Week to remember

I'M ENGAGED!!!!!!!!

I proposed to Kelly Matten Thursday afternoon February 25, 2010. AND SHE SAID YES! This is such an exciting time for us and we begin planning now haha.

Apart from this exciting news this past Campaigner Weekend was one I will remember for a long time.

It was an incredible time with leaders and I felt truly encouraged and I believe the other leaders did also.

I will remember our cabin time Saturday night for the rest of my life.

We had a great discussion about Don Baker's talk, who by the way did an incredible job speaking! We talked about John 13:34-35 among other things. We discussed verse 35 when Jesus says, "By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." This is the brightest light we can shine to people. People will argue apologetics all day, but they have a very hard time arguing the power of love, Darrell Bock said.

After this discussion we gave prayer requests. Heavy things were shared. Very Heavy things. We prayed for everyone and said Amen, but a strange thing happened. No one made a sound. It took my about 10 seconds to realize that a one of the kids was in tears. Without a word one of the leaders got up and hugged one of the kids. Then one by one all 12 guys in the room came over and took a knee and put an arm around the kid. It was silent. All you heard was the sound of guys crying. I had a hand on the kids back and remember just feeling him cry. It was so quiet yet the tears were so noticeable. Don Baker earlier that night said, Jesus was a great listener, so great that he even hears our tears hit the pillow. As a staff person and leader I felt I should pray or say something, but there was no words. He was surrounded by followers of Christ who loved like John said we should, "My dear children, let us love not with words and tongue but with actions and in truth," 1 John 3:18.

This went on for about 10 minutes then finally we stood up and then comforted another as he cried.

People are hurting. Christians and non-Christians are perfectly alike in this way. People are dying for this message of truth and grace and life and comfort. All I can say is all of us in that room were given a very special picture of what Jesus meant when he said, love one another. I've never been so greatly impacted with such little words. We were there with and for one another. We didn't know the answers, we couldn't solve the problem, but we wrapped our arms around a brother and did our best impression of Jesus Christ in our lives.

I learned something that night. Jesus never promises the answers or a solution, but he promises his arms to surround us and his shoulder to cry on. We need this. And many people don't have it. It's Christ's example we follow to do it.

It was memorable to say the least. The weekend was so great and Campaigners the next night was phenomenal as well.

Thank you for you prayers! They worked in a deep way.

I love you all!

A cool story

Hello Everybody!

I hope everyone is ready for this snow. The grocery stores are packed like Y2K.

Just wanted to tell you all a story...

Last week on Thursday I went up to Westminster High School to see some kids and hopefully meet some. After hanging with some kids I found myself in a conversation with a Junior girl named Kelsey who I had never met. She proceeded to ask me many questions including, "Who are you? Why are you here?" Before I could get an answer out she asked me, "But your like 20 why are you hanging out with 9th graders?" Needless to say she had no filter. I left that laughing and pretty doubtful of my ability to work with kids. The few days later I went back. As I was talking with some kids I felt a hand hit my shoulder, and I turn around to see Kelsey. She asks me the same question, "Your 20 why are you here?" I respond very cleverly, "I'm 22 actually, and I'm here to see some friends." For whatever reason she thought this was funny, and after a 5 minute conversation I was accepted as a friend of Kelsey. I mentioned I wanted to meet the Vice Principle and as he walked by Kelsey said, "Oh he's my best friend I'll introduce you!" She did, and then before I left she said, "Are you going to be here tomorrow?"

Chap Clark at New Staff Training said, "Every kid we are working with is asking the question, "Is this going to be a person who truly cares about me?" I'm borderline emotional as I write this because I remember when Kelsey asked why I was there and was the extreme of skeptical. But soon after she was asking the question, "Are you coming back?" Kids need Christ and a rescuer in their lives. I am so blessed to have a part in this as a mini-rescuer of kids. We bring a light into a dark place. To answer Kelsey's question, I'm going back.


On a short note, last Monday, we had Campaigners and we talked about why we do club. We said Jesus was known as being a friend of "sinners" and therefore we want Young Life to have the same reputation. We decided that if non-Christians aren't coming to club, then we will do things that they will come to. Me and Tiff and the Campaigners are going to focus on loving and befriending lost kids and start club as soon as we feel it will be a place that non-Christian kids feel is for them.

To help this process I went up today to Westminster High School to volunteer to help with the baseball team. I got a job! I'll be helping out with the team which will give me a reason to be around kids and get to know them.

Thanks for your prayers! They are being answered!

Wow So much to talk about!

Hello Supporters!

So much has happened since my last update. I hope your Christmas was Merry. It sure was at the McGregor household.

I was able to attend some football games this Fall with some guys and sat in the bleachers quite a bit. And even introduced some kids to the shaky face.
It was a great year in 2009, but 2010 has set the bar high with New Staff Training in Colorado! We were in Fraser, CO (nicknamed the icebox of America because of it's low temperatures). It was SOOOO beautiful. We had such a blast! We took two classes while we were out there: Intro to Youth Ministry taught by Chap Clark, and Communicating the gospel to adolescents by Darrell Bock. We were in class most of the time, but they were so informative and interesting it didn't seem like class.

The Lord really used my time out there to teach me a lot! I'm excited to see the things I've learned start to intersect with my ministry.

On our free day we got to go snowboarding at Winter Park. Me and another staff associate Stafford, hit some SERIOUS jumps in the terrain park and my adrenaline is still pumping, took me straight back to 9th grade. We made it to the peak that sits about 12,000 feet. It was breathtaking. Literallyl we couldn't breathe out there at all, especially when we played basketball.




Me, Josh Goodman and Will Cox were asked to do a little program bit, which was a blast, especially when we interviewed the President of Young Life, Denny Rydberg. We got to ask him what skills translated from the late night breakfast restaurant business.

Eventually for the finale we got to do a little dancing which is always a blast!


It truly was a blast, but most importantly I am excited to get back and now apply what I've learned to my ministry and work with kids. If you hear nothing else from this blog please hear this: I am so thankful for you allowing me the opportunity to have this training and for making an investment in my life like this. It's SO awesome to be partnered with you in Carroll County. As far as some of you might be from me in Carroll County, you are still impacting kids in this area. Billy, Brady, Aaron, Taylor, Miles, Terry, Alex, CJ, Luke, Dalton, Chris, Andy, Evan, Ryan, Mitch, Mark, Kevin and James are just some of their names. Thank you so much!