Walking the Walk | July 6, 2025

That was great.

Well done everybody.

That's fantastic.

Wow, what a retreat.

I'm gonna take a moment to, uh,

retreat or run to my, my heavenly

Father and pray real quick.

So if you guys would pray with

me, that would be wonderful.

Lord, God in heaven,

creator of the universe.

Thank you.

Thank you that you love us so, so

much that I can't even fathom it.

I think I know love 'cause I

have a daughter, a son, and I

think I know love because I have

a wife who is extraordinary.

But it still falls so

short of your love for us.

Thank you God for that incredible love.

Please guide my me and my wife's words

and these youth as we share what you

poured into us over this last week.

Amen.

Well, what I'm gonna go through

now is just a, the rapid fire.

What did we talk about?

Because I want you guys to know,

and so I'm gonna go through the, the

quick and and dirty version of this.

'cause it matters that you guys can

kinda see what we went through and

how things developed to the point

of, well the finale that I think was.

Pretty extraordinary.

So what we talked about was walking

the walk, not talking the talk, but

walking the walk and to walk like Jesus.

There's some pieces that we have to

have sorted out within our own lives.

So we talked through some of that, but

we had to start that first day with

maybe some, uh, tangible skills that

would help us stay connected to the vine.

So the very first skill we went

over was press the press method,

which is a simple way of doing

devotionals, spending time with God.

It's just an acronym.

And as we go through this, we get to talk

about how before we get into scripture,

we pray, we talk to the Lord, right?

First thing, turn to him and say, help

us understand more, help us realize

more and help us retain it so that

we can do what you call us to do.

After that, you gotta read the scripture.

Right now.

What we did, we just chose to start

in James, and every day we'd read a

chapter of James, the entire chapter.

We discussed that sometimes, uh,

specifically within the press method.

You're actually not con, um,

locked down to a chapter.

It's until you have an aha,

which could happen every single

verse where you have an aha.

And that's okay.

But we chose to do a chapter.

After you read it, you examine it, think

about it, ponder on it, consider what

the Lord is saying through the scripture.

After that, you summarize it, get

out a pen, find you some paper, and

get to writing all your thoughts.

Make notes, an outline, whatever's

needed, and then write what you,

uh, pulled from this scripture.

And the last thing we talked

about is that scripture.

It's not just for us.

It is for us to share.

And so we must, after we read

scripture, we do all this summarizing,

writing it down and we examine the

word that that's not just for us.

We need that so we can share it to others.

So we talk to a parent, talk to a peer, if

you have questions about it, find someone

that you find, uh, a good leader for you.

And you can talk through some of

those concepts with, so we share.

There's different dynamics there.

After that, I'll do this one too.

Sorry, I was thinking it was you.

We went into memorization.

Alright.

Using this sword is a

very much a value to us.

Be able to take scripture, lock it down in

our hearts, and then be able to use that.

And so we're gonna have all

the youth come up here and show

their scripture that they meant.

Yeah.

Oh dude, this is you, you're about to

team.

Eric was the one I really,

really wanted to show the most.

But maybe we'll hold that for sharing.

If you wanna show people you,

the way you learn scripture.

But the way Audrey taught

us, she went through this.

See it, say it, do it.

Okay.

We can read the scripture and

after that you write it down.

You can type a draw it and you

can see these different ways of

kinda locking it into your brain.

Then after that, you gotta vocalize it.

Some people vocalize it differently.

If you're van, you only vocalize

it in the most epic Jamaican

accent anyone has ever heard.

Boy, boy.

You can say it with accents.

You can say it in funny ways

because it is fun to learn

scripture that way and it works.

So we got some skills on that

front and then you do it.

Some people had, we didn't have any

dancers, but we had a lot of hand

motions that really locked it in.

Whether they're using sign

language to help lock it down.

Right?

That was clever.

I like that one.

Or just gestures.

That make sense?

Or just let Eric wrap the whole thing

while you guys snap your fingers.

Some people do that too.

The next thing we we dove into is talking

about, okay, we have these skills.

Alright, we're staying connected

to the vine with these skills.

That's important.

But when you think of Jesus,

what actions do you think of?

Right?

This man of action, walking the walk.

He didn't just do a

whole bunch of talking.

He did do some talking.

That's teaching.

I'd say that's an action.

So we will, we'll slide that

one into the action category.

But he didn't just show up

on Sundays and check a box.

The man went out and he

shared and he did things

he washed.

This one I love the most.

I should have put it at the

bottom for a punctuation.

He washed his disciples feet.

I love that one the most.

You washed them.

We talk about a servant mentality

washing feet, and we today usually have

some shoes and socks keep us clean.

Back then I have a feeling they had

a lot of Andes sandals on, and boy,

they were collecting all the dirt.

What a filthy job.

