Now and Throughout Eternity

End of the Year

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." 1 Chronicles 16:34

Dang, so we got to the end of the year! It's been a year full of new challenges and new joys. We had our end-of-year party to celebrate all that God has done this year in our community. We had a time of worship, posters that honored all of our cores and core members, a time to honor our corefas and seniors, and a surprise video that thanked us staff by our students! It was such a sweet time to get the community together for a last hurrah and remember all that God has done this past year.

Seattle

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Me, Connie, and Gerald

At the Fremont Troll!

Right after the last finals of school we gear up for our trip to Washington to attend the Student Institute of Campus Ministry (SICM). We take our students to Seattle to sight-see and then Bellingham to Western Washington University and Hillcrest Chapel where they have classes Monday through Friday to learn strategies on how to do campus ministry. As many of you know, I grew up in Washington and still have many friends and supporters there. While in Seattle I got to catch up with Connie and Gerald, my first two worship leaders who took a chance on a little 13-year-old who could just barely hit a beat on the drum kit. All the time we had together on the worship team, all the conversations and walks, the friendships we built, it was all part of the shaping of who I am and what I do today.

SICM

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Students eating lunch at the Stairs to Nowhere

So we brought almost 90 students to SICM this year. These students are ones whom their corefas have determined as having leadership potential. You can imagine the time and effort involved in trying to ship all these warm bodies halfway across the country in one piece. But they always have such a great time seeing the ocean, the trees, the beauty that is the Pacific Northwest. I had a student come up to me at the end of the trip and say that the entire experience was amazing. Not just because of the beautiful nature around him, but because of the amazing people he got to know there. He was so excited to be able to see many of them during Summer FOCUS. And that is the basis of our ministry, the relationships. God works wonders through His people, broken and fallen but still his children. I cannot wait to see what He has in store for next year.

Thank You!

"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." Matthew 18:20

View from Gasworks Public Park

And thank you all so much for supporting me. Every time I write one of these I'm reminded of how much gratitude I have for each and every one of you. These experiences, these conversations, these encouragements I get to have because you have believed in me and in the work God is doing in these students' lives. As we enter into summer, we're also entering into the fundraising season. I absolutely love getting the time and opportunity to meet with many of you again, catching up on what God has been doing in your lives! Can't wait to see all of you!