On 4.29.2010, I packed up my whole life into a mini-van and made the trek up north. Upon arriving, we met my fiancée, Emily, and moved into a short-term house, provided by the Anderson family. I fell asleep on the couch to a big storm, with the knowledge that tomorrow my parents would be gone, and I would start my new life and ministry in the unfamiliar world of Minnesota. I was terrified out of my mind.
Fast forward one year and here I sit in my favorite local coffee shop where I'm on a first name basis with the baristas and owners, writing my notes for a talk I'll give next week on the power of words, and preparing a missions team builder this afternoon with teenagers whom I love. I'm looking forward to spending the weekend with my lovely wife, going on a bike ride, packing for a summer move into a new apartment next month, and fellowshipping at our home congregation, Hope Community Church, on Sunday.
Life is full of surprises and change, but God's faithfulness remains. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands." Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers this last weekend as Plymouth TreeHouse met up with the Chaska TreeHouse for our Spring Retreat. It was a great time of getting away, building relationships, and connecting with God. It was everything a retreat is meant to be!
Our theme for this year was "What Do You Fear?" with the goal of helping our students give their fears and stressors over to God. One of the core needs that every person has is to know "You Are Not Alone." It is something that we tout week after week during our support groups, but this weekend was a great venue for helping our teenagers realize that they are truly never alone because God is always with them; therefore, there is truly nothing to fear!
The culmination of the trip was allowing each student to walk up on stage and paint their biggest fear on a black tarp (in the middle of the picture), giving it over to God and seeking His comfort to take the place of the fear that grips them.
More than that though, my favorite part of the trip was having small group time with my guys after each talk. I am asking you to pray alongside me for the young men God has brought to TreeHouse. The pervasive fear that my guys admitted was "failing to become the man God wants them to be" or "ending up like my dad." Their confessions were so raw and you could sense the passionate heart and desire to break the cycle of abandonment, abuse, and hurt they've experienced from their fathers.
It was a beautifully humbling time watching God move in the hearts of His children!