King of King, just like Josiah said, Lord

of Lords washed the feet of his disciples.

He healed the sick, he fed the

5,000, healed a leper, and so, so,

so many more actions did he commit?

But among you, it will be different.

Whoever wants to be a leader among

you must be a servant boy exemplified

that and whoever wants to be first

among you must become your slave.

Whoa, for even the son of man came not

to be served, but to serve others and

to give his life as ransom for many.

What a servant leader.

Then we had an opportunity to

watch a, a video from an atheist.

Real inspiring stuff.

It really was.

If you haven't seen this

video, I will send it to you.

It's worth considering what this man

says, pen, this incredible, um, magician

who's been in front of tens of thousands.

He's performed in front of presidents.

He's quick with his words, very clever

in his mind, fast with his hands.

He's a talented guy.

And when you watch this film of him

recalling a Christian man who just

approached him after a show and was

genuine, loving, and presented him a

bible with a phone number in it in case

he ever wanted to talk, it moved him.

He stutters.

He STAs, he gets lost in thought in

the video and he's just perplexed at

the end of it, he gives an example of

these Christians can't, can't stand a

Christian who isn't acting on that faith.

He describes a scene of the child in

the street or someone in the street

and a truck is barreling down on him.

And maybe you call at first

like, Hey, hey truck, move it.

And you're yelling, Hey, get out the way.

And at some point in time you

tackle the person to save him.

And he goes, it's a little call to ashes.

He's like, Christians, what are you doing?

If you believe what you do?

He literally says, this is so

much more important eternity.

And he quicks to mention,

'cause he is an atheist.

He's like, I don't believe in that.

But if you believe there's an eternity of

heaven and hell, isn't that the response?

Powerful moment there.

Next day we got to talk

about, okay, let's, let's

talk about these fruit, right?

What do we actually produce?

Now these are some acts of the flesh

that we don't want to produce, but I

wanna make it clear what we can produce.

So this is some of the

negatives we went through.

But then we went to the fruit of

the spirit and we talked through

the fruit of the spirit in some

detail, realizing that every last

one of these fruit is actionable.

Now some of them can be

for yourself, for sure.

Got it.

But every last one of them can

be focused outwards to others.

Reaching, loving, having

patience with others.

It's all outward focused and

we got to talk through that.

Remain in me as I also remain in you.

No branch can bear fruit by itself.

It must remain in the vine.

Neither can you bear fruit

unless you remain in me.

I am the vine.

You are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in

you, you'll bear much fruit.

I. The last part, keep your eyes open.

Apart from me, you can do nothing.

And that's why we remain in scripture.

We devote some of our time

every single day to the word.

We try to train ourselves up and lock

it down so we can bear good fruit.

Now my wife has

far mower poetic and thoughtful, uh, class

that she taught and she just put a real

ringer out there for everybody on the

very first thing to get our attention.

And it's just, it'll

bring a tear to your eye.

So how does a whale die?

The youth know, 'cause we talked

about it last night and it's

an important lesson for us.

Whales actually drown.

They live in the ocean, but

they're not of the ocean.

They don't have the ability to

breathe and the water in the

environment where they live.

So in order to survive, they

have to go up to the surface

to get a big old breath of air.

We as Christians are just like whales.

We live in this world.

We are not called to be of this world.

In order to survive and make it to

heaven and spend eternity with Jesus,

we have to continually go up to get

that big old breath of air from him.

Because if we don't, all that's waiting

for us in this world of spiritual death.

So we talked about that.

It was an important lesson, how we are

in this world, but we're not of it.

And it led us to some other

conversation about what team are we on?

It's impossible to play on both sides.

Um, of a game.

Take football for instance.

You can't play both offense

and defense at the same time.

Be effective.

You just can't.

So we have to make a decision.

We talked about are we shining our light?

Are we hiding it?

Are we living out loud for Jesus?

We claim to be on Jesus's team.

We claim to be of God

and not of this world.

Are we living that out?

Are we being the same person

no matter where we go?

Or are we acting one way at church on

Sunday morning and we go and acting

like something else everywhere else?

It's important.

And the teen spent a lot

of time reflecting on this

during this, this message.

And we gave them a lot of time

to think and pray and make notes.

And um, it's a humbling realization

and it's a, a heavy thing to think

through, but it's an important

one that we have to talk about.

Um, 'cause you can't serve two masters.

It's impossible.

And our thoughts, our words, our actions

are, tell us who we are really serving.

Do your words, thoughts and actions.

Show the people around you that

you're serving God or do they show

that you're of this world and you're

serving the world in your flesh.

Um,

it's an important thing, not just

for the teens to think through,

but for all of us to think through.

Wonderful.

Well said.

So now we're gonna take some time

for the youth to wander back up here

like you were when you were singing.

