UPDATE FROM OUR WEEK AT MALIBU!!!!

I am writing this while on the bus coming home from a week at Malibu camp, having just enjoyed front row seats to see God moving in the lives of a cabin full of high school friends from Spokane. Enjoy this recap what just went down as we prayed, rallied to get kids away for a week to slow down with face to face time with friends, leaders and God. Hope this brings glory to God and fills your cup.

5 of 10 guys were players, I was their tennis coach at Mead HS. A few were from Gonzaga Prep HS. On the outside, these guys are fairly well put together, talented, having parents that love them. Yet inside, every one of them were full of doubts and self-doubt, plagued with anxiety, enveloped with emptiness, languished with loneliness and bruised with harsh and hurtful words from others. 

Of the 10 guys in our cabin, there we some common threads.

    *8 struggle with deep anxiety and persistent depression.

    *7 had previously been introduced to Jesus and fell off the rails and lost their way with God.

    *2 were in a mature place where they wanted to grow personally, yet focus on helping the others

    *All 10 clearly understood that they filled their life with things that don't fill their 'cups' / gloves. 

    *All 10 doubted that even IF something special happened this week, it would not even last.

    *1 guy had never prayed/talked to God before. For 4, it had been a long time. 

How it all went down!

Night 1 and 2, all the guys committed to 'own' where they are at, not pretend to be closer than they actually are to God. And when sharing what they wanted out of the week, every guy expressed wanting to encounter God, to 'feel' His presence, and that they would finally figure out HOW to connect with God. Most guys fell asleep during the first two cabin times. Was not sure how seriously they would engage.

 

Night 3 and 4. Guys related to a metaphor about a large flashlight that is made to fit a large battery. Anything else filling the inside of the battery interrupts it from working, even if it seems to fit. The guys opened up about what they fit in their lives that short-circuits their connection to God that they were made for. Endless phone scrolling, comparison, pursuit of money, trying to 'lock in' to excelling in sports at the expense of anything else, and an infinite amount of distractions. Bottom line they all realized was that TIME was not the problem. Even when free time comes, every one of them 'doesn't feel like' praying or reading the bible or turning to God. They are compelled to waste time instead. It sickened them. The conclusion was that it is a 'love' problem. They do not love God to a level that they would want Him. Can you relate? Front row seats to hearing these honest young people share so authentically that I felt my own excuses evaporate that I have a time problem. Do I have a love problem too?  Big oof! 

It was so truthful, my co-leader Logan (Whitworth student, from Yakima) and I gave them an invitation for the guys to 'say to God, what they just said to each other.' In other words, lets not talk 'about' God, to TO God about all this. They all did. Some were nervous of not knowing how to talk to God. But they encouraged one another and workshopped it out into a beautiful group time of prayer and confession where everyone lifted to God the distractions and burdens they have been carrying and choking on. 

Day 5 and 6 were 'fire', as the kids say. In addition to cabin times, we mixed in 1-on-1 convos and 2-on-1 convos where we went even deeper into the next level of depth and opportunity. 

My co-leader Logan and I met with two of our guys, back to back. 

Me, Logan, Nate, 'JC' and 'E'

    In the first convo, our usually cheerful guy, 'E,' was uncharacteristically subdued. He stared at the wooden, Malibu 'Suivoolot deck' while sat side by side on Adirondack chairs overlooking the pristine, Princess Louisa Inlet. E is a relational sparkplug, but in this moment, he was slouched and mumbling responses like a deflated hot air balloon. I would never have guessed a guy of his magnetism, talent and consistency coming to Young Life would be so beleaguered by depression and boa-constricted by internal lies of his self worth and inability to be someone who has the capacity to even connect with God. He had a 15 minute quiet time the day before and got nothing out of it. It was 15 minutes full of distraction and discouragement. Instead of drawing closer to God and hearing his voice, he left the time believing more deeply that there is something faulty about him and that closeness with God is not going to ever happen.

  For an hour, Logan and I listened deeply, shared key verses that have freed us from similar battles, and I was able to share my own journey of identifying the sources of the self-talk and words that have run roughshod through my mind. E had never considered that he was listening to the wrong voice. It stopped him in his tracks. He began to sit up straight. His own voice perked up. He began to look at the view rather than at the floor. We agreed to pray together and the three of us proclaimed the truth of the word of God over the darkness and lies. He prayed out "God I want your voice to be louder and more dominant to me than any other voice." He walked away 30 pounds lighten in his shoulders, and shared that night with the other guys what took place. In fact, we had another 15 minute quiet time that evening and he had a totally opposite experience than the day before. He took it slow, breathed deeply, invited God to speak, listened and realized that he IS a person who CAN connect with God and hear Him speak. Glory to God that he still moves stones and transforms the lives of all who believe, even overcoming our unbelief.

