Post Camp Happenings

It has truly been amazing to see how God works in the lives of teenagers. His Spirit is definitely alive and moving in Greensboro! The typical response to a super amazing week at camp is to go back home and promptly forget most of what you learned about or were convicted of. Not so with these high schoolers from Guilford County.

In order to encourage discipleship and spiritual growth, we created what we now lovingly refer to as Daystarters. For several weeks, we have met for four days a week to go through a book, My First 30 Quiet Times. These meetings happen at 7:30 … in the morning … during the summer. You may laugh and think we’re crazy, but it works! Kids have actually been coming – consistently at that – and have fallen in love with this time of fellowship, discipleship and prayer.

Bradley and Carson playing Bingo at Chick-Fil-A after Daystarters

What we’ve seen develop out of this time together is something so beautifully driven by the Lord.  It’s been totally Spirit led and has developed a life of its own. These high schoolers, who are from different schools, different grade levels, and did not even know each other prior to camp, are now hanging out with each other and growing to love their fellow new believers as well as God.

Daystarter Group Playing Werewolf at the Meriwether House

In a couple of weeks these kids will go back to school, get back into their routine, and get busy with the things of normal life.  What excites me though, is that each of these students has been changed this summer by a genuine and transformative experience with God. I can’t wait to see what happens in these kids in the upcoming months.

Please be praying big prayers that God will continue his good work in their hearts and grow them into the godly men and women that he has made them to be.

   

Crooked Creek, CO

Sorry it has taken so long to get out this update! Things have been super busy these past few months. I’m finding myself running into a tension between doing ministry things and the need to inform my supporters of what ministry things I am actually doing. Obviously I need to do ministry but I also need to keep you all updated so that you can be praying and know how to better support Jessie and I in this ministry.

So here’s the deal.  In an effort to keep you dear supporters better informed, I am going to put up a new blog up every couple days for the next week or two until you are all caught up on this summer’s many activities.  Sound good?

First off I have to fill you in on all the things that happened at Crooked Creek Ranch in Colorado!  From June 15-25, myself and 90 high-schoolers from all over Greensboro drove to Colorado, spent seven days at Crooked Creek, and drove back.  It sounds like such a simple trip when I explain it like that but trust me, this was the end-all-be-all of trips. I was the cabin leader for 13 guys, and I saw God move in such powerful ways during that camp. I wish I could share them all with you, but then I would have to write a small novel. Instead, I will share the top highlights.

St. Lous Arch on the way to CO

Horseback Riding

1    Leading 16-year-old guys into a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. I had the immense privilege of leading two of my friends, Bradley and Dalton, to Christ. I saw several more guys, Austin and Eric, turn over their lives to Christ as well. Towards the end of the week, the camp hosts a “say-so” where all those who have become followers of Christ stand up and say so. It was such a joy and encouragement to see my guys proudly declare their newfound faith, and it made all my ministry efforts even more worth it.

Preparing for the ropes course

2    Cabin Times. Seeing a bunch of walled-off, closed-up, insecure guys open up about the deep aspects of their lives – their joys, sorrows, fears and questions – made me feel honored and humbled. I was given a rare glimpse into who these teenagers really are, openly vulnerable and real. The bonds that we formed were deep and lasting. This was some true work of the Holy Spirit.

At the top of Lookout Point

3    Seeing my Young Life work pay off. After a year of working with Young Life, it was encouraging to see it all culminate into something beautiful and life-changing for these high-schoolers. After the months of personal investment, weeks of fundraising, and days of sleep deprivation, it made my heart glad to know that it was worth it. Young Life believes in living out the extravagance of Christ’s love in such a way that it makes teenagers sit up and pay attention. It was inspiring to see their philosophy of excellence so clearly depicted in every aspect of the camp.

Cabin guys on dress-up night

Be on the lookout for my next blog post, talking about how these teenagers have started to learn and grow post-Colorado!

   

Busy Busy!

Off to Man Trip 2012 for the week!

More updates on camp, man trip and life coming this weekend!

Camp's on Friday!