Come on up.

Alright.

Van is gonna sing a song

in, uh, j Make an accent.

So he's gonna start us off.

I'll, I'll do that at the end.

Alright.

So we, uh, we did, we cheated.

We gave 'em, gave 'em the questions

so they could, you know, check

their notes and their, and

their books for all the answers.

But I did prompt 'em with a one

question, what was your favorite part?

This could be whether it's food

games, a sermon, seeing my face

every morning, whatever it was.

Uh, do any of you guys have a favorite

thing you'd like to share with the group?

Oh, alright.

We'll start and he'll, he'll

pass it on down as you guys go.

Alright.

Uh, pickleball and worship And the pool.

And a pool.

Okay.

Uh, I mean there was a lot, uh, probably

Josh trying to yell at us through his CPAP

machine at like 3:00 AM It was so funny.

Just could not understand.

We're just, oh man.

It was incredible.

Hi.

Um, small groups.

Yeah.

All right.

Here we go.

Probably play nine square with everyone.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I really love small groups.

They're really good.

Um, I had a lot of favorite moments, but

one of them was, we, um, made the slide.

For those of you that don't know, there is

a tube slide, um, that it's pretty steep.

Um, but it, you don't really go

fast until you mix it with water.

Then if you decide that you're

skinny like me and you want to cross

your legs and like you would at a

waterpark, you're gonna go really fast.

I almost became a skipping stone.

Okay.

So wherever Josiah is at.

Alright.

Josiah, I really loved our small group

time and then af and then afterwards

me and him would always stick around

for a little bit longer and go out and

just keep talking over about the subject

and just trail off and I loved it.

So thank you a lot.

Um, I really liked the devotional

time in the morning and the bonfire.

Um, I really liked the group activities

that we did all together 'cause it

was fun to hang out with everyone.

Also the small groups because

Team Aley was the best.

Yes.

And please ask Van and Evan about

their Jamaican and girl accents.

Yeah.

Don't ask, please.

No, no.

You gotta answer in your Jamaican accent.

No, do that.

No, I'm not doing that.

No.

But Mark's burgers were the best.

Um, my favorite part was probably

the pool and then small groups.

I really like the

worshiping every morning.

Wait, wait, wait.

We gonna add something?

Can we add one?

Finn Finn on Drugs.

Drugs.

It took two Bena.

Yes.

It was so funny.

Oh my gosh.

You should ask Sarah to like,

see videos of him and stuff.

It was so funny.

Thanks.

Alright.

Alright.

Well, uh, we'll take that as

my, uh, resignation from this.

I know.

Andy, I'm out.

We're we're drugging kids at this point.

Wow.

What a. What a disaster.

Thanks for sharing that.

That was supposed to stay

at camp, but anyways.

Oh, oh do.

I did want to clarify with when James was

talking about a skipping stone, we put

two pools because there was two years ago,

the kids were slamming into the ground,

scarred up, beat up, was tearing 'em up.

I'll bring some kitty pools.

That'll be good.

Fill 'em with water.

Nah, they're coming down so fast.

They hit the first one,

shoot to the second one.

Then I put two tires behind it

to maybe hold that back wall.

No.

Then they just slam into that

and topple over and I'm like, all

right, now we're breaking bones.

Let's go.

It was fun.

Also, the year before we.

Soap as well.

Soap.

If you didn't hear, oh, we

didn't use soap this time.

No soap.

No soap.

Too fast.

You guys were doing such a great job.

I figured.

Leave soap outta the equation.

But you guys are doing

an amazing job speaking.

Thank you.

But now I'm more interested in

what was most impactful, right?

Whether it was in a devotional

reading through James, a scripture

that stuck out to you, a concept

discussed within your small groups.

If you have something to share, I'd

love to hear what God may have moved.

And you guys' hearts 'cause

it's crazy important to share.

And we know it

while they're thinking.

While they're thinking, whoa.

Um, Elizabeth couldn't be here today.

She's on a family vacation.

But she sent me, uh, a text reflecting on

her time and she wanted me to share it so.

This is from Elizabeth.

Um, most of you probably

hasn't, haven't met her.

She's a good friend of Gabby's that

Gabby's been bringing a small group or

to youth group for a couple months now.

Um, so she said the best part of

treat was the food, obviously, but

in all honesty, it was the people.

I got close with everyone and

I felt seen and heard by them.

Everyone is family and that feels

different when you didn't grow up with it.

The trip impacted me by having things

happen, but still being with each other

in the end and caring for one another.

I've prayed for years to find

people that have a stronger feeling

than just they make me happy

and I finally met those people.

This group is like a breath of fresh air

when you get drowned in the pool by them.

Gabby's my best friend and she

introduced me to her family, who is now

my family, and I'm forever grateful.