 The next hour Logan and I met with JC, E's best friend, who also exudes magnetism, off the charts talent, leadership beyond his age (tennis team captain, drum major in the band, faceman of a rock band, etc) and a consistent engagement with Young Life. He also, when being given a chance to share deeper, unveiled a nagging dark depression, pesky addictions and a reluctance to even bother trying to draw near to God, since it never lasts and I screw it up and fall back to sin. JC shared details of patterns in his life where people seem to die and take their owns lives all around him; family, girl friends and friends. He feels cursed and fearful to make ANY commitments because he will fail and be worse off for even trying. He has not committed to God because of this gripping fear and experience of failure following through and the shame storm that rages after tripping up. 

We listened, let him hear himself saying these lies and filters that keep him from the closeness with God he already expressed that he wants. We shared Jesus' words that HIS burden is light, and a commitment is to be WITH Him, letting Jesus walk alongside Him to help carry the commitment, and provide for him. We shared Jesus' invitation to follow him, the Holy Spirit empowers us, God's grace covers us, and Logan shared about how the disciples committed yet messed up so many times, yet were never booted or beaten up by Jesus, but learned, grew and were given more. We read Psalm 139, how God knows EVERYTHING, so its not a performance, it truly is a relationship based on GOD'S initiation and knowing us. Something began to release inside of JC. When it came to us praying, he asked for strength to make commitments, to let go of fears and to draw near and prayed the last two verses of Psalm 139. After our time, he went back to the cabin (Lillooet 8,) got his guitar out and wrote a song based on Psalm 139, and at cabin time shared with the guys that he commits to grow in faith, the word, in prayer and using his gift for God.

A last meeting took place this morning that was of colossal impact. N is our quietest camper, he does not seem to have much to say, and mumbles when its his time to talk during cabin time. He went to YL only twice this year, even though we invited him every time. He signed up 3 weeks before camp, because he heard another wrestler, Trandyn, signed up. His older sister came to YL camp years ago when my daughter Janna invited her, but she was quiet also, reluctant and skeptical. (Amazing that 5 years later, God got ahold of her and completely transformed her life right as she graduated HS and is a dynamic follower of Jesus now!) N requested to have a 2:1 with me and Trandyn, who I invested in as a junior leader during the week. We met up on the rock near the gym this morning (Monday, Day 7) and just asked him what he had been processing and where he is at with Jesus. He talked for almost an hour, hardly resting for a breath. He has SO much to say. He soaked up every bit of the speakers 'talks', he made notes of all the Bible verses that were shared so he could look them up. He did not have a Bible so we got him one on day 1, and he had underlines and marked pages already. 

N's story and family dynamics are heavy. Harsh words have pierced his heart deeply and formed unhealed wounds that lead him to be a subdued person. Trandyn stepped in and he heard the wounding words and he spoke truth of who N really is, and that he respects him as a wrestler, and is so proud of him as a person for all he has overcome. It was so powerful coming from a peer (even just 1 year older) speaking God's truth. 

His family has had an ugly breakup with the LDS church years ago that have left a deep distrust in 'religion' and disbelief in God's goodness and love. Yet somehow, this week, N concluded the opposite of his parents. He wanted MORE of God. He was blown away but all he saw, heard and experienced.

He shared that in the cabin time where we all prayed out loud, it was the FIRST time he has ever prayed. Then in the two 15 minute quiet times, those were the second and third time he ever prayed. We asked him if he has ever said 'yes' to start a relationship with Jesus. He said he has not yet, but wants to. So, Trandyn led us in prayer, I prayed and then we let him pray. It was a beautiful moment to be there for this. From there, we walked into the club room where the final club had already started. During club, the speaker gave a chance for kids to stand up and share ('say-so') if they started a relationship with Jesus. Pretty sure N was the most recent one to make the call, it was about 10 mins from praying to sharing on a mic with the other campers that he started a relationship with God!

"N" sharing at Say-So!

During 'say-so'. he stood and proclaimed his faith alongside Spokane cabin mates E, JC, Austin and one our Spokane girls too, Avery. When E and JC shared as well, it revealed that the Holy Spirit worked deeply in them enough to overcome their doubts, self-doubts, fears, anxiety and lack of confidence that even if God showed up in their lives, that it would even last. Yet, they committed. Huge win. And as we head home, we have plans to dive into God's word, meet regularly and lean on each other rather than trying to go it alone. Pray with us for E, JC, N, Austin, Avery and the others like Nate, Trandyn and Ryder who came also that committed to take their faith to the next level of growing and taking next steps too. 

