Hey Tom! I’ve been meaning to connect with you too. Thanks for your newsletter and keeping us posted! We’ve had a lot of forward motion all fall, through teen encounter until today, actually!
Shortly after TE we began small groups based on the openness and real community the group exprienced from our weekend. The young men are going through Judah Smith’s book-Dating Delilah, which I think is THE best book on purity for guys, let’s not just run from sin, let’s pursue God idea. The guys have really connected with it, and continue to live transparently with one another. TE was the ideal launch for small groups, because without real openness, small groups are just another surfacy hang out place, and nobody needs another one of those!
The girls are also going through a study “Lies Every Young Woman Believes”, and it has been powerful. A couple of kids got baptized, more stepped into leadership roles, and we’re moving ahead. Just came back last weekend from Generation Unleashed in Portland, and I love seeing the maturity happening, as they grasp that the things that happen at “special event weekends” are available to us on a daily basis with Jesus. We’re developing a Jesus culture, and He is helping us.
We’ve considered a Teen Encounter for our middle schoolers, which at our campus is relly 5-7th grade. Let me know if you think there is material appropriate for that age group and we’ll be discussing the spring and summer at our leader retreat in March.
Blessings as you labor in the Harvest!!!
Patti Buss
A Blog from someone who attended
Teen Encounter 6/2008
I went as a helper on our churchs Sr High youth houseboat trip on Lake Shasta. (tough duty I know) We had a great speaker (Tom Bachman) that God just moved through. On Saturday is where we were challenged to spend time with God and allow time to just talk to him. After prayin to him in front of the fire I was inspired and wrote the following.
The Cove
In the cove we came, little did we know
you would be waiting for us to arrive. Knowing you were going to refresh us, and make us come alive. Each day you warmed us with your glorious sun rays, and kept
us inyour grasp. You granted us time to seek and to see what was holding us back. You showed how our chains that bind us, could be broken by your
loving hands. You
showed up and whispered to me, that your love is greater than the hold satan had. You kept the area clear from every little attack. You stretched out your loving arms, like you should as my Dad. You were busy in this cove because I was not alone. You attached your heart to many, so that they can also grow. I laid my heart before you, in front of the flames at the fire, To feel your burning love for me, and to see your desire.
I knew you were there,
I surely felt your presence, Taking me to a better place, with just simple forgiveness. I stretched out my arms and you grabbed a hold of me, To do as you ask of me for eternity.