I cannot thank God enough for Audrey,

Josh, Gabby, Finn, Laney, Eric,

Sarah, Josiah, Jed, Lucy, Gabriel,

Elijah, James Van Wake, Evan, Maria,

Elliot, mark, Jonathan, Eli Malena.

Malia, Brian, Corey, and Lily.

This youth group is so inviting,

loving, supportive, and over

all the best people I know.

To be able to love them and be

loved by them is the greatest gift.

If you're praying for something

like I was, God hears you.

He may just take some time

and you have to trust him.

Um, so I believe it was

the day before we left.

We were all together.

People were sharing their messages,

and then we ended it on um, I believe

Reckless Love, and we did a few

other impactful songs before that.

And the room was so heavy with

spiritual power, it was so intense.

I think most of us broke down in tears.

We all prayed together.

It was really impactful.

So I've always been very

hesitant to share the word.

I love to do it, but I

just don't always know how.

And, um, there was a certain individual

at Youth Retreat, um, I'm not gonna say

names, but they did not know Christ very

well and they were eager to know more.

And Josiah and I, um, and other

people as well, but mainly us too.

We got to share a lot of knowledge

with this individual and it was life

changing for me as well as for them.

And I'm glad I got to be a part of that.

This is the, uh, most

impactful part, right?

Yes.

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh,

you microphone a little bit closer.

I, I may, yeah, it's true.

Sorry.

Yeah.

All right.

The most impactful part for me

was, um, the last night of worship.

Uh, there were a couple people who,

uh, broke down in tears that I did

not expect to see, uh, do that.

And I got to go and pray for them.

And honestly, that just made

my whole, uh, my whole retreat.

So that was pretty great.

Also, the, the verse James

two 17, I think that's.

Yep.

Um, faith Without Works is dead.

That was convicting.

'cause I've been a Christian for a

long time and I still struggled to

go out and tell anyone about Jesus.

So I was convicting.

Yeah.

Um, it was the last line of worship

and Finnegan came up and gave

me a hug and it meant a lot to

me 'cause he never hugs me, so.

Hi.

Um,

so I'm so awkward.

I'm sorry.

Uh, so the most impactful thing

was probably, uh, the worship,

you know, it was really good,

especially Josiah's singing.

It's beautiful.

I love you Josiah, Messiah.

And, uh.

What day was it when you said we

could use the couch as an altar?

That's the last day.

Last day.

Okay.

So that day we started doing

worship and, uh, you know, oh, that

was before the drugs kicked in.

Okay.

So that,

anyways, um, that's,

that was, that was crazy.

I just remember the music starts

playing in the first song.

I'm like, okay, it's fine.

Music, second song.

I'm like, okay.

Little something.

Third song.

I'm like, okay, this is bad.

I'm crying now.

And then I just, like, I come over

there with the guys and we're all like,

singing and crying, especially awake.

But, um, anyways, uh.

I just felt something like compelled

me to go up to the altar, you know?

And obviously it was him, but yeah.

Um, and I just remember I'm just

sitting there crying my eyes out,

like my whole body's like shaking.

And I have just Josh come over

there and he is just praying over

me and talking to me, and it's

like, yeah, he was talking to me.

I heard what you said.

I'm not ignoring you.

But I was listening more

to God at that moment.

Like it was insane.

Like the presence, I could

just feel him right there.

And, uh, yeah.

And then I, yeah.

All right.

Well, um, I didn't really have like a

breakdown moment during the worship time,

like a lot of my friends did, but, um.

But I think it was a really important

retreat for me because the worship

in small groups were definitely

like the most impactful things.

But I mean, I went to my other

camp this year and had my breakdown

moment there and all that.

But like it was an important retreat

because it reminded me of like, I feel

like I've been really good with God, but

like you can always go a step further.

That's the nice thing about foreign Christ

is you can never follow him too much.

You can never come too close to him.

There's always a deeper

depth you can reach with him.

And I think that was just important to

like, there's still habits and stuff

that I've held onto after my camp there.

I've been like, oh, I'm not serving

another master, or I am fully locked

on God, but I'm really not like I am.

But like there's still

things I need to let go of.

And that was important for me

to have that retreat to kind

of see that and think about it.

And yeah, it's, the picture I use is like.

If you don't lay, lay it down at the

cross, God can't help you carry it.

That was good.

Um, the most impactful was probably

the talks I had with leaders, which was

I had a lot of really good talks with

like, past stuff and like future stuff.

It was really good.

And then the last night, whole lot

of crying, but it was really good.

But yeah.

Yes,

the most impactful thing was the last

night of worship, because I've always

had a heart and heart, but it felt like

that last night the Holy Spirit broke

through those walls and touched my

heart and just let him into my heart.

So.

Um, probably just worship and devotions.