JC, Austin, E and Avery sharing at Say-So

WE get to invite Jesus' light into kids' darkness. It is such a joy and worth the time, money, energy and effort. Thank you for caring, partnering, praying and, like Luke 15, celebrating when   

Hearing how He filled kids' lonely and anxious hearts, what a powerful reminder that God is able to do more than we could ask or imagine.

Malibu Prayer List for June 23-June 30th (and UPDATED)

Left for Malibu Monday. Currently there, updates at the very bottom! 

 

Here is who I invite you to pray for this week! I will share updates below as the week goes on, and in 'comments' if you follow along. After the week i will post again about all God did!!! 

Mead HS campers: Jeff and Logan with Nathan, Nathaniel, Jackson, Trandyn, Easton, Ryder. 5 of these guys are my 'tennis guys' I coach. What a joy! 

    Praying for Easton to catch a fire. Nathaniel to meet Jesus. Trandyn, Ryder and Nathan to come alive in Christ, with a contagious faith to rock Mead HS this year. Pray for Jackson, he is a musician, tennis player,  and an absolute delight. At YL two months ago, he shared at the end of the message that his faith is second hand smoke, based on others' experience, and he longs to have his own direct connection to God. C'mon! Lets pray for this!  

Also pray! 

Mead and Mt Spokane HS girl campers: Tanita our steady leader, Ava Watkins (pray for clarity to make a commitment to Jesus, she previously said 'no thank you' but is reconsidering now!  Also, Ella, Camdyn A. and Addie Kerrigan.

Gonzaga Prep HSL: Grace with Lucia, Carolina, Alexi.

North Central and GPrep HS: Adam Sonneland & Brendan: Austin, Sebastian Wolf, Isaac, Avery, Timothy

UPDATES: (Wednesday)

We and all the groups were turned away at the border for not having 'work permits' for being leaders with kids at camp. Very interesting to say the least.  

Each bus from 8 different areas all had to find a hotel to stay at for the day/night until a plan was formulated to get us through. Our Spokane group as well as Federal Way and Central Kitsap ended up at Semiahmoo, in Blaine. They gave us a group discount for rooms, provided amazing hospitality and we were able to throw a night 1 club' together too so we did not miss starting strong, having an intro message (by Tanita) and each leader could have a cabin time with kids. At the end of the day, kids shared that they were blown away by seeing how God was with us even in our plans going sideways, and that they were having SO much fun already. 

We got our work permits and passed through the border this morning and are on our way to Malibu now, we will all arrive in time for dinner Day 2. We are pumped to get there after an epic evening of pickleball, bikes, s'mores by fire pits, club, cabin time and a great night of sleep.  Praying for more! 

"We Are Clay Masterpieces": recap from Malibu Discipleship May 2026

Tanya and I were invited to be the co-speakers at Malibu Discipleship Weekend in late May. In fact, that was how I spent my 50th birthday. So worth it. 

What we shared was a greatest hits album of what God has been revealing to us over the past 4 years. A combination of lessons from mentors in our lives, and how God's word that has grabbed hold of us (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8, Philippians 4,) and elements of neuroscience; how God shapes even our brains to align with what He has to say to us.

Interested yet? This may become a manuscript for something in the future, who knows! 

Tanya spoke night 1 (while I was in Tri-Cities coaching our Mead HS boys tennis team to 2nd place in the state championship.). She shared about how we are God's masterpiece, his workmanship, whom He delights in and planned to do great works in and through. She crushed it, because she has lived what she spoke.

Night 2 I shared from what I have been deeply moved by over the past years, inviting them on this journey for themselves.

Recapping Tanya said, we truly are God's masterpieces, but we often feel like master pieces of crap if we are honest. Our minds are filled with negative self-talk and beliefs that drag us down from our true identity God gives us. 

I shared about how my job on the Mead Tennis team coaching staff is *mindset coaching; identifying our players' negative self-talk and replacing it with affirmations of identity and clarity. Every player shared and did not realize how plagued they were, yet how possible changing is. I asked the high schoolers in the room if they have experienced this same negative self talk that has impacted them. The lights were low, but looked like at least 95% raised their hands. They get it. They hear the constant negativity.

The question was posed..."who's voice is that coming from?" 

I took a risk and did a 3 minute history of God's voice, from Genesis 1 to Old Testament invitations over and over to 'come to me', to Jesus, and literally to God speaking this very day.

Then I did a 3 minute history of 'the accuser', Satan's voice. From Genesis 3 ('Did God realllllly sayyyy...?') to the temptation of Jesus, evil seen in the bible and Revelation to literally this morning when certian thoughts of shame, comparison, self-hatred or bitterness entered their brains. Real stuff. 

