So... what do you think about the website?

I am wanting to know what you all think about our youth or church website? If you have not been to it yet and got to my blog some other way, go to http://www.santarosayouth.org/ or http://www.srnc.org/

email me what you think at srncyouth@pacbell.net

Later!!!!!!

How blessed I am to have a youth staff

I was thinking today about how great it is that I have a youth staff that helps in the ministry. I serriously think I would be a walking zombee if they were not helping out. I love it too that they conect with students that I sometimes can't connect with.

I want to give a shout out to:
Amy!!!
Bambi
Sharon & Gary
Lawerence & Rachel
Becky D.
Carol J.


Thanks for all your help!!!

Joel

Youth Revival

I am not really sure how to "define" a revival, but if I could, I am sure that it would look something like and sound something like what is happening in our youth group. The passion of the students coming home from NYC has erupted and flowed into other teens lives and then this last Sunday we experienced the church seeing some of the same fire. I am so proud of the groups willingness to share with our church their testamonies of what God did and is still doing in their lives. There have been many barrieriers crossed in even sharing some of those stories. Freedom again is what I have seen the most. These students are not settleing for anything less that total freedom! I can't wait to see what God is going to do in us and through us!

These Words have been an encouragement to me today!

Phillipians 3:17-21

"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

One of the most powerful youth groups last night

Last night at youth group was amazing! We had students share their experiences of what God did in their lives at NYC and man they did an outstanding job in sharing. I gave some thoughts of my own about the trip and call our youth group to "give their lives to Jesus Christ". Not just a commitment to have Jesus come into their hearts, but a LIFETIME of following Jesus. We had about 6-7 students respond last night.

I have to be honest, last night God gets all the credit! There were things that I spoke last night that I do not even remember saying that students were impacted by last night. One of the most powerful movements of the spirit of God working in our youth ministry in the past 4 1/2 years I have been here!

If God called me away from ministry today, it would all have been worth it because of last night!

Sunday Night @ 6:30pm

Just a reminder that we have an NYC Flashback on Sunday night from 6:30pm-7:30pm

Hope to see the whole church there!

I think a debrief time would be good for all NYC'ers

I think we need to debrief, how about you? That was such an amazing trip and I think it would be good to talk and encourage one another to continue to move forward. This next Tuesday (July 24th @12:30pm) meet at the church and bring $5 and well get tacos and talk. Hope you can make it.

City Museum

We went to the St. Louis City Museum and was not expecting what we saw. As Andrew Bassett sees it, it looks like a "Big Kid Toon Town". We had the oppertunity to stay there for about 5 hours and well that was not long enough! We had a blast here are some pictures.

David Crowder Band on Friday Night

We got Front row in the David Crowder concert on Friday night. Here are a few pictures.

Some pictures from our trip

10,000 people group picture

If you want to see our NYC group picture, go to http://waterfirewind.com/NYC_Media/group_photo.html

Our Kids Are Really Cool!

Today I saw Rachel Pilisdorf come down to the front of the statium and help Molly choose a child to sponsor and then walk back to her seat. I was down there for a few min. and then walked back to my seat. On my way back, I noticed that Rachel had come back down and gave even more to these kids in Africa. I have not yet talked to her about it, but I am curious if GOd told her to do that. She is an awesome girl and it is so fun to watch her worship! She is coming alive more and more!

Michael being called into ministry

Michael is hearing God speak to him through the speakers and circumstances. He thinks that God is calling him to be a youth pastor. I talked to him about what he is hearing an it sounds like God is wanting to use his energy and abilities to share the gospel with people. Last night he fully (for the rest of his life) surrendered his life to Jesus. He is moving towards God in a whole new way and his life has never been this alive.

Discipleship oppertunities

I have had 2 oppertunities today to really disciple some students. I am really finding joy in this.

feeding 10,000 families and more

We had enough food to feed over 10,000 families and really are making a difference here in St. Louis! It was very well organized and it took about 2 hours to get our box's filled for the families with personal notes to families from each kid.

We also learned about how the Nazarene Church is partnering with World Vision and compassionate ministries. Today, there were 1,000's of kids in this world who have sponsors now and from our church alone, we have adopted 3 kids (2-youth group, 1- individual student). We will find out the final stats probably tonight, and will let you all know later.

A girl in my small group...