Like I felt really close

with God when I did those.

And yeah.

Thank you.

Uh, probably worship too.

The live worship is just amazing.

You get really close to God.

It is way better than on the screen.

Thank you, Josiah.

Thank you.

You're good.

Um, I'd say most impactful, I have sort

of two, but it was whenever Josh and

Audrey were like teaching us, I was

sitting on the couch with all my friends

and we were writing in our, like, books

that they gave us and just watching

everyone be very, um, attentive to them.

To what was happening and

taking notes and everything.

I really loved watching people grow

while they were like experiencing it.

My second one was definitely, um, the last

night because when we were worshiping,

all I could think about was this was my

found family and I'm gonna miss them.

I'm not gonna be in youth group

anymore, and I love them so much.

Bad.

Okay.

I'm claustrophobic, bro.

Okay, bro.

What did you do to me?

You got this Gabby.

Okay.

Anyway.

Oh, thank you Dax.

I saw that.

Oh, what is going on?

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Bless.

Um, I just think that the, like really

just seeing everyone be able to like

really experience God for themselves

and like get to see everyone's growth.

It's really powerful.

Can I share mine?

Um, I think there were three

different analogies we used

over the course of the week.

It was a lot of fun for me

to just watch the light bulb

come on for a lot of the kids.

Uh, the whale obviously was a big one.

Um, but in our small group

we had a couple others.

Um, so the one when we were talking

about how, whether we're two

different people or not, um, do

you boys remember my demonstration?

Of whether, how we, how important

it is that we, when we choose the

people we spend time with you.

Remember?

You wanna do it real quick?

I'll talk through it.

You just do it.

Why don't you stand on the chair.

Come on

Evan.

Go stand on the chair.

So we were talking about how important

it is the people we choose to

spend time with and how much of an

impact they can have on our life.

And I told Evan to stand on

the couch and I said, Evan,

try to pull van up next to you.

It's hard.

It's really hard to

pull him up next to you.

Now van, pull Evan down.

See how easy that was?

And we talked about how easy this, our

friends can have that influence on us.

And all the whole S small group was

like, oh, that makes so much sense.

So that was really fun.

Then my other one was an

analogy that Evan came up with.

It's all right, you don't need it.

Oh, okay.

Well Evan did so good talking.

Uh, join me.

Would you Evan, come here man.

So he had this, oh, look at that.

Asking You shall receive.

He had a marker.

I wasn't there for the original,

but he blessed me by, by showing

me some interesting concepts.

And tell you the truth, bud.

I don't know how much I can help

you 'cause I don't remember it,

so I'm gonna need your help here.

So what was your analogy?

So think of your life like as a

pen, how you're like the bottom

piece of the pen and god's the top

piece of the pen protecting you.

And if you lose God and

like God, you lost God.

He did that on purpose.

So clever.

Um, your ink, like you'll eventually

dry out and, but when you have your

ink, you can leave your mark on people.

And leave your mark on earth.

But when you dry out you can't do that.

But a way to get back your ink and

be back with God is like worship

or repent or just get baptized.

Well done.

What's up bud?

Now I know.

Uh oh.

Marty's not here today, is he?

No, not here today.

I was gonna rely on him for the timing

of this, so I think he's a good until

three, 4:00 PM So then we can just

stay here and keep chatting 'cause

there's so many neat stories we have.

And so at this moment, I don't know

if any of the leaders, if there is

something you would like to share, now's

your chance and I'll share something

myself while you guys consider it and

feel to walk up here if you need to.

But I just wanted to share.

I'm just not sharing.

I just wanted to tell you guys, me and

my wife's first year leading this thing.

And maybe it's just all I wanna say

is we love you and we're proud of

you because every last one of you

is so, so very important to us.

And that's why we cry so

much in these moments.

We love you.

No matter where you go, whether you

age into that next section, it's not

that you're gone because this is just

youth group, but this is our church.

So you won't leave that.

Relationships will stay.

Memories are solid.

You're gonna be all right.

But the last thing that we put on these,

although you wanted it, you need this.

Oh, it was like an o shucks.

The, um, I was very reminiscent through

this, uh, church camp and, um, I'm

very saddened to see, um, you know,

certain or to see that the, uh, seniors

leave, um, like I guess every year

and then, um, but I'm very excited to

see what God has in future for them.

I've had a chance to talk to, um,

several of the seniors about the

next step and what they can do

and what God may have for them.

'cause what's exciting is I was awesome

as high school was, uh, youth group

for me, college was even better.

And I think what many of you have

done in terms of your college age,

young adult here has been amazing.

And I continue to, uh, I

would encourage you guys to

continue that and to grow that.

Uh, I will say that, um.