Then I shared the story that rocked me. 

I met with Psychologist, Dr Tim, to share about how burnt out I had become as an area director, and lost energy to lead leaders, invite people and overcome my feeling of being so alone. Dr. Tim asked which specific words ran through my mind, and when. I repeatedly had these scripts running through my mind: "No one really wants to help lead. Its better that you do all the work. You burden people when you invite them to take on leadership. You're faulty and not a good fit as a leader, you just do things wrong. Why even bother being a director."  As I shared, he leaned in and asked, "who's voice is that?" He paused and waited a few moments. I was stunned, I had never considered the question.  He pressed, since I had not answered yet. Is that God's voice, is that consistent to how He speaks to us? Sobered, I finally answered; "that is the voice of the accuser. Satan. Speaking half-believable lies."

Dr Tim continued: "May I ask, have you been obedient to that voice? And how long?"  I was stopped in my tracked. Awakened as if a Great Wolf Lodge water bucket with ice water just dumped over my head. I realized in that moment that negative self-talk is real, and it has a source, and it is not from God. It must be addressed and it can be done!

What comes next is good news. That our mindsets and mental messes may be jacked up, but God is fully able to reshape us, like clay. Jeremiah 18 shares this relationship between God, our shaper and sculpter, and us the misshapen clay. When we get out of alignment, mentally, spiritually, it is nothing to God to simply reshape what is the marred. This is good news, no need to sulk or shame storm or feel like a  hopeless lost cause. God is able to re-shape us.

It fit to share about research in neuroscience. With all of our negative self-talk and thought patterns we have, our brains have formed neuropathways that are deeply formed and hard to change old mindsets that we have thought, believed and even obeyed as truth. Yet, our brains are so resillent and reshapeable. We can train our brains, with new thoughts beliefs, to form a new pathway in a phenomenon called neuroplasticity. The "clay" metaphor absolutely fits how God made our brains with the way they can be reshaped. I shared how it works. Replace the lie or negative talk with a truth, a positive, emotionally compelling statement, and begin to speak it out, believe it and keep repeating it daily. This repetition is similar to what God has said all along in scripture, to meditate day and night on God's word, to write it on doorframes, to share it with our children and their children. God all along was a mental health expert who wanted us to know and believe the truth, not lies.

SO many of these kids were familiar with neuroscience and it blew their gourds to combine this with God's word, so applicable and yet so simple. They were given ample time to have solitude, listen to God's voice and begin to re-route neuropathways of God's words. 

I have a laminated page full of affirmations, truths and scripture that I review regularly to align my brain with truth and fix my thoughts on 'whatever is true, right, lovely, excellent and praiseworthy' (Philippians 4.).  SO many scriptures point towards meditating on and memorizing the word, keeping it in front of us, not forgetting, teaching our kids, and Jesus had truth locked in when being tempted. Its a God theme! 

More to say, but that was the summary. 

*I have been learning from a mentor, Brad Board, a sage on this topic where he learned from presenting for the Pacific Institute for years for positive change in how we can transform our lives through beliefs and thoughts. He's helped me do mindset coaching for myself and my tennis players, and any YL staff who desire this support to. 

Top 10 Takeaways from my Armenia ‘i100’ Visit

 

Similar to how our region invests in DFLs (Developing Future Leaders) that we help fund and train, Young Life International invests heavily in its top 100 non-US staff, and named this initiative, "i100." I agreed this year to coach 4 of the 15 i100 staff in Middle Eurasia: the directors for Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. We meet monthly for two hours to learn from each other and share vision. During this visit, I had the privilege of meeting them in person. Read on to have your heart expanded, mind blown, and passion re-sparked!

Moldova Director, Fiodor who I coach

Here are my top 10 takeaways that captured my heart.

#10. No Money, So What? Moldova is the poorest country in Europe/Central Asia, but you wouldn’t know it by their ministry to kids. YL there offers camps at super low cost by using friends’ riverfront properties. Partners donate tents and supplies, volunteers prepare food, and leaders put on camp. Kids help serve, too. It may not be “glamping,” but kids meet Jesus in droves and say it was the best week of their lives.   

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#9. Stans the Man! In Middle Eurasia, YL is flourishing in all five “Stans:” Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukbekistan, Kyrgystan, and Tajikistan. These countries are more than 90 percent Muslim, and the government squashes any non-Muslim gatherings and movements—like YL. Arrests and full searches happen often, and leaders accept this as part of the cost of being a YL leader. They walk wisely, but their love for lost kids spurs them to keep going and not live in fear. They’ve been bravely introducing their teenage friends to Jesus since 1998. The Stans have 92 ministries and 485 leaders, and average 2.365 kids at club weekly, 1,010 kids intentionally discipled, and 8,000 kids going to camp.