I leave for Crooked Creek Ranch in Frasier, Colorado on Friday! 

We head out dark and early (as opposed to bright and early) at 5:00 AM.  Can’t wait!  Myself, several other leaders from Greensboro Young Life, and 90 predominantly unchurched, non-Christian kids from all over the city are driving for two days on two charter buses, spending an unforgettable, life changing week at Crooked Creek Ranch, and then driving for 24 hours straight back home.  Oh and did I mention the second day on the bus is my 23rd birthday? I don’t think there is a better way to celebrate turning 23 than being on a bus all day long with a bunch of my high school friends!

I’m super excited about camp but at the same time I’m honestly quite apprehensive and nervous. All year long I’ve heard about how Young Life camp is this incredibly awesome thing that we build up through the entire year. And as it turns out I’m responsible for leading 11 guys in having the best week of their lives. 

I keep hearing this devilish voice in my head telling me that its up to me to deliver this experience to these kids and that I’m not good enough to lead them. In my heart though I know that God is going to give these kids exactly what they need at camp and that with Jesus on my team I will be exactly the leader that they need me to be.

This week pray I need a lot of prayer!

• please pray for Jessie as I’m gone for 10 days.
• pray for me as I will be separated from my wife for 10 days.
• pray for these kids that they meet Jesus in a way that they never have before.  Pray that their lives be radically changed as they encounter their savior.
• pray that I have energy to keep up with all these crazy kids (still in recovery from my surgery) and wisdom as I lead them into spiritual conversations.
• We also still have several kids that need financial provision to go to camp.  Several kids still owe several hundred dollars.  Please pray that God shows up in a big way to get these kids to camp.

Thanks you so much for all your love and support. I look forward to telling you all about camp and sharing lots of pictures when I get back on the 25^th!
   

May Update

Wow.  What a month it’s been.

I know it has been a little while since I’ve given an update and I’m sorry about that.  I want to keep all of you who care enough about Jessie and I to actually read this blog updated more frequently.  From here on out expect a new post once a week.  Scouts honor.  I was in the Boy Scouts for a couple weeks so I can say that. 

Let me catch you up on some of the big stuff happening in the Meriwether house and then I want to give you a really encouraging story from the last week.  I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.

One month ago I had knee surgery and I can proudly say that today I can comfortably walk without the assistance of a brace or crutch.  I’m officially a self-sufficient walker!  I can also get a pretty impressive 90 degree bend out of my knee.  A month ago I could barely bend my knee at all, I couldn’t put any weight on it, and I was totally bed/couch ridden.  I’m happy with my progress but I have a long way to go.  Please pray for motivation to do my physical therapy workouts at home and for Jessie who has been an amazing nurse these past couple weeks.  I think she’s going to get a crown or two in heaven for how great she has been to me in this process.  I haven’t been the easiest patient to handle.

We are moving! For a while now Jess and I have been looking for a cheap apartment in Greensboro that is located near Northwest High School (where I do Young Life), and Church of the Redeemer.  God answered our prayers and led us to a great apartment that is relatively affordable, and is located right in between those two destinations.  How great is that!  Instead of driving 30 minutes one way to Greensboro at least once a day, I will be 5 minutes away. Now I live in the same area as the kids I’m ministering to and I’m so excited to see how God is going to use that!

Every Wednesday night we (we being my boss/mentor Drew Hill and I) have a youth group gathering called “Wednesday Night Live”.  Right now there are about 15 to 20 kids, between 5^th and 11^th grade, who consistently show up, but the vast majority of kids are in middle school.  We really have a great time.  This past Wednesday Drew spoke about Jesus loving the unlovable and undesirable.  Jesus shows and instructs us to love even those who hate us.  This led to a time of prayer in which all of these kids prayed out loud for God to bless the very people who make them angry or feel hated and unloved.  There is nothing quite as beautiful as hearing someone passionately pour out their hearts to God.  Tears were shed as people began opening up about the deep wounds in their lives.  It was so moving to see God stir the hearts of these youth and encouraging to be reminded that God is indeed knocking on the doors of these kids’ hearts. 

