an offer. One did not. I don't have more to say today. It was actually a very emotional day for me and both candidates.

Imagine spending two months praying 'all in' for serving in a community, then realizing it's not the direction that's best. The feeling of letting go of a dream of trusting God big and being in a new time that you'd need to reply on God like never before but surrounded by an enthusiastic, welcoming host of people...and it not being the person invited.

Imagine getting a call being offered a huge leadership role 6 hours from home, requiring leaving the only home community you've even known. And taking on a higher level of leadership you've ever taken on. And having to communicate to a whole community who deeply loves and values you and your leadership. It makes sense that he is praying over the decision before saying 'yes'.

These are among a few of the emotions being experienced by the two finalists.

I remember my process when I was invited to apply for the regional director position. I remember the sleepless nights. My heart beating out of my chest out of exhilaration, anticipation, reliance on God for his guidance, and the looming fear of being a total dud. After investing time, prayer; hundreds of conversations, and having my attention completely captivated, I found myself leaning in so deeply.

When i was in the final days, the thought of taking the job or not being invited to take it both felt costly. Either way, I was in deep. There was no way to protect my emotions. I would suffer either way.  Losing all I knew and held dear for the call and the honor of saying YES to the Lord, or the hurt of being passed up for whatever reason would be given.

So my post is about prayer for two all in men who took the risk to expose their hearts for the sake of following Christ, forsaking comfort and familiarity and wanting to be available for the Kingdom.

How are you leaving it all out on the field? Are you in a position where you are all in? Are you appreciating and honoring those who give all of who they are for the sake of Jesus and others? Thank and cheer someone on today. :).   -Jeff-

Miracle Whip

Friends-

We argue HOW to pronounce the word 'miracle.'  Do you say MEER uh cull?  Or MARE uh cull? Our friend Troy Schwenke says the latter.  99.9% of everyone else calls it the former.  This was not meant to throw Troy under the bus, but to pull you in like a tractor beam (insert sound effect.)  Miracles.  What are miracles you've seen?  What is coincidence?

Last week at Washington Family Ranch camp, an 80+ year old who works there, who has seen COUNTLESS miracles that God has performed said: "...but the greatest miracle of all is what God has done in my heart."  Do we see the miracle of a changed heart?  Do we give God credit, or is the change too incremental?  Or have we let him continue what he started...but aborted the last mission and took control back?  Miracles are all around.  Being at YL camps is a thin place, where heaven and earth seem closer than a typical day.  I want to share a few miraculous moments I heard a few days ago from a few YL leaders/staff who just returned from camp.

One of our leaders, when working at a their job at a prison in the Inland NW, got to know a particular inmate.  Over a period of time, this prisoner's heart was visibly changed by encountering Jesus and releasing a life of hate-filled sin.  The prisoner shared with the YL leader about his children and wanted prayer for their life to go a different direction.  A path of hope, love and a path of faith.

Fast forward a few years to this past month.  Guess who is in HS now and headed out for Young Life summer camp?  That inmates child.  God answers the prayers of prisoners.  My apologies for my atypical ambiguity (yes, Jeff can be known to be an over-sharer) but one of our areas has leaders reaching all kinds of kids, even hurting ones who have grown up with incarcerated parents.  Yet what a blessing in this story, that the parent became a pray-er.  And God HEARD the prayers of a convict and acted.  God 'called' a leader to show up to a school regularly, build relationships with all kinds of kids (not just the confident, hipster ones mind you), and create the kind of relational momentum (through prayer, boldness and faithfulness) where girls would sign up and invite friends to come to camp.  And that is what we can celebrate.  Light in the darkness.  Hope to the hopeless.  Releasing prisoners.  Isaiah 42:7 expresses that Jesus came "To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the dungeon And those who dwell in darkness from the prison."

This echoed from Matthew 25 when Jesus expressed how he receives our efforts for those down and out as thought we served him directly. "When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat...when I was in prison, you visited me...whatever you've done for the least of these, you've done unto me."

I love that you and I can be a part of Jesus' work in this world.  Introducing young people to Jesus who would not otherwise, and help them find a path perhaps that was not clearly laid out by their families.  Or...the families had to rely on prayer from behind bars.  God helps the helpless. Isn't its great we can be a part of the answer to desperate prayers?  Beautiful.  Let's pray that the girls' experience at camp was a life altering, hope infusing impact!

These posts will start coming as we leave for Malibu in 10 days and the stories will be shared!  Stay tuned.  'Subscribe' if you choose.  -Jeff-