Uh, for most of these kids here, um,

I remember them as being kids, little

kids, and, uh, teaching them in Sunday

school and in VBS and how proud I

am of what all of you guys, how you

have matured and grown in Christ.

Uh, you guys have been

awesome and continue it on.

Um, as a church, I want to encourage

you guys that these guys have matured

dramatically through the years.

Sometimes it's hard to see it when you

see 'em every week or live with them,

and, but when you get a chance to get

away every year or every other year,

to see the growth in them is so amazing

and you guys are doing such a good job.

Um, and I will say that the way

that you get a chance to participate

and to grow in this is in twofold.

One.

You can continue to encourage them

and as they're going through life

events, our small group was awesome

and they're dealing with the same

type of things that you know we are.

So as you're older and more mature and

the faith continue to provide wisdom and

guidance and an example of how to live

out the Christ Christian life, the other

is a practical opportunity for y'all,

is in participating in things like VBS.

So this is a shameless plug to go

ahead and sign up and do that so that

you too get to be blessed like I was

this week by being able to work with

them and to work with the youth and

watch them grow up through the years.

So I love you guys.

You guys are awesome.

You did great this week.

So.

Uh, going there and cooking for you guys.

I know you guys always enjoy the

cheeseburgers and some of the

other food that we make, and, um,

we put a lot of effort into that.

And I just wanna know that you guys

really, I, I went there to serve and,

and try to bless you guys by giving

you good meals and, um, all this, but,

but you guys, you guys blessed me.

Um, you, you guys are just so awesome

and, you know, uh, and sorry I'm starting

to cry, but, um, the way you guys just

kinda cheer for the silly songs and,

you know, those are for little kids.

You guys are big kids, but you guys

still love those songs and, and,

um, you, uh, yeah, I'm, I'm okay.

I don't need that.

Thank you though.

And, you know, bringing up the

cheeseburgers here and everything,

um, you guys just really touched

my heart and really blessed me and

I think you blessed my wife too.

Right here.

And I just really appreciate you guys and

your enthusiasm just as, as contagious.

And, and that was amazing.

And I also just wanted, um, to mention

the burkharts who helped in the kitchen.

Um,

and Maria and Maria.

Um, feeding these guys is a huge ordeal.

Uh, Corey, I overheard her say, I

had no idea what I was getting myself

into when I volunteered for this.

Um, they eat a lot of food and, uh,

we wanted them to have healthy food.

And so it wasn't just cheap fast things.

It was elaborate meals

that we were serving.

Veggies, protein, things that they

could digest and not get sick on.

And, and it's a big deal.

And so thank you so much Brian and

Corey for helping in the kitchen.

We couldn't have done it without you.

And thank you Maria for, for being

there by my side the whole day as well.

Thanks guys.

Not doing the stairs.

So

growing up I was always on the outside.

We moved a lot and I felt like I

was excluded from a lot of things.

So one of the things I observed from not

just this year, it was very impactful this

year, but every year I've participated

with the youth group, I've seen not

one person be left on the outside.

These kids, young adults are intentional

about making sure everyone is included.

Everyone is loved.

Whether it was their first time coming to

a youth event, they're like, come on you.

You need to do this.

It's we want you to join us.

And I love that about your hearts.

Every one of you has touched me

and reminded me that you're strong

and you're amazing and you love.

You love like Christ, and I'm very

blessed to experience that for you.

Thank you.

Woohoo.

I guess I did get sharing time and

now too, but uh, for me, everybody's

already said how much the youth have

blessed them and I am no different.

Even though they kept me up far later

than I wish they would've, uh, wake

said something about talking to leaders.

I just know that he came in and

found me in the bathroom while I

was trying to get outta the shower

and we talked till like 4:00 AM.

Um, I was an exhausting next day, but

like, so all that aside, and here's,

that's like the most important part

is how much they've blessed us.

But I also just wanna say that like,

God also blessed me on this retreat

in the sense of just getting to watch

how he worked throughout all of it.

As much as we're here to

pour out for you guys.

I wanna encourage you that if you feel

called to work with these youth to go

on on a retreat, like the Burkharts

did whatever, it looks like God.

God doesn't do anything in vain.

He doesn't push you to go do

something and he's not gonna

give you something out of it.

It might not be financial,

it might even be physical.

It might just be a spiritual

blessing that you receive.

And for me, I can't even really share

all of it, but like as much as I wanna

act like Josh and I were perfect on

communication prior to this retreat

and we had everything planned out,

there was very little communication.

Both ways, both ways.

Um, I honestly didn't know what

we were doing most of the time.

Some of the songs didn't

even get finalized until like

the day of before we left.

It was just, there were some things that

just went back and forth, but the amount

of times that something got brought up

in our small group or just on one-on-one

conversations, and then Josh talked

about it the next day and I had no clue

that was coming, or even the same day.