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#8. Stans’ Secret Sauce. The ‘Stan countries’ YL vision is to build a culture of generosity and service toward teenagers. At first, I thought that vision was a little weak sauce. Not specific enough, nothing to measure, vague to attain. Then the leaders shared how this culture would usher in the fragrance of Christ, that YL leaders’ #1 goal is to look for opportunities to love, serve, and give. One example is prioritizing 'Capernaum' YL ministry to kids with special needs in every area. As St Paul said "against such things there is no law," which is legit true in the ‘Stans.' In fact, kids and adults are compelled by how the leaders engage with generosity and servant-heartedness in the schools and community, and this is the secret ingredient that makes YL successful. 

Extra sauce: As millions of teenagers have fled from Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, YL leaders in the ‘Stans are intentionally praying and reaching out to these refugee kids to know them, love them, serve them, and introduce them to Jesus. Openness becomes much harder when they return to their closed-off countries. Love how they seize this kairos opportunity!

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#7. Another ‘Darkness to Light’ YL camp.  Armenia YL acquired a camp with a dark history that gives off similar vibes as Washington Family Ranch, which has its own dark “Rajneesh” (a gnarly cult there in the early 80's) history. The Armenia camp was a Soviet, communist youth indoctrination camp for decades. On the walls, old pics of teenagers arriving at camp with sullen, lifeless faces hang in stark contrast to recent, new pics of kids being greeted by YL work crew, everyone’s face lit by joy as the kids began a week where they would be introduced, gently and freely, to a God who knows and loves them. Jesus does immeasurably more than we imagine.

#6. Calling All Musicians. Leaders across the big city of Yerevan Armenia invited any and all kids who wanted to learn to play guitar, lead songs, and/or lead worship to form a year-long YL club. 60 kids and young adults showed up and learned to play, sing, and lead, and grew deeper in their faith. As a result, every weekly club in town had multiple song leaders, young adults signed up to become YL leaders, and local churches inherited new worship leaders and teammates. A group of six of them led worship for our mini conference, and they switched from English to Russian to Armenian. Incredible.

Jeff and Ukraine Regional Director Sasha

#5. YL Rocks Here. Yerevan YL hosted a song-writing contest for kids. Kids and leaders from more than ten clubs across the city produced and performed more than 20 original songs. They were catchy and legitimately good. Many had themes of darkness vs light, hope vs despair/anxiety, and life to the full. The lyrics were reminiscent of the songs kids have sung at YL for generations. Many of these songs are now sung at clubs every week.

 

#4. Ukraine YL. In spite of the war, Ukraine YL is pursuing and impacting kids in unimaginable ways. They have 100 ministries, 1,000 leaders, and 40 staff. They know 10,000 kids by name, and they took 1,500 kids to a camp they rent. The fastest growing ministry in Ukraine is YL College, which is established at nine universities. They have a goal of being at 23. Kids are hungry for truth, hungry for purpose, and hungry for God. Urgency is high as young people are required to serve in the military during this war, but in college, they can be assigned specialties rather than basic frontline service.

Ukraine's aggressive growth goals!

 

#3. Two-Timing Ukrainians! A few of the YL Ukraine staff take on two jobs: YL Director and HS teacher. First, they want to be in the schools with kids, which is gold. Second, they get paid extra money (schools pay better than YL). And third, teachers are exempted from military service, so they can continue their critical work leading YL for Ukraine. Amazing to hear how they completely rely on the Lord to lead them in the midst of war. It is no joke that club is the best night of these kids' week, and the leaders are presence with them expresses Jesus' posture of 'I will never leave you.'

  

 

#2. Hips Don’t Lie.  Our Armenia YL director

Theeeee 'Arman!'

, Arman, knew a young person who showed up wounded after serving in the recent war with Azerbaijan. Doctors could not heal his hip, and one leg was three to four inches shorter than the other, causing him to hobble. Arman asked to pray for him, and though the friend was not of faith, he agreed. Arman held his leg and gently pulled as he prayed for healing. The leg extended, and the young man lumbered out of the room in astonishment. But he came back in tears because his shriveled leg was now three to four inches longer than his good leg. The healing was too much. Arman offered to pray again, expressing his honest confusion and doubt, yet also asking God with firm faith that He is an able, good, good father, and as he prayed, the leg shifted again. This time, they both prayed, “Okay, STOP GOD, stop!” The friend stood up, and the legs were perfectly level. He asked Arman how to start a relationship with Jesus, and they prayed for that, too! Now he is following Jesus on level paths.

