Last week I was privileged to be able to hang in the company of who I perceive as giants. My friend David Perkins invited youth pastors from around the country to get together and talk through some of things that are happening in youth ministry. It was one of those moments where I felt WAY out of my league from the moment he mentioned it to me. As I entered the World Prayer Center at New Life Church to meet with the fellas, I found myself nervous. AND I WAS GOING TO MEET WITH FRIENDS! It was one of those anticipation moments where you could tell something was going to happen. As we began to dialogue, all of us found ourselves bewildered by the invite, but privileged to sit with each other. We began to talk and dialogue and our thoughts quickly went to prayer and it was AMAZING! It has been so long since I have had someone pray with / over / about me that to have it done with guys who had previously been strangers (save a couple) was fantastic.

One of the most fulfilling moments for me was to have all the guys gather around and pray for a couple of us who were getting married and others who had just married. It was fantastic. Talk about walking into something gigantic! There is nothing I am more privileged to be a part of, then my future marriage to Rachel and to have those guys pray for me was something else. It was great as our dialogue continued, that we found ourselves wanting to pray more and more. We were praying for each other and for each city that we were in. Praying that God would move in this generation. Praying for God to do what He does in the teenagers around all of us. It was great!

I noticed a couple of things while I was in this 24-hour shotgun set of meetings. A) ESPN zone is the place to be for a Monday Night Football game. If your team is on, someone else's is also and it can get tense. There's nothing like it! B) It's hard to be "competitive" with those you are praying for. If God's best and Him fulfilling His promises in those around you is the goal, then you can't get tense about it when it looks different elsewhere. It's so easy in youth ministry (especially in a church populated town) to try to oneup someone up the road. When you are praying for God to do what He does, everyone wins. C) When you are in need of something, God comes through in a big way. I've really been wanting to connect with guys in youth ministry as we all shoot for a common goal. To sit in a room of guys whose heart was all the same, it was completely refreshing and had me leave full of ideas. Returning to Springfield, I've been hit with 4-5 extra meetings with local youth pastors and groups of youth pastors in making a difference in Springfield. I'm so excited for the future and what God is going to do in the city I now call home and the places where my now friends are working in ministry. I can't wait to get in the room and pray with these guys. Off to one right now. Much love!
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Now playing: Nightmares On Wax - Soul Purpose