All My Fountains

Yesterday at the Barn I introduced a new song called, 'All My Fountains'. It was the first time we ever played it, and the first time I ever played it the whole way through (I'll be honest I kind of slacked a bit preparing it). We got up front (Sam on drums and Ian on guitar with me) and began to play, and I was amazed. It was as if we had been playing through the song for months and months together. Everything just seemed to fit (except the powerpoint slides I messed up).

It was really awesome for me. As I've told a lot of the students at the Barn, "I'm in a worship kick these days," and its true. I keep sensing God calling me deeper and deeper into what it means to really worship him with all my heart and soul - as well a encourage others to explore that. This is taking shape not only in Thursday night music, but in hopes to create a way to channel the creative talents (painting, writing, music, etc...) this Spring at a Silo Youth Cafe'.

I'm so so excited! I'm learning more and more each day that all my fountains need to be in God, as the song spoke about. I cannot be drawing from any other well other than the well of Christ. It is there alone that we find satisfaction and there alone that our hearts ripen into fullness.

Its Been a While

Hey everyone,

So I know its been a while since I posted on here, and I wanted to let you all know that we aren't dead. I kept thinking about how I needed to update the blog, but it kept slipping my mind. My goal is to post on this once a week, at least starting very soon!

So keep a look out! I hope you are all having an amazing New Year!! I know we are!

In Christ,

Jeremiah

Mystery Night 2011

So this week is going to be Epic!! That is for sure! Not only is the Barn happening again this Thursday, but we are expecting at least 4 youth groups to come out this Saturday night for our 3rd Annual Mystery Night @ the Barn! I'm pretty darn stoked for sure! ... Below is our promo for the event, which is this Saturday October 29th, 2011 at 6pm... I will fill you in with a complete review of the event next Monday... enjoy the video:

Autumn Change

Currently, I'm sitting in a vacant Barn looking at the mountain side adjacent to it. As I watch the leaves all fade. They are turning their colors; turning a new page in their seasonal journey. It is quite a beautiful site, and I'm excited for the process these same leaves will go through for the next few months. They will turn bright, break off, fall, and everything will change again.

Autumn seems like such a good comparison to what is currently going on at the Barn. Many things around here seem to be changing - as they do almost every year. It is hard for me at times because I've never been in a ministry long enough to see so many kids come and go. Last year we had 5 seniors who moved on to college (3 of whom I met with weekly for breakfast). That might not seem like a lot, but honestly it has changed the whole dynamic of things around here - at least for me.

Of the guys I met with for breakfast only one remains a student. All that once was has changed. Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings are a bit more barren. Though I am still trying to stay connected with these seniors it is not the same. They are maturing, growing, and learning to live on their own - to make their faith their own - and my main focus zeros in on those who are left.

Change, however, is beautiful like these Autumn trees. Often, I miss that. I tend to see change and fight against it, but as things change I learn more about the students who are here now. As change finds its way into things here I learn more about myself. The process is never quite the same, but rather, ebbs and flows with everything. Our numbers will always rise and fall; our audience come and go; the personalities will mature and grow; the lives be impacted and shaped.

It is all such a beautiful process, but there comes a time for all change. People will move on, and it is our job to help them be ready for that. It is our job to help them grow strong, and tall so that when it is time for them to change their leaves they will shine bright. That when the time comes they will illuminate the mountain side with their beauty, and show the whole world what they have become. That in the end they might show Christ to the lost, in all their seasons. That the world might see in them: beauty, stability, life, and steadfastness.

Change is still hard, but its process only becomes more beautiful!

Recap of the Summer

I wrote this for an online publication for TTW, and figured I'd share it here. Enjoy:

God has been active and working in Kunkletown, PA, there is no doubt about that. After an amazing summer of hanging out with students, mentoring them, and building deeper relationships with them The Barn has been a little quiet. We had an awesome year of events and discipleship: we had three bands came out to fill the Barn with their music, for our Silo Youth Café; we dedicated a day to service in the local community and to worship; we rented The Barn couple of youth groups for their events; we had a community wide yard sale, to connect with the community and raise money for a new Ping-Pong table; we had a booth at the local West End Fair to reach new students, and we had an awesome end of the Summer BBQ – which 4 churches brought their youth groups to. Overall, it was a noisy and exciting summer, but now The Barn sits quietly in wait.

August was our month to reenergize and cast new vision. We spent a lot of time doing behind the scenes work, and taking some vacation time as well. (The Sheagley’s went to Canada to visit their daughter Joyelle and I went with my family to our cabin). But now, everything is about to start back up, and we are more than ready to go. During August we formulated new ideas and are now ready to implement them for the new 2011-2012 year at The Barn. September 15^th is our start up date and we are so excited. We have already started back up our guys mentor group at Faith Christian, and connected with students about coming out to first Barn of the school year. Who knows where this year will lead us, but we already know it is going to be exciting. Already, we plan to have a Mystery Night at The Barn on October 29^th; we plan on helping out at a local camp retreat in the next few weeks; and we started a youth workers breakfast to connect local youth pastors to each other. One only has to come here once to know that God is working. It is so awesome to see him at work here in the tiny town of Kunkletown, PA and all for the kingdom of God.

The Rocket Man

This past week I got a new nickname: the Rocket man. We were at the West End Fair with a booth, courtesy of Cornerstone Community Church, and I was Indo boarding. It was at that moment I hear a kid yell from across the walk way. I looked over and there was a boy with long hair down to his shoulders pointing at me yelling, "Hey! Do you remember me from last year? You were shooting rockets at my all day. I was looking for you all week and was wondering 'Where is the Rocket Man at?'" I had to think for a moment or two, but then suddenly I remembered.