There is a girl that is in my small group of 8 (she is the only girl in the group) and her name is Kim. Kim has not talked much in our small groups, and today I saw her walking in the lunch line, and struck a conversation with her. I asked her, "Kim, I know it might be hard to talk in a group of guys, but really, how are you?" Her response has literally had me in tears for the past 3 hours. Kim's mom and dad split up when she was younger and lived with her mom and 2 brothers in Pennsylvania. Her mom got word that she had a rare case of cancer and was fighting it and Dr.'s said it looked like she was going to come through it OK. On April 19th, this year (just 3 months ago) her mom was killed in an accident from a drunk driver hitting her. Kim now lives in the home her mom owned BY HERSELF! She is 18 years old and her brothers went to live with someone in TX. and she is now painfully going through these days. I talked with her youth pastor and his wife and they were shocked that she talked to me about it. ahhhhhh, pray for Kim! She is so broken, and is not sure if she wants to follow Jesus. She is raw and honest. Some of our kids want to throw her a party tonight to tell her that we love her, so we are going to do it.

We will keep in contact with this girl and even are talking about trying to fly her out to S.F. to spend time with our youth group.

A very specific prayer is being answered in a powerful way.

I really regret to say this, but I can't give specifics on this, but there has been a prayer that is being answered in a way that can possibly change a whole family. This situation is increasing the faith for me and a special friend sitting next to me right now. Wow, God is not distant, but close to those who call on His name, and He is answering!

AMEN!!!

Andrew's Ministry

It has been pretty awesome to sit back and watch out kids on this trip. I last night was overwhelmed watching Andrew ministering to many who come down and pray. What a prayer warrior he is becoming. He holds back nothing and others begin to feel free to worship in new ways because of his freedom. His smile last night in front of the stage made my day (one of those things you just had to be there for I guess)!

Ministry ideas being thought of...

There has been a lot of opportunities for students to dream, and out of the dreaming has come a desire for a student lead "30 Hour Famine"- This is coming from the heart of Michael and Jacob. They are going to invest time in this and pull some students from the youth ministry at our church to get involved.

Jacob was called into some form of ministry!

Just an update, last night Jacob was called into ministry he believes. All his life he has wanted to be an archetech, but GOd interupted his plans and desires and believes that he is called to work with the poor and children! I am so pumped up! Kids being called and them being happy to follow.

More freedom this morning

Today was again great. It is lunch time right now and we just had a gathering in the America Center (Dome). Jacob & Michael went forward to pray at alters and they are both finding more freedom! Reggi Dabbs spoke this morning and it was powerful, funny and very lively. In the snap of a finger he could get the full attention of all 10,000 people and just had a way with words. Tonight we get to be up front as David Crowder leads worship and the kids are really excited. For now, that is all, got to run to lead a small group. Keep praying, more freedom, total freedom. Now that I think of this, also pray for NYC to be sensitive to letting kids pray longer after services (they sometimes interupt it with small announcements that breaks the pattern of what the spirit is wanting to do). Michael is with me and he just said "I agree"!

Later...

We ask for freedom and that is what we get!!!

It is 12pm and I have to write this to you all. Bambi has been talking to me about one of the themes that she has been praying and fasting for is that these students would find freedom. Tonight it happened! It happened in powerful way tonight (almost too much to write). But I had a "debriefing meeting tonight with our youth group and 2 other youth groups and I asked the question "How is God moving in your life this week?". I am going to highlight one response from Justin Brown tonight. He said that a few months before this trip there were a lot of things that were holding him back from following Jesus and said that on this trip, he has found freedom. I stopped him and shared that is what people in our church are praying for. Then I asked how many were experiencing the same thing this week (freedom from something)? Out of 24 people, 22 raised their hand! 22 people raised their hands (just wanted to say it again to make sure you read it correctly).

It was amazing! One last quote from a student from OUR CHURCH "I have never felt closer to God than I have felt tonight" saying that with tears in his eyes.

So much more but need some serious sleep. Really church, get ready for some changed lives when we return...

Pray to, I can't emphasise that enough!

some things we have done

- Travel across the country- Have a great time meeting new people- Contribute to a huuuuuge amount of food that will feed 8000+ families on Saturday (We brought more food than they expevcted)- Which we hauled all over St. Louis!!- Watch a concert with Toby Mac- Hear Greg Stier bring a powerful and challenging message - "Is Jesus my most embarrassing friend?"- Worship with Starfield and Joshua Chavez Band- Got challenged by Professor Mike Kipp and the Woman at the Well- Many had an awesome time...others had to be a little flexible with some logistics. (The NYC staff is doing an amazing job)- - We all got to hang out in front of our hotel Tuesday night for 2 hour or so while the fire department came and shut off the sprinklers that went off in a kids room! Don't worry, the room wasn't our district. But it was pretty great that while our group was waiting on the lawn outside to get back to their rooms to go to sleep at 2:30 am, the lawn sprinklers went off. Thankfully it was still hot and muggy out! Worshiped with "Family Force 5" which rocked the HOUSE- Kids went crazy! Worshiped together in a way that I know made the face of God smile this morning. The trip is only about 1/2 over and there is so much more. Tonight we hear from our General Superentendent (J.K. Warrick) and Barlow Girl will be hanging out with us to again rock the house.

