“So here’s the thing…

Our youth group, which calls itself “220″ (from a Galatians verse) will have some major transitions coming very soon. Our youth pastor and his wife will be stepping down from ministry in a couple weeks. Depending on which rumors you want to believe, they’re having some overall marital problems and, after discussing it with Pastor Tim, have decided to take some time off. Unfortunately, it sounds like they may also be leaving our church family. We’re praying that they reconcile any problems quickly and completely. I think I feel worse for their 3 small boys.

Anyway, that’s the first big transition. Steve, our business admin, will be temporarily taking over the youth group. He’s helped with the kids for a few years now and they know and like him, so hopefully that will make things a little better. Normally on wednesday the teens are down the block in their “youth bldg,” which is essentially a small garage-type bldg that they’ve been allowed to use once a week. Our church has been getting more and more kids, so we ran out of rooms in the main bldg for the teens a while back.

Yesterday, however, all the teens were in the sanctuary with the rest of the congregation. They’ve been building a new facility for them located on our same property. It used to be a garage, but this summer they had to completely gut it out, add on an addition, add bathrooms, a stage, heat/AC, carpet, etc… and yesterday we all went over as a church family to bless it and present it. It’s HUGE! It will be so nice for them… and nice for all the moms and dads who have had to drop the kids off down the street and THEN go to our building. Everyone will be right there on the same parking lot. I’ll have to take some pictures this week.

During praise and worship I was looking around at all these teenagers crying with their hands raised, singing their hearts out to God and it made me cry, too. It’s so rare to see that kind of raw emotion from that age group. Lots of them went up to the stage/altar area and were on their knees praying with each other. It was really hard for them. Last night was also an official goodbye to Pastor Rich and his wife.

After P&W, Pastor Tim gave a quick sermon about the Israelites moving from the tabernacle to the first Temple Solomon built…and what a transition it was and of course that was the message he had for the kids. Then we all went out the front doors, about 10yards away to the youth center. There had to have been at least 150 of us. Pastor asked everyone to find a spot throughout the bldg to pray a blessing over. Now, you have to remember that this is a huge group of pentecostals crammed together. And to be honest with you, a few years ago I would’ve felt pretty weird about what happened next… but I felt quite the opposite. All the youth kids dropped to their knees around the front of the building near the platform area. A few moms went up onto the platform, knelt down with their arms stretched out on the floor and prayed over that area. The rest of the congregation either stood with their arms raised to the ceiling, or stretched out toward the walls, or (like Jason did) knelt on the floor to pray over that area. And then their was this incredible sound of various prayers all at one time. Thunderous almost. People speaking in tongues binding any works of satan, praying that God’s presence would be powerful and present to anyone walking thru the doors. Praying for strength for the youth group during this uncertain time, for Steve as he takes over… It’s hard to describe in words. There seemed to be a thousand voices all speaking at once yet perfectly in tune. It was really incredible!

Pastor made a joke about praying a blessing in this room but “don’t go pulling out bottles of oil or anything to put on the walls.” LOL! So I turned toward Judy (y’know…MY Judy) who was a few feet away and said, “hear that? Put it away Judy!” I left with this awesome sense of unity. Like these people truly are my Brothers and Sisters. So again I just have to say, I LOVE THIS PLACE!