Thank you for reading this and I pray that God stirs your heart in some way this week.

Grace and peace,

Fundraising

I've been doing all kinds of fundraisers with the high school kids who are going to Young Life camp in Colorado this summer. A couple weekends ago, we actually had 3 fundraisers in 2 days! We did yard work, a big yard sale, and a car wash. The highlight of the weekend for the students: getting to wash a police car. :)

Knee Surgery

Hey Everybody,

Thank you all for your incredible love and support during this hoopla. Besides my knee feeling like it went through a wood chipper I'm doing pretty well.  The surgery went great yesterday, praise God! I went in at 9 and I was definitely nervous.  It turns out I'm quite a sissy when it comes to doctors and the like. If Jessie hadn't  been there to help calm me down I don't know what I would've done. After getting called back to pre-op they put the IV in my hand, shaved my knee, and made me put on the thin and extremely breathable gown. 

After Jessie sang a couple soothing songs to me and kissed me goodbye they carted me off to the surgery room. All I remember is them giving me some "drowsy" drugs in my IV, the room going all crazy, and then waking up with a sore and a freshly operated upon knee. Apparently, I talk very loudly when I'm tripped out on drugs. 

So now I have a brand spankin' new ACL and a repaired meniscus. Even in the midst of throbbing pain and much discomfort, God is making His presence known and is giving both Jessie and I patience and energy to do what we need to do. He might even be teaching us a thing or two through this. :)

Please be in prayer for a quick recovery and pain relief. Note: do not be deceived by the smile in the picture to the left. Jessie told me to smile for the picture, thereby giving off the false impression that I am enjoying myself. We are so thankful for the covering of prayers from family and friends! We love you all!

April Newsletter

           I hope you and your loved ones are doing well!

Redneck Club with Young life

It has been a busy couple of months here at the Meriwether house.  Jessie is finishing up her first year of graduate school and is preparing to do an internship this summer with Noble Purpose Ministries. She will be planning their first annual fundraising gala to raise money for the equipping of Christian leaders around the world.

Personally, I have had my hands full with youth ministry these past few months. In June I am taking over 20 students from Northwest Guilford High School to a Young Life camp at Crooked Creek Ranch in Colorado. It’s an expensive ten-day trip and I have been helping kids with several fundraisers so they can go.

Our church has recently received a donated youth space that we are calling ‘The Hairy’ – it was originally a dog hair salon. I have been working with our youth and some Young Life kids to renovate the space; knocking down and painting walls, and building a stage and a food bar. Work is still being done, but our end result will be an awesome youth meeting space that will allow for greater ministry opportunities and the growth of our youth group.

Getting my head shaved at Young Life Club

Since our lease is running out soon, Jessie and I are looking into moving to Greensboro so that we can be closer to our church and the kids I am ministering to. We have been praying for God to provide a cheap or even free place to live since Greensboro apartments are much more expensive.

I am also learning that youth ministry is a hazard to your health. At Young Life club two weeks ago, I injured my knee playing games with teenage football players who don't know how to control their strength. Two doctor’s appointments and an MRI later, I have an obliterated ACL and a torn meniscus that is caught in my knee joint so that I cannot straighten my leg. Crutches are not my preferred choice of transportation, and they always clash with my outfits. I have surgery scheduled for Friday, April 27^th and am looking at six months until I am fully recovered. Prayers are appreciated!

Doctor's Offices - our favorite places to be!

Our church is very small, and the only way I can continue in this ministry is if you join with us and support us through prayer and financial giving.  In order to pay our living expenses, upcoming medical bills (possibly $10,000), Jessie’s 2^nd year of graduate school ($15,000), and be able to move to Greensboro ($200 extra a month), we need to raise $1000 a month that the church has agreed to match. In my time working with these kids, I am utterly convinced that we are where God wants us and I trust that He will provide, maybe working through you to do that.  

Would you pray about partnering with us?  We are thankful for your friendship and humbled that you would even consider investing in us for the glory of God.