The Story

This past weekend, I took the juniors and seniors away on a retreat in the Ozark Mountains. The trip was amazing. We played football in the sleet, sat around the fire and sang, ate great food, told stories, played mafia (a game we love), went on an amazing hike and I am pretty sure I had a couple of heart attacks during the climb.
The trip was great, but my favorite part came the last night. As we sat around the fire, I began to ask the students some questions. What are your greatest fears, greatest talents, dreams, and so on? Their answers were amazing. The last question was incredible. I asked them why they started coming to Rock Creek, and what made them stay. One by one, they pointed out each other as the reason they were here. Because another friend in the room went, they came. The relationships had gone beyond a self-serving friendship into something that changed another’s life.
It was a top five moment for me as a student pastor. To see where we have come from in the past two years in our understanding of relationships and their importance is incredible. I am so excited to be a part of this senior and junior class. They've got it. They understand what this is all about. They have embraced the truth that is so clearly laid out in Psalms 33.... God is up to something.... and he wants us to be a part of the story.
I am more excited than I have ever been as a student pastor. I am more relaxed, focused, in the margin, determined, and passionate than ever. I can't wait to see how this next chapter reads.