New Staff Training & the All-Staff Conference!

Well, I arrived back in Rochester on Sunday after being down in Florida for over 2 weeks! In January, when it's your first year on staff with YL, you have the opportunity to go to New Staff Training. It's 9 days jam packed with training, seminary classes, awesome conversations, meeting lots of people, hearing from incredible men & women of God, and just sweet fellowship. Then, as if that wasn't a blessing enough, I got the opportunity to attend the YL All-Staff Conference! This conference only happens every 4 years, and it is a week long conference in which every YL staff person from around the world attends! It was amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Here are 4 major highlights:

--->While at NST, I got to take the following classes/seminars: Introduction to Youth Ministry, Personal Finances, the Gospel of John, the Synoptic Gospels, Biblical Interpretation, and a YL specific ministry seminar. These were so great! I learned a ton about the Bible, who Christ is, today's adolescent culture, and how to bring Jesus to  the adolescent world by using the tool of YL. My biggest take-aways from these classes were:

Class at New Staff Training

     -the importance of surrounding ministry in prayer! WE are not changing lives. JESUS is changing lives through us. So we need to lift it up to Him, and trust that He will provide in His timing. "Ministry without prayer is the highest form of arrogance."
     -I was overwhelmed by the amount of scripture that the speakers knew. Not in a robotic, straight memorizing way, but in a way where it is truly hidden in their hearts. They would speak scripture throughout conversations, they would know where to reference things in the Bible. It was incredible and powerful. I desire to be like that. I desire to hide the Word in my heart and let it become truth that reigns in my life.
     -Jesus' desire for us is to love Him more! Not to do more, accomplish more, know more. Solely to love him more. I want in on that.

YL Club with 4,000 YL Staff at SeaWorld

Leanne and I with Denny, the president of YL
after getting soaked by Shamu

--->The people who planned the All-Staff Conference went so far above and beyond anything I expected or deserved. The entire trip was like I was at Young Life camp (which if you haven't gone, is the best week of your life!) They had surprises for us around every corner. For example: on the second night, we had 2 general sessions scheduled…which we quickly found out that meant they closed down SeaWorld to the public and opened the entire park just for Young Life! So we took over the park and it was SO FUN! I mean, probably the most fun I've had in a long time. We ran from ride to ride, and laughed. The laughter and joy was the best part. We left all of our crazy lives behind and laughed until our stomachs hurt. From rides, to the biggest YL club I've ever been to (complete with a concert, comedian Jeff Foxworthy, and fireworks!) to Shamu and sweet, sweet friends. Over and over, I just felt so loved by YL. It was such a gift. I keep saying that, but truly. That's the best way I have to describe the past 2 weeks. Such a gift.

The ASC opened with 90 flags being brought in…
77 representing the countries that currently have YL
and 13 for the countries that, Lord-willing, YL is going to next!

--->Another highlight was getting to hear from, see, and meet some people who the Lord has used to truly impact the world for his glory. Denny Rydberg (current president of YL), Bob Mitchell (first YL kid & former president), Nick Palermo (started YL Capernaum), Bo Nixon (started urban YL), Tim Keller (famous Christian speaker/writer), Francis Chan (author of Crazy Love, famous Christian speaker/writer), Marty Caldwell & Lee Corder (Directors for YL International South & North). Just incredible people who have given their lives away to Christ, and because of that have impacted thousands of people in Jesus name. It was such a privilege to get to meet some of them and hear them share with us. We could all learn so much from them! But the main point that every single one of them shared with us was this: Jesus is far more concerned with what He's doing IN you than THROUGH you. This, coming from people who have literally been used to change the world! And they are still claiming that Jesus cares about your heart. This is a mission that I want to be a part of: Love God & Love people. Sign me up.

All of the first, second, and third year staffers from the Greater
North East Region…or the 'Greater Region' as we call ourselves

--->Last highlight: the group of people I got to be around! Whether at NST with 400 other new YL staffers or at the ASC with 4,000 other staffers (new, old, and everywhere in-between), I was surrounded by such an incredible cloud of witnesses. There are a handful of people who have had an extremely significant impact on my life, and the majority of them were all at this conference. I got to spend time with people who mean so much to me, and was able to catch up, hear about their lives, share about mine, and swap encouragement with them. Such a gift. On top of that, I lived in a hotel for 2 weeks where the entire hotel was filled with YL people! So everywhere you turned, whether it was in class, on the elevator, on a shuttle, at the pool, or in worship, there were people who simply love Jesus. Absolutely incredible.

Dear friends on our free day at Universal Studios

I could go on and on, and perhaps will share more at another time. But overall, these past 2 weeks were incredible. I went in feeling tired, and a little numb and not passionate about Christ or ministry, to be completely honest. And I have come home to Rochester feeling like I am in such a great place with the Lord. My heart is broken before Him, which is both hard and uncomfortable, but I would choose this over being numb & complacent any day. So grateful to serve a God who loves me more than what I do.

THANK YOU for your support. Thank you for enabling me to go to these conferences. This was such a gift to me and to my ministry. I am truly grateful.


--One last thing…we had the privilege of Ryan Long leading worship for us at New Staff Training…what a blessing! Check out my new favorite song: Change Me