Challenge...

Since being here I have loved the challenge I have experienced in my walk with God and also with the student ministry - always asking the hard questions and praying into how we can do things better.

Here's a few of the stats and questions we have been chewing on...

Our job is not to fix people's issues, it's to train and equip them to work them out and live out of their identity and purpose. How are doing with this?

75% of 15-30 year olds have no contact with church - this should shake us to the core. Does it?

Are you looking for growth (#'s) or fruit? It's easy to grow a church (#'s), but where's the fruit?! This should be our measure.

We should have a Holy discontent for what God wants to do.

Are we creating strategies for making disciples that are multipliable?! (love this one!)

And...a few random photos...

Apparently this is the fashion with the young kids these days.

I am wondering if this fad has hit the states yet?!

We found a mini-American football - let's just say added entertainment!

Sam, Nick, and I have started watching Band of Brothers (which I am holding)! Sam said I needed to do an action shot - this seemed appropriate.

Sam and I have started a "reading club" which either means reading Scripture aloud to one another, chatting about the ladies he may or may not fancy, or actually reading! :)

Sam is so spiritual look at all those Bibles he has!!

You said, Whhaatt?!

I have tea all the time, my guess is about 3 cups a day on average:)! I might have to purchase a kettle when I get back to the states! Most Brits drink it with a dash of milk but not me....straight black!

Pudding - dessert

Nick - steal

Adverts - advertisements

La La La La Learning Community

Last week our student ministry team got the chance to participate in a Learning Community. It was a 2 day time of training and planning for the next 6 months (we will have 4 total over a 2 yr time). We had lots of great discussion and teaching (mostly by our team leader, Rich) who lead the time!

Here's the team - Nick, myself, Ben (guy from another church), and Rich!

We had lots of challenging questions that caused us to think a little harder about what we desire to accomplish as a student ministry. The picture above is what we hope to Start, Stop, Change, and Develop by the year 2013.

At the end of our time, we walked away with a 6 month plan of attack of where we felt like God is leading our ministry! More to come on the details of this!!

An added bonus was getting to mix it up with 10 other student ministries in England who are getting after it. We had lots of time to glean some wisdom from one another and hear how God was working in student ministries all throughout England!

You said, Whhaat?! -

Mental - crazy person

Fresh - chilly / cold

Have a think - think about it

Return - round trip (in regard to flights)

Weekend in Norway!!

This past weekend I went to Tonsberg, Norway for a conference called "Get Focused." It proved to be a great time of soaking in more of God and some great bonding time with 9 of my friends!

Sadly I forgot my phone adapter so I don't have too many pics, but here's a taste of a sweet weekend in Norway!!

Here's part of the crew - Shawn, Nick, and Jonny.

To get there we took a plane, train, and a ferry! Here's the view from the ferry!

We meet some sweet people from all over the world at the conference.

I made sure to take a pic with Victoria (left) - she's from Amerrrica! :)

They still make these! Schaefer family Christmas gifts?!! :) Time will tell!

Norwegians love their ice cream and they even make their pizza into ice cream. Let's just say after eating one you want to don't want to look at another one. Nasty nast!

A few other highlights from our time:

- Prayed for a woman with a spine injury who couldn't walk AND was HEALED!!!

- Another person commented that I already have a bit of an accent!! :)

- 24/7 buffet which my team visited a lot

- Spent time praying for each other within our team

- Taking walks in Tonsberg along the coast - beautiful!

- Jesus Culture leading worship all weekend

- Praying for Trina - woman with cancer

- Leaving home at 3am and arriving back home at 3am!

You said, Whhaatt?! -

Trolley - shopping cart

Trousers - pants

Stone - 12 pounds - they describe weight in stones