"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

Wow. What a week it has been and what a weekend it will be! We are just coming off an incredible Youth Emphasis Week for The National Institute. God really worked as Scott Distler (Grace Church, Lititz, PA) , Scott Greene (youth pastor at Warsaw Community Church), and Josh Finklea (youth pastor from Quincy, IL) spoke in chapels and worked with us on special youth ministry events. I have had great conversations about ministry with students as well as one student contact me who now desires to become a part of TNI.

Starting tonight is one of my favorite things about working at CE National. This weekend is our annual training event for our Operation Barnabas leaders here in Winona Lake. This year will be the first time we are able to host all of the events in the newly constructed Russell Center and house everyone at the retreat center we call the Philemon Center. So 17 of us will gather from all around the country for a busy weekend.

I think what I like most about this weekend is getting to spend three days with people who really care about kids and want to do something significant to help in their spiritual development. This is my chance to hang out with the "already convinced" on the importance of youth ministry and this group puts its money where its mouth is. Plus they are just fun people who are positive, and encourage me in my walk with God. While I like Christmas too, I think this weekend is the most wonderful time of the year as it relates to my ministry at CE National and The National Institute.