Or just, there were so many moments

where God brought two things together

that I had no idea were coming,

and then they were able to be

reinforced by later conversations.

Like God had messages for specific

people and he wanted them to hear it.

And it was just really cool

to see how that worked.

And then I will say there were even

things that, like at the beginning

of the retreat when I first heard

him, I was like, what are you doing?

What?

Why are we doing this?

I mean, I will say, saying curfew was

2:00 AM That one I think might've been

the one issue that I would've actually

still continued to be like maybe.

But everything else, any other moment I

ever had where I was like, eh, God showed

up in major ways and I just am left on

the outside looking in afterwards going,

I guess you knew what you were doing.

God, that's pretty cool.

And those are things that you don't get

to see sometimes unless you're actually

choosing to invest and get to be in there.

And part of that's stepping out in faith.

For me, it was this moment of being like,

all right, Josh and Audrey, you have

trusted that God has set you up for this.

And boy did he, even when I

didn't think it, God knew.

And that's just, that's just pretty epic.

And so if you feel it all like you're

called to do anything with these

young adults, not kids, or even

with the kids, sure, shameless plug

like Eric, but honestly this is for

the benefit of you guys, not them.

Pour into these people, pour into

them and they will pour back into you.

They might drive you up a wall sometimes,

but the blessing you'll receive by just

pouring out your love is just phenomenal.

And then also, I guess one of the

challenges I gave the youth and kind of

I touched on it a minute ago and worship,

is that if we can't, as a youth group,

show love to these other people, I.

In our youth group that we're

encountering in this space and

show Jesus to them in a space where

everybody's coming to get to know Christ.

How in the world are we gonna

go out into a world that hates

Jesus and shine the love of Jesus?

Show Jesus evangelize it all.

Not everybody's called to work

with youth and not everybody's

called to work with kids,

but if you can't show love in a church

setting or show Jesus in a church

setting, how can you go out to the ends

of the earth in a world that doesn't

want to hear it and be bold there?

Um, I wasn't sure I was gonna come up

here just 'cause I feel weird again.

So I do this every year.

I know.

Um, that last night, again,

everybody keeps talking about that.

Those are the moments that you long

for when you go to retreat because no

matter how much we play nine square,

swim in the pool, sit up late talking

with our friends, do crafts, do whatever.

I mean, it was fun watching the

boys try to make bead bracelets and

I had to walk away after a while

because they kept dropping them and

it was just so disheartening because

they would get so disappointed.

Finn still has one of them.

He still owes me one anyway.

No matter.

No matter what.

Like, as you hear them say, like,

we are all there to meet with God.

And so when that happens,

it's really powerful.

I've also known most of these kids,

actually a lot of their families

way before they were even born.

And um, I've worked with

them for almost six years.

So I'll tell you one of the hardest things

is just the dynamics of the youth group.

We've been through multiple

leaders and helpers and um,

just, uh, we went through COVID.

It was hard.

And then just all the different things.

But the dynamics of the youth

group never stay the same.

There's different people coming

in, different people going out.

We have an influx of

kids coming in this year.

It's gonna change the

whole dynamic of the group.

Don't be scared to come in.

The leadership of this church are

extremely intentional in making sure

that all of your spaces and places

where you need to share and meet and.

And have fun and stuff are met.

So please don't be afraid of that.

To those of you that I've talked

to that are afraid or whatever,

um, I hate it when they leave.

It's really hard when they leave.

Lucy and Laney are seniors this year.

Seth and, um, Lindsay are not here.

But, um, so when they leave, it's, ugh.

That is, that's probably the hardest part.

I know you a lot of the time

when they leave, they're ready

to go, but it's just hard.

Um, this year, I wanna say I'm, I'm really

proud of you guys because I, you really

stretched yourselves like spiritually.

I feel like, um, I. You were vulnerable,

you wake even admitted to his tears.

He said afterwards, he said, I have

never done that before and I don't like

it, but you liked it because you know

that the savior met with you and hi.

It is so evident in him and so evident

in all of them that they met with

Jesus this week and it was cool and

so many of 'em are not here, but he

met with them too and I loved that.

And I just wanna say the Lord

has blessed me so much with

family and friends and stuff.

So I have a plethora of different

people that I hang out with, family

and uh, women here and stuff like that.

But you guys are one of my

favorite groups to hang out with.

You may not feel the same way about me,

but man, I love hanging out with you.

It's so much fun.

So I was the nurse and I was the

one that drugged Finn, but I also

drugged Wake and Ethan or Evan.

So, um.

Because they had a lot going on.

I have a lot of thoughts

I'm gonna try to organize.

Um, so Sarah always talks about

how impactful it is and I don't

think that I realized, or even

how much work Mark puts into it.

I didn't understand until I was there.

Um, I was complaining actually a lot.