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#1. Disability? More like This Ability! It is tricky to gain favor and acceptance in places like the ‘Stans and Russia, which are hostile to the gospel of Jesus. Many adults, police, and officials see YL as a threat. When leaders are arrested and interrogated, or questioned by fearful parents, they have found their best strategy is to extend and invitation to “come and see” Capernaum YL club, the ministry to kids with special needs. It is the fullest, clearest display of the gospel. It silences the critics and halts hostilities. In fact, it’s a best practice to invite unbelievers and skeptics to help at club, by driving kids, serving food, and volunteering in other ways. Sounds just like something Jesus would do to reveal the magnificence of his Kingdom where the last are first, when we have done anything for the perceived 'least' its done unto Jesus himself, and the Kingdom is revealed in simplicity of inviting kids to Him! (Mark 10:14) 

 

Love to hear your reflections from this, and even any God sightings you've experienced lately!

Yours in Christ's grip, Jeff

Our Mind Blowing Week at Malibu

Our 19 campers we took from North Spokane to Malibu reminded us that most of teenagers are not just ‘doing fine.’ It is so apparent that kids are wrestling with very adult things like anxiety, depression, abandonment by parents, struggling to find faith when life is so wrecked, feeling insanely lonely, getting sucked into the soul-sucking wreckage of the Internet and ‘apps’, suffering while being subject to a narcissistic parent and even having a sibling murdered. This is what we walked with these kids we’ve known all year or longer. The beautiful headline though, is not the wreckage but the transformation that only God can do.

Of our group; 9 of our HS kids stood up on the last day to indicate they had made a major life and faith decision. And most others still had significant movement of healing and a do-over in their faith.

One our our guys, who was adopted from a drug abuser birth family, had been through a deeply, painful journey these past years. His sister ran away from home; one completely changed every aspect of their identity, and the other ran away from home with a bad-news boyfriends who allegedly murdered her in April. Dietrich and Jeff attended the funeral and have walked with him through this valley of the shadow of death. Jeff’s first one-on-one with the campers was with him, and it mostly comprised of his intentions to exact revenge on people responsible for the hurt he an nd his family experienced. A dark conversation indeed. All week, anger spewed, cabin times were high jacked by this angry teenager who badgered other kids as they shared. This week seemed to be on a fast track to no where.

After the camp speaker shared about what Jesus accomplished for us all on the cross, forgiveness, grace, love and justice, we were all given 15 minutes of silence to consider Gods love and even pray perhaps for the first time. We regathered after this 15 mins for cabin time. In fact, we split the cabin time for me to take him and 2 others in a separate cabin time to allow the other 7 kids to be more safe and free to share without being overwhelmed by this one angry, hurting, prickly young man.

As we started cabin time, we asked ‘what did you hear from the cross or during the 15 mins of quiet?’ Our hurting camper went first. “I felt God speak to me. He told me to forgive the murderer of my sister. To trust that vengeance is HIS not mine.’  And that a seal popped its head up and looked at him where he was sitting by the Oceanside. And God gave him A peaceful assurance that his sister is with God, that her profession of faith was accepted by God even though she had run away and made bad decisions’. He was a completely different kid, expressing a peace he’d never felt before.

The next night, after the resurrection message and 2nd 15 min quiet time, he came back and sense God’s presence and voice inviting him to trust God and forgive his other sister and his birth parents who abandoned him. What!? Then felt prompted to pray for his friend who was in our cabin time, who was full of anger and unforgiveness for his father who has deeply hurt him and contributes to his horrific mental health, to forgive his father too. Then THAT kid perked up and said reported that likely at that very moment he was being prayed for, he heard God speak to him to forgive his father and be filled with Gods peace. They were both blown away with how God moved in these past days. Two kids full of rage and empty of faith had been transformed before our very eyes.

When we split into two cabin times to create safety and room for all the kids to (hopefully!) open up, my co-leader and I agreed to let Mathias Nordstrom, a senior in HS, my first even ‘second generation YL kid’ (I led HIS dad Jeff at Everett HS 22 years ago) to lead the other 7 guys along with Dietrich as his backup. All the kids who had not felt safe to share authentically, totally opened up and fully engaged with each other. They shared about their real thoughts, doubts and desires. It was a breakthrough for each, as well as the whole group of Mead HS kids with each other.

As a bonus, helping lead cabin time was the highlight of Mathias’ (and Dietrich’s) faith journey. He had never had to lean on God like he did in leading these 2 cabin times. God moves in leaders sometimes just as much in those being led!

