enroute

For the last few days, I have been in KC seeing and meeting with Mike King, Topher, Jaime, Ray and the gang from Youthfront. They are all great people who love students and give their lives for students.

It has been great to be here with my family and the other family units from the Sonlife team. As I was walking around Youthfront West seeing all of the middle school students, it reminded me of my time as a youth pastor at Grace Baptist Church and made me miss the daily routine of trying to shape these students’ lives.

It reminded me of people like Jason, Tony, Nick, Ben, Bonny, Pam, Nadine, Elisa and other students who let you invest in their lives and for them to invest in return in my life. It reminded me of volunteer staff like Mark, Bevin, Kari, Lisseth, Chris, Jeff and others who gave so sacrificially to the vision that I believed God was calling our ministry to.

Today, I was humming a song that was my prayer for those people who “founded” Chosen One Student Ministries so many years ago because we believed in that small group of students at Grace Baptist Church. It is from Kendall Payne’s song - Pray and it is my prayer for you, my friends at Grace Baptist Church. (I would encourage you to check out Kendall Payne’s new CD - paper thin! available on Itunes)

I will pray for you now, for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I couldn’t ask for more than what you’ve already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me

May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place upon your head
May they all fall, come crashing down around your feet
May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater every stride
May your company be of human insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride
What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the One who made us
And see Him smile when life is through
May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they’d be
And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see
May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you’d learn to trust the plan He has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in the holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true
I have prayed for you now all my dear and faithful friends
But what I wish is more than I could ever speak
As the way wanders on I’ll long to see you once again
Until then, would you pray these prayers for me?
Oh, that you would pray for me