I don't like to cook or

clean anyone that knows me.

And it was cooking and then cleaning

and then started cooking again.

And Josh came in and I said,

I hate cooking and cleaning.

And he said, well, it sounds like

God's trying to grow you, Corey.

And he was right.

Um, the thing that I really found was just

how much Josh loves them and I think they

each feel like they're the only person

or that special person that Josh loves.

Um, same with Audrey, same with Sarah.

Same with Eric.

You guys always have so much

positive to speak into them

and I appreciate it so much.

Um, as for me and my complaining,

um, when they had their session that

they all talked about, Audrey said,

please pray for me during this session.

And so I was able to pray.

And I think without being in that

position of the cooking and cleaning,

I wouldn't have had the opportunity

to pray during that session.

Um, and I was amazed when they

came in and every eye was tears.

And so the Holy Spirit, I really

think showed up in a very mighty way.

Um, and I'm really thankful

for that experience.

Thank you, thank you so much.

And I do wanna say, uh, Josiah's

descriptions, probably nailing it.

We didn't have maybe Jack Didley set up as

well as we could have, but God intervened

and made some good things happen.

He was probably looking

like, you're gonna do what?

Why are you doing that?

But God is good.

I thought they were almost done.

So I came up here and as my stomach turns

here and nobody said what I needed to say,

the Lord help me.

Oh boy.

We love you people and as

representative of those who

participated in youth group by prayer.

I'm glad you're back.

What I, I am going to say this.

There was a youth group in Texas that

a wall of water came and swept them

away, and I have been praying for them.

What if we had lost every

one of these people?

What are families feeling like now?

And you were right.

We worship, enduring worship.

So I wanna keep that in mind.

Our prayers help to this,

and one of my goals, I got to go

to youth group years ago, and one

of my goals is get healthy enough

that I can actually go and help.

But since I've seen you people and

love you people, I pray for you people

and we need to remind ourselves,

what if these are the people that are

gonna usher in the kingdom of God,

Jesus coming back, you all, how cool

is that, that we live in a day, these

people are gonna change the world.

And I'm sorry, but we need

to keep praying for them.

We, and can we, is it okay if I just

pray for the families that have lost,

these are Christian families with

the wall of water, and thank God,

I believe, Lord willing, that they

are with Jesus, the one we've lost,

but there's still 51 people and kids

and we need to, oh Lord Jesus,

you are more wonderful and holy

and righteous and we love you.

And I thank you that you are always good.

When the enemy comes against us like

a flood, will you raise up a standard

in each one of our hearts to stand?

In your name and say something that Jesus

is Lord, and thank you for the reminder.

And I do pray now for all those families

that have lost people who are not sure

they've lost people, the churches and

the communities that are grieving.

I pray Holy Spirit, that

you touch their hearts.

I pray that use this event to touch

hearts of people that kids who are, or

parents who are on the fence thinking

I always have time or I'm not sure.

I've always known, but I've not

taken the step to actually know

without a shadow of a doubt that if

something happened, they are with you.

I. I pray that you use this opportunity to

stir their hearts, to get ready for you.

And those of us who know you, those

kids who are here that have something

to say, touch their hearts and their

spirits with the power and anointing

to go forth and share at school and

their neighborhoods and their families,

that they're not on the fence anymore.

They have chosen the side they're on.

And Lord, I pray, Jesus,

that you're coming soon.

Let it be soon.

And to prepare our hearts, our

lives, our words, our hands, our

feet to usher in the kingdom of

God and those of us are hurting.

Let us reach out.

Love and anointing and prayer.

But thank you.

Let what you begun, the little spark.

Let it grow.

Let it magnify.

Let it go forth.

Your kingdom come and your will be

done on earth as it is in heaven.

And I thank you in Jesus' name.

Thank you.

Well, anybody's feet tired.

You guys doing all right?

Good.

Good, good, good.

Well, this uh, kind of

concludes our youth service.

These are teens

of action,

teens of action.

But I would like to challenge this church.

To be in some action themselves.

If you're not sure in what way you

could be actionable, talk to anybody.

Wear one of these shirts today.

We'd love to talk through what that

could look like, whether it's just

getting into the word, getting connected

to the vine, ways to serve maybe

even the concept that these guys took

home with them, with having a group,

an accountability group to help you

stay in the word, stay accountable.

So talk to any of 'em about that.

I'm gonna pray us out and, and

you all have a blessed day.

Thank you, God, for every last

individual who spoke today and

how you worked through them.

I thank you, Lord.

I thank you Lord for this group.

They fill everyone in this room with

so much love and hope and joy and

peace now that is walking the walk.

Thank you for the example

of Jesus Christ, our savior.

And it's in his name we pray.

Amen.

Amen.

Alright, go be actionable church.