One girl came in with her guard up. She had a lifetime of experiences with her family, with parents who've left a sour taste in her mouth for what a life of faith is. One parent is completely relationally absent and another is fully immersed in alcohol abuse. She listened to the messages at Malibu and was blown away by what she heard and saw. Getting a clearer view of Jesus was a massive eye opener for her, that faith is not about maintaining a judgy, hypocritical religion, but about a life-giving relationship with God— this was so freeing. Before, prayer and reading the Bible and church was all so confusing because of all the hypocrisy she experienced. After a one on one with Tanya, she determined that she wanted a ‘re-do’ with God and committed to start over fresh. Such a joy to see!

Another kid had been through so much pain of unanswered prayers for an ailing parent all year and feeling incredibly lonely and isolated from having any friends. In a one-on-one conversation by the pool overlooking the Malibu rapids, a combination of attentive listening and timely words from the Lord helped him find hope. The Lord spoke into the conversation that he had been living in fear rather than knowing how to live into Gods live. I 1John 4, we learn that ‘there is no fear in love…perfect love casts out fear.’ That the constant patching himself out from growing closer to others, including God, could be approached by learning to love and receive love from God is a direction to go rather than live in fear of others, in fear of everything failing and being completely alone. He had a fresh, new outlook on enduring a challenging season of dire family health and a lack of having close friends. Continuing to pray for him and the others this week, especially the 9 kids who stood up to proclaim that God had done major transformation in their lives!

We meet this Sunday to begin following up all the steps of faith for them, and the kids who were not able to come. We will read 1 chapter of Philippians per week for the next 4 week; give them a chance to share and spur each other on in faith and create a ‘list’ of peers to begin praying for to encounter God this year and next summer too. We invite your prayers as we are in the midst of the Lord moving mountains in kids lives amidst all the have to wrestle through. God is good, am I right?! 

Thank you for listening. Praying. Partnering. And finding ways in your life to bring life to others stuck in messes, tossed by storms and in need of a fresh introduction to wipe away the misconceptions of God's amazing love. You are loved; thanks for loving us.

-Jeff and Tanya-

WEEK 4: Chains breaking!

Friends-

Such a great last week! Dietrich (pictured) was on the 'Real Life' panel of work crew kids, sharing elements of his life, to help the campers introspect their own lives by sharing elements of their 'story' including family, friends, etc.) He did great. We are still pinching ourselves, dumbfounded that OUR KID, Dietrich Huber, signed up for work crew, hasn't asked to go home, has been knocking the ball out of the park, has campers cheer for him every week, and volunteered to share about his life for 350+ campers.

God was was at work this week from the moment campers arrived. When one of the Cle Elum/Roslyn leaders arrived, she had a message to call home from one of the camper's families.  The camper's father had passed away that morning of a drug overdose. The leader and camper's family worked with the Head Leader and Camp Director to plan a face-to-face visit where the family could deliver the news to the camper, Mackenzie.  Mackenzie's grandparents drove al the way to the property. As non-christians who had no Young Life experience in a town that had just started in 'Upper Kittitas County' this Spring. Delivery of the news was handled with such care and tenderness that the camper's family wanted to offer for Mackenzie to stay at camp if she decided to. The grandparents were offered a stay for the day and overnight if needed by the property. They elected to stay the day. Mackenzie decided that camp was the best place for her to stay with a loving group of friends who cared for her very well. As the club messages Tanya gave unfolded, Mackenzie was particularly touched by Tanya's own personal story about the painful life and loss of her father.  The assignment team would watch as the girls would exchange glances with Mackenzie as Tanya would share different details about her dad.  Mackenzie had a powerful week, and we were so happy that she was surrounded with her leader and friends during this tender time, and messages spoke to her story.

One leader invited me to join her and a camper for a one-on-one.  The camper had been struggling to 'take control' of her own life (using the 'chair' visual) because of some past family trauma.  I sat and listened to this camper tell about her grandmother who suffered from mental illness, who had begun to mistreat her. This was particularly confusing as the grandmother was the spiritual leader of the family. After working through talking about the nature of sin and the purpose God has for each of his children. I was out of ideas. She just couldn’t imagine turning her chair to God. She said she felt like her chair was CHAINED, because of this dysfunctional person.  I had nothing to say to convince her. I felt like we had talked through everything I could think of.  I prayed.  Then the Holy Spirit revealed to me the answer… I reminded her that the she seems to have great boundaries in place with her grandmother-- her parents have a restraining order, she is not allowed to pick her up from school, she is not allowed to talk to her, etc.  She has great boundaries in her day-to day life, and I suggested that she use those same boundaries with her spiritual life- that protecting her ‘chair’/spiritual decisions could be done with the same care and boundaries as the rest of her life. This made perfect sense to her. When I left the table, she said that she was closer to turning her chair to begin a relationship with Jesus. The next morning this camper went to the new believer’s celebration and stood up at the ‘stand so’ of our last club. Praise the LORD for breaking these chains!