This kids name was David. He and his group walked past our booth last year like 25 times (seriously - I'm surprised they didn't get dizzy walking in circles for so long) without ever stopping at our booth. So, to get their attention, I took a little foam rocket I had and shot it at them every time they walked by. At first they were like, "What in the world is going on?" but then as I continued shooting at them it turned into a game. Every time they walked by I would 'launch' my rocket and they would try to catch it - typically to no avail.

This year things were very much the same. I would be Indo boarding, and when I saw their 'posse' walking down the road I would grab my little rocket and shoot it up in the air. David would follow it with his eyes and try his best to catch it. Often times it would hit his hands like 5 times and then fall to the ground; it shoot in the totally opposite direction; or he'd run into somebody trying to catch it. The whole day he would try to catch it, and he never could. (One time I shoot it right past his head too and freaked him out).

Finally, at the end of the day, he was fed up. He said that he wouldn't leave until he caught the rocket. So there we stood in the middle of the walkway and I kept shooting it up in the air for him to catch. One time it hit a passerby; one time it hit him in the head and fell to the ground; one time he tripped and fell to the ground; one time he had to chase it into the graveyard (they were selling gravestones across the way). Then, when I thought he would never catch it, he caught it. The rocket went straight up in the air, he focused in on it, and like a crocodile closing his jaws in a clumsy fashion, he snatched it out of the air. We rejoiced. (If I had money I would have bought him a celebration hotdog at the local stand). When all was said and done, I gave him the rocket and said he cold keep it as a keep sake until next year when I'd have an even cooler rocket (I was thinking of getting a military one, but I'm sure they wouldn't like that).

As I think on this story I am just amazed at the kind of relationships we are able to build in such a short time at the West End Fair. It really is amazing. Did David or his crew ever come out to the Barn? No. Will they now? I don't know, but I am amazed that he remembered our booth out of all of the booths at the fair. He remembered the rocket along with the fun he had, but more importantly he remembered someone who took the time to notice him. There in those few hours a relationship was built. To me that is what the Barn is all about: building relationships that eventually lead students before Christ. These kids get tracks handed to them all the time at the fair, but we started by building a foundation with them; we started by building a relationship and inviting them out to the Barn. Who knows if they will come, but I know this: next year I will have a better rocket, and David and his crew will be back for more.

Coming Together Well

This week has been good to me. Not only have the wheels started turning pertaining to the new school year, things just seem to be working out left and right. What are those things? I'll make you a list:

1. On Tuesday I went out to get the mail and found that I was sent a card. I was super stoked because I don't often get cards. I didn't know who it was from, because it had no return address, but it seemed a bit heavier than normal. Not really thinking too much about it, I opened it up and into my lap fell six 50 dollar bills and one 10. Someone, I'm yet to know who, decided to send me $310, and in the card was written, "Go fix your Mac." I tried playing Sherlock Holmes to figure out who it was, but to no avail, so whoever you are, thank you. (P.S. Next time you send money of the sum, it might not be good to send it in cash haha). On Wednesday I took my Mac in to get fix and I should have it back in about a week.

2. On Tuesday afternoon (12 noon to be precise) I met at Snydersville Diner for a Youth Workers Fellowship. A while ago God placed in my heart a desire to see some of the local churches better unified, and so I was super stoked to be able to meet with some local youth workers. Not only that, but 5 of them said they cou

ld probably make it (which is actually pretty unusual). I got to the diner, had a table set up in the back, and waited. One by one they started showing up, until there were 5 of us (including myself) ready to just enjoy each others fellowship. It was an amazing afternoon. The cool thing about it is that I made sure it is intentionally unstructured, and because there is no structure the meeting was very organic. Questions flooded the room, along with introductions and stories about where everyone grew up. It really was an amazing time, and I love those 4 guys who showed up (and the one who couldn't make it). I remember getting in my car afterward and heading home quite encouraged... (but some how I missed the earthquake that happened at the same time, so I was kind of bummed as well ha).

3. I got a flyer finished. On the weekend of September 16th-

18th there is going to be a wicked awesome retreat at Bowman Park Camp, and I was asked to make a flyer up for it, so this is what came out:

Pretty cool huh? Our theme this year is 'Light' so in thinking of a title I came up with 'Shine Bright', because the flyer is supposed to look like its on a 'Light Bright'. I fear none of the kids will know what a 'Light Bright' is, but I still have mine and will cherish it forever... though I haven't used it in like 10 years.

4. The curriculum for the guys mentor group is coming along nicely as well. I lost 4 lessons when my Mac died on me, but luckily I still had the notes for 2 of them and was able to catch back up. This is is going to be pretty awesome, I can just feel it. God has been placing new direction for the group on my heart and I'm excited to see where he takes it. Pretty soon we should be started and talking about how we want to move toward this new direction.

5. In a week, on September 2nd, the Barn will have a booth at the West End Fair, so I've been brainstorming ideas for a flyer for our Mystery Night at the Barn on Oct. 29th that we can hand out at the fair. Though I didn't get this done cause I was working on the camp one.

6. Today I found wild grapes in the field, while checking out the peaches on the peach tree (which sadly aren't coming out so well), and I picked them to my hearts content. Now I'm going to take my bowl of wild grapes and make some grape jelly... .YUM!!

Needless to say, this has been quite a productive week indeed!