Ignite: For over four years now Paul has volunteered to mentor the youth at New Song church in Medford. While continuing to develop those relationships, on Friday nights, we find ourselves reaching local youth by serving with at our youth focused event called ‘Ignite.’ Since about August, Richard and Sarah Larcombe – the associate pastors at New Song church – have taken this event under their wing. God has called them strongly to be leaders for this youth movement and they have been so obedient to Him with all they have done. Ignite is an event where youth encounter God, are equipped with tools, and are encouraged to pursue their dreams. We have become a lot more intentional about our rolls with Ignite. Paul has taken up being a leader specifically in worshiping with art, such as painting, drawing, journaling, ect. Many youth come to us with grateful hearts saying how they had no idea that they could worship God this way. They are learning that as they worship, they can also get to know God more too. “worship” for us has found its best definition from one of the youth: “worship is at its core an intimate interaction with God.” And from that definition I can see that our interactions with God aren’t and shouldn’t be reduced to just singing or reading the bible but an embracing of the many facets that God has allowed us to experience and encounter Him. I have taken on the role of musical worship and have been putting together songs from various artists and composing a unique set of songs for each night. She lets the Lord to lead which songs are chosen so that He can speak to the youth’s hearts while they worship; this method has worked unfailingly. At this point, CD worship is doing fine, but I’d like to see it grow into a group of youth musicians.
As leaders for Ignite, we were provided back in September with the opportunity to attend a conference for youth leaders in Redding, California through Bethel Church called ‘Outpouring.’ The majority of the youth leaders at New Song got to go fellowship with other youth leaders from around the nation… even the world. We listened to several speakers and attended a handful of workshops. Our time there was spent soaking in the presence of God and learning more from others and their experience with today’s youth and the type of generation that we’re working with. We left that conference feeling very blessed and equipped for the year to come, and while we were there, we were informed of the most wonderful news!
Several months ago, we were in Sportsman’s Warehouse to pick up Paul’s dad some more fishing gear. We crossed a table for an entry to win a one-thousand-dollar shopping spree at their store. with a piddly little prayer we dropped our info into the tub and went on with our day: God listens to piddly little prayers. We got a phone call while we were at the conference, on the other line was a Sportsman’s Warehouse employee with the news that we had won the one-thousand-dollar shopping spree! YAHOO!:)
God’s provision has not once failed to prove itself to us since even before our marriage began. After spending a whole summer volunteering at youth summer camps, we needed some good camping gear. God knew this, and getting rewarded for doing his work is great, but the best reward is being close to His heart; everything else just seems to fall into place. Others who want to be close to God’s heart have also blessed us with our living space – thank you so much, Alan and Becky! We were also gifted with a brand new car back in October of 2008 – we named her Edna. (We would like to say a special thank you to you, you know who you are;) Hannah is currently going to school full-time for no cost because her financial aid covers her entire tuition. Paul’s student loans are Income based, which means that in the next year, we owe nothing and his loans will not gain any interest. Even simple things such as the provision of the perfect parking spot have been given after a quick prayer. We are so thankful for what God has provided us so far in our less than two years of marriage! He is such a good provider, such a good father.
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