first one of the summer

first missions trip of the summer! please pray for God to move, transform, strengthen and most of all be glorified! This is going to be a ride.

So here I am, two weeks since my last correspondence. A lot has happened since then. After my last post I was able to sit in on Sunday school, go on an intern retreat (there are four total interns for the youth min, two for JR. High and two for Sr. High.) At this retreat we hung out, spent some good time of individual time with the LORD and some great team time with the LORD casting a vision for the summer. WE had a great time to get to know each other and at this point I started to really see what my role at Knox is going to be. My role is pretty much that I will have a hand with everything or take over certain things all together! This, my friends, is very exciting, but at the same time a bit overwhelming. So now is the time for growth!

I have found that I am sharing the responsibility of the Wednesday night ministry with Lauren for the summer and probably through the school year. At the time being we are in the midst if planning a missions trip from scratch and a yearly trip. All off this has different things needing to be done everyday! So time management and organization are key. This is where I will grow. Not to mention learning from two men who have a God given heart for youth ministry and a passion for doing it right and not just to get by. This is going to be a crazy summer! And I’m looking forward to it.

Last Wednesday we went to Detroit to check out the church and the community we will be working in when we go in late July. We met with the pastor (who’s name escapes me) and we went around the church pointing out what needed work on and how we would be helping with VBS.

When we returned to the church Tom (my mentor) got a call telling him that his wife Ruthann had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This came in the midst of their daughter getting married in a week. Needless to say their family is going through a lot. Please keep Tom, Ruthann as well as their daughters Sarah and Molly in your prayers!

Last weekend I made my way to many to many graduation parties as well as played some sweet games with some of the guys. They guys here are pretty sweet and I’m really excited to get to know them better. Many of them have taken me in well. And for that I am grateful! I hope I can continue to start and cultivate relationships with the teenagers here.

Some things that you can continue to pray for:

• Tom and Ruthann
• I am in the middle of writing many things like devos and talks for tripps and the Wednesday night ministry. If you could pray that I seek the LORD and his truth as he uses me to impact these lives for Him!
• As I am preparing for Wednesday nights and for missions trips, please pray that I may stay focused and on task!

Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your encouragement is truly an extension of the hand of God. Thank you.

grace and peace,

_joel

p.s. sorry it's so long, i'll update sooner next time. maybe.