More later.

Joel

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY (Not Really...)

Here is the joak, kids go up to the NYC announcer at lunch and someone tell who's birthday it is and they sometimes announce it. Well Andrew, Billy, Justin and Jacob find it funny to everyday tell All NYC it is my birthday. I have about 20 people a day telling me HAPPY BIRTHDAY (My birthday is on Christmas Day)! The kids get a laugh and I have a feeling they are not going to stop.

Fun Fun Fun...

Pray for strength

We are wanting to hear all God is wanting to say and we need strength to listen. It is a non-stop schedule and it can get very tiring. I want nothing to get in the way of them hearing how to obey.

Thanks for praying

NYC FLASHBACK

Please come to our NYC flashback the Sunday after we get back! You are going to want to be part of hearing the stories of this trip. I believe the date is July 22 @ 6:30pm

Got some time to talk!!! This trip is amazing

Hello NYC friends and prayer partners!


The last 2 days have been an amazing adventure and wow, where do I start? Let me first say what happened today. We finally got some good sleep and we are doing better in that area(very tired after our fire alarm situation...). We went to the statium this morning, and it was our best experience yet. Starfield was leading worship in the beginning and shared some of the songs they wrote and we worshiped together. It was one of the first times that all our students (from my opinion) were truly worshiping Jesus. The Spirit of God moved today and spoke thought our speaker Powerfully! After the speaker left, one woman walked out on the stage and with her guitar lead 10,000 people in worship. It was different this time thought because we did not have a loud band, drums, base, concert effects. All we had was a woman and her guitar. The Spirit of Jesus Christ exploaded in the America Center and not in a called way forward had many students walk forward and pray at alters in the front of the stage. I witnessed Andrew walking down to pray, so I walked forward to pray with him and found him leading students in prayer. He was praying with POWER and kids left and right were being blessed from his ministry of prayer (PRAISE GOD!!!). I had the chance to pray with a student named Jacob who said that he knew God was calling him into full time ministry and affermed him and spoke to his leader about it a few min. ago (He is from MO).

Our student tracks seem to be really good also. I went to one about 2 hrs ago and it was titled (Sex in 60 Min). It was the best Godly perspective of sex I have ever heard and am coming home wanting to concider speaking to parents about this topic. If the Church & parents are not saying something, then the culture is the only one leading our kids. That is not ok, and not having reasourses is not an excuse. This is where God is speaking to me to grow right now. There was a lot of good that came from even that one track confrence. GOD IS MOVING AND OUR KIDS ARE RESPONGING. KEEP PRAYING & IF YOU HAVE NOT STARTED YET, PLEASE START TODAY.

Love our Church and get ready to have some changes kids when we get back! I really do not believe they will ever be the same, and if your blood pressure is going up, breath, this is a good thing! Change in our students is soooo needed and it is happening, praise Jesus.

I got two min. to write

It has been a 90 mph day! We got registered with NYC and we are now waiting in a room with games, booths, fun, fun, fun in it till 7:30pm when it all kicks off. I know the kids are not going to read this blog, so I can say this, it is going to be an amazing night tonight. They are going to be calling students to a relationship with Jesus tonight and I can't wait to see what might happen! Party in heaven is all I am thinking about today. The trip is one I will never forget, and really it has not even started (litterally).

I will write later tonight to tell you what happens tonight. If you read this tonight at 8:30pm-9pm, pray that God will move in hearts. That is when the call to Christ will be.

What it is like here in St Louis

If you are wanting to know what we are experincing here at NYC in St. Louis, you are welcome to take a look for yourself at the NYC website (www.waterfirewind.com) You can also look at what the city is like you look at this website (http://www.explorestlouis.com/) and to see the arch website go to (http://www.gatewayarch.com/Arch/info/arch.top.aspx)

It has been a lot of fun and geting some....sleep, and really looking forward to today.

ok, so we didn't go to bed!!!

