February 2, 2010

Leaders

Posted by Kyle

So today marks the end of my first month being full-time. I’ve been an intern for the last year, built relationships with most of the staff, and have really learned the ropes. But there was definitely still quite a bit of anxiety and intimidation going into full-time. Since working though, my feelings have moved from intimidation and anxiety into more just challenging, and I love it. And not just challenged, but trusted and encouraged by my superiors through the challenges. It’s a rare blessing to have a group of leaders who encourage you through your challenges. I have been either on staff, interning, or volunteering at Summit for over two and a half years now, and the consistency of encouragement from leaders has continued to blow me a way.

January 28, 2010

Unbelief

Posted by Ryan

There is a story in the 9th chapter of Mark of a father who has brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus in hopes that his son would be healed. The father pleads with Jesus, asking that if there is anything Jesus could do to help, that he would do it. Jesus questions the “if” in the father’s plea, and then tells him that everything is possible if he believes.

The father responds, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I find this statement to be initially outrageous and yet also deeply honest. This man is at the same time claiming belief and unbelief. How can he say, “I do believe” when in the very same sentence he admits that he doesn’t? But for all my frustration with the contradiction, I find that it has a particular ring of truth. We believe with all we know how, yet we find our faith to be lacking. We try our best to trust, and most days we do, yet we know we still have doubt.

This father didn’t pretend to have it all together. It wouldn’t have done him any good anyhow; Jesus would have called him out on it. Instead he gave the most honest answer he could. Jesus rewarded his honesty and his faith, removing the demon from his son.

I think the father’s words make a pretty good prayer. “God, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”

January 13, 2010

Full Time

Posted by Kyle

I am officially in my second week of working full-time at Summit. I absolutely love it. If you would’ve asked me a year ago if I would be working full-time at a church and actually loving it, I would have said no way. Looking back on how my life has panned out, it’s really quite amazing to see how God has had his hand in this whole process.

Two years ago, I was totally sick of college, single, and just wanted to be a rock-star. I was in a band, working on a second album, and trying to sell our first one. Things seemed to be going great and I honestly could say that I felt as if this was where God wanted me. Looking back, I still can honestly say that was where God wanted me at that time, but not for the reasons I would have thought then. Now, I can see how he was using that time to shape me as a musician and give me the experience necessary to serve within a worship context. It is really so fascinating to see how God’s hand was there every step of the way.

That was a brief version of the whole story of me, now working full-time at a church. The full story is much longer and drawn out and probably a lot of it I really don’t even know how to put into words, however, looking back on that little bit of my story I just shared really helps remind me how much God is so involved in my life. What a crazy thing; that the God of the universe cares about me so much that He’d take the time to make sure I was in a little band for the right amount of time, learned what I needed to in order to prepare me for a job, that I would have never guessed I would be working at, but love every second of it.

January 12, 2010

New Year

Posted by Tracy

The Holidays came up so fast, as they usually do, and normally I get really into them. I am that person who starts singing, “it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” the first sight of cold, but I just could not get into the spirit of things this year. That was frustrating because I really like Christmas. I even started to force myself to say Merry Christmas to everyone in hopes that it would help me get into the spirit, but that didn’t work. It was not until the 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service that I truly started to feel the joy.

I had made plans to sit with one of my fellow leaders and we ended up surrounded by other leaders, as well as some students and their parents who happened to be sitting in the same section as us. At the end of the service we lit the candles together and watched Christ’s light fill the room. By the end of service, when Isaac said to let the light go into our hearts as we blew out the candles—it did. I was ready to celebrate.

I love unexpected things like that, when Christ steps in and points out the reasons to be joyful. What’s even cooler is when He keeps doing it. God keeps showing up, on Sundays and throughout the week, reminding me of the work He is doing and what a great blessing this community is in my life.

We, at the Summit Student Ministry, have been on break for almost a month. Going into the break, I had no plans, except to maybe take a few afternoon naps, but God quickly put opportunities in front of me to spend time with students. I was able to bring in the New Year with students, which was so much fun! We played some of the games we play at Surge and The Edge like “I’ve never”. It was a good opportunity to see how much it means to them that we are here and that we play games as well as talk. It was a great way to bring in 2010. This weekend, some of the 9th grade girls and I had another “scary movie sleep over” which is quickly becoming a regular event. We only got to one movie, the rest of the time we spent talking and making funny faces at each other that cannot be described in script but will stay forever as inside jokes. My point is that unexpected things happen, plans change, and God works it out. He moves in mysterious ways and brings up moments and memories that will never be forgotten. Some of the best things in life (and sometimes the worst) are not in our plans, but God knows and uses all things and in my experience, the best things happen when God’s involved.

A new year has started, our break is ending, and a new semester is underway. I don’t know all the things that will happen this year, but as Isaac would say, “it’s pregnant with possibilities”.

December 9, 2009

Good Crazy

Posted by Kyle

Things have been pretty crazy recently. Good crazy, though. Tis’ the season I suppose.

I’ve been working on a lot of Christmas charts for middle school, high school, main service, and the video venue as well as helping get the BCL musical in full swing. Christmas music definitely is some of my favorite.

Surge and The Edge are getting ready to come to a close for this semester. It’s been a great semester and I’m really looking forward to next…

I recently got the word that I will be starting up full-time at Summit come January 2010! That is extremely exciting and I am just so beyond grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this team. My responsibilities will be expanding quite a bit, and I will be honest, I’m somewhat anxious and slightly intimidated by some of it. However, I love the fact that I am being challenged doing something I love as well as trusted by people who I look up at to get a job accomplished. It’s very encouraging and comforting to know that there are people who are my bosses that care about me and trust me.

Well that’s the quick update! Life is pretty wild right now, in fact, this blog post is even a day late….whoops. Merry Christmas!