CHAINS release!

During the message on sin and the cross, Tanya used 'chains' as a visual for how choosing sin (turning away from life with God) itt leads to the opposite of freedom and joy. It leads to being stuck, heaviness and not getting the joy and full life that we were created to desire and receive when living face to face with God.

At Tanya's night 3 explanation of what Jesus did on the cross to set us free from sin, she unlocked heavy chains, which hold our 'chairs' in the turned away position. When she did this, the room FULL of 350+ campers ERUPTED in applause. This only happened 1 week, but it felt appropriate to cheer for God's act of grace to release us from the consequences of our choice to leave Him out of our lives, and receive us fully to do life together as He created us to do. This is amazing, cheer worthy grace!

The medical team was particularly present for every proclamation activity.  During club, cabin time and quiet times, we noticed the children of the camp doctor were enthusiastically participating-- having their own discussions for cabin time.    For the all camp quiet, all of the children read their own letters from God and wrote a response to to God on the back, just as the campers were invited to.  After all camp quiet, one of the children told her mother that she was ready to 'turn her chair to God'.  Her mother responded, "You don't have to unless you are ready". The daughter responded, "but God wants me to do it now!" So she began a relationship with Jesus and came to the new believer's celebration where we gave her her own bible and she put a tile in the sluice box with her name on it to mark the occasion.  I forget that there is also a ministry to the medical team families!

 

Serving alongside a great team was a joy. None of us serve alone, we are the body of Christ. A speaker, techs, MCs and leaders who set the stage for kids to be ready to hear the gospel, head leaders who support the leaders, prayers and supporters like you who fuel the ministry to keep moving ahead. Thank you for being a teammate in sharing the good news with around 2000 kids this past month, and 17,000 kids this year in the Mountain West Region! 

Creekside Week 3: Hardest Nuts to Crack, Kids standing UP to say YES!

Week 3 highlights!

This week we had 2 campers who were from the juvenile detention system. They were from 2 different areas. One of these campers, Joy, looked rough on the exterior. She yelled most of her communication, used profanities, had a number of tattoos on her 14 year old body--- and we were ready to love her as long as she was willing to stay with us at camp. We were told that every day she stayed and didn't get sent home would be a win. She became fast friends with a-team members and property staff as she refused to sit through club because she became anxious with the high energy songs/games. This provided an opportunity for us to care for her and give her positive attention. She would sit through REAL LIFE, but refused to go to cabin time because she lacked trust and "hated" those girls. In spite of all of the challenges, the love of Christ demonstrated through our actions penetrated her hurting heart. We found a sweet kid underneath who sat at all camp quiet and read the 'letter from God' I pass out to kids. She remained quiet for the 10 minutes-- a real miracle. And on her way back to her cabin-- by this time she was participating in cabin time, she handed me her pencil and her letter from God. I told her she could keep it, but she insisted on giving it back. You could imagine my surprise when I flipped the letter from God over to see that she wrote a response, "I love U too God. Love Joy". Joy woke up early to go to the new believer celebration, received her first bible and put her tile in the sluice box to symbolize the new change that had taken place. She will face a sentence of 2-3 years soon after she returns, but she does say she'd like to come to Creekside to work. :) I'm glad we made room for Joy, flexing the traditional model of a hyped up camp experience so that Joy could experience the love of Christ this week.

Always a JOY to see kids respond. Here is a 1 min video of the celebration moment of kids standing to say YES that they started a new relationship with God! video here ---> https://youtu.be/N25lumMF4vc

We saw multiple leaders and work crew who were here in 2018 five years ago when Jeff spoke here at Creekside. Taien, Pablo and 5 others. Pablo reminded me (Jeff) that I spoke his name out loud when personalizing who Jesus had in mind when he gave his life for us on the cross. Such a joy to visibly see the trajectory of kids’ transformed lives. We don't always get to see the fruit of faithfulness. Its a bonus!

Jeff is engaging with mini-sessions, which are groups of volunteers who come to serve, to shore up the shortage of young adults who come to serve on summer staff. We have 5 Spokane folks here, 3 Royal City, 3 Yakima and more. This week, Jeff is taking over for 3 days from Kent McDonald as the Director for mini-sessions at Canyon while he attends an event.

Pray for Tanya and for kids for this last week! Campers from Lake Stevens (including Kaden Schwenke!) and Zillah in Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities, Olympia and Cle Elum/Roslyn and more will be here these last 5 days we are here!

-jeff and tanya-