It is now about 10:15 pm and I have been up about 20 hours, but I saw a good oppertunity to hang out with some students and went for a late night walk in St. Louis. We walked over to the arch and it was open, so we took one of the most fun rides up to the top of the arch. It felt like I was in that space tv show with robin willams "Nanno Nanno"... We got into a pod that took us up over 600 feet to the top of the St. Louis Arch! Serriously, it was awesome!! We are having a great time and good relationships are forming.

Really, going to bed...............................


Joel

Pray that students would want to listen...

If you are wanting to know how to pray, I am hearing something new from God in my quiet time for these kids at nyc... Pray that they would "want to listen to God". If we don't want to hear from Him, we probably in most cases will not hear him. These kids need to want to hear from him!

It is late and I've been up since 2 am so going to bed. Post more tomoeero hopefully.

Joel

We are here in St. Louis!

we are here at NYC, and it is good, no, it is great. The kids are getting used to their new roomates, and it is all good here in St. Louis.

Keep us in your prayers for God to do awesome things!

Romans 1 Changing My Life!

~I have been reading Romans 1: 18-32 and it truly has been changing my life! I have seen more and more that I am not a thankful person and that God created me to live a life of thankful worship to him. Where have I gone wrong in life is the question I have been asking all week. Why have I been so ungreatful? Why do I not thank God for things even when it is not going as well as I want? Are there bennifits from being thankful?The Bible says yes to that in Romans, in fact it even says that those who do not give thanks to God nor glorify Him, God "Gives them over to their sinful desires".That means, that when we do thank God, we are actually battling sin and temptation that comes our way!Look at it for yourself, don't take my word, look at the True Word for yourself!

Prayer for NYC

There are two things that I am really feeling pressed to pray about for NYC students we are taking. First is unity in our group! We want to be focused together on what God wants to do in us and through us. And #2, that students would have a heart to SURRENDER. God I know wants to do things in us, and we have to have hearts willing to surrender if He calls us to something or away from something.

Thanks for praying for us! I am so stoked about this trip!

Joel

Family in San Francisco

Hey, Just a word to all those who helped with bringing supplies to san francisco and helping donate, the family was very greatful! They could not believe that when the Church said there was a need how fast it came into action to help. That is the way the Body of Christ is intended to work. Thanks for being Christ to a hurting family!

Faith to believe God can do BIG things...

I have been thinking a lot about what we talked about on the phone the other day, and I have to admit, I had to look at the size of my faith in a powerful way this week. DO I really believe that God can heal? That question I was faced with this week. I was also asking the theological question, Is it OK to demand that God does something when we pray?

I got a phone call this last week that my cousin (Like my sister) who lives in Taiwan got word that she has a "large mass" on her lung. I was talking to my pastor about this and those theological q's I had. I began to pray for the first time "God, I want to see you come through on this and heal her! I demand it God! I want to see evedence that you can still work like you did in the eairly church and, God, do this!"

I got an email this morning from my mom and it said (well I can't say it better than her, so I am copping the email for you)

"Thank God, Thank God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I got a call from Rebecca this morning. Her 2nd health test came out clean. They checked for TB too. It was ok. Thanks for praying! They are allowing her to stay in the country!"

Praise God I say! He can and does still heal and do miracles!

Prayer for Nazarene Youth Confrence (NYC)

We have been planning this trip for over a year now, and it is here! Next Monday we leave for NYC in St. Louis. We are going to be taking 8 students from the church and it should be a life changing trip. Please keep us in your prayers!

Thanks

Helping out a needing family who lost home to a fire!

I am going to be drinving down to san francisco with some teens today to help deliver some clothes and supplies to a family who lost everything in a fire. If you want to donate to this, you are welcome to. Call the church if you have any of these Items that you want to give to this very needing family (707) 542-2650.

-girl (3 years old) 5-6 clothes, 11-11 1/2 shoes
-boy (2 years old) 3T clothes, 8 shoes
-boy (13 years old) XL or 18-20 shirts, 16 pants, 8 1/2 shoes
-woman XL shirts, 16 long pants, 11 shoes

toiletries (toothbrushes, hair brushes, shampoo, soaps, etc.)
pajamas, socks, underware
linens (sheets, blankets, pillow cases, etc.)
dishes
pot/pans
silverware
cups
towels (kitchen, bath)
bathroom accessories (bath rug, etc.)
kitchen appliances (microwave, blender, toaster, coffee maker, etc.)