At the end of this blog are a few updates.
Before we get to those, here is one HUGE update and a story I am extremely proud of.
To do this properly, I need to take us back in time by 15 years.
In 2008, the year of our Lord, Becky and I lived in North Carolina. I was entering my 3rd year as a full time youth pastor, at a local church, and Becky was a huge part of everything remotely good we saw come out of our time there.
We were doing it and doing it well. 15 years later, I can personally say I see so many ways I could have been more respectably of parents, more patient with students, and (as always) a better listener.
But there is (so much) good too. We have been part of former student's weddings, graduations, child births (not in the delivery room!), and many of them we call friends to this day.
Back in those youth ministry days, Becky caught a vision to start a retreat for teen girls. Her vision was big, bold, and seemed crazy to many who heard about it. She tells the story much better than me so I'll just hit the main points here.
Becky gathered a team, cast the vision, and THEY made it happen. They launched the first Radiant Girls Retreat in the Spring of 2008 at a sweet campground in Sophia, NC. That day, against all odds, there were 75 students and 30 adult leaders on site.
This past weekend, Becky was asked back to be the main communicator at The 2022 Radiant Girls Retreat. You see, Becky directed the team for 4 years and handed directorship off when our family moved out of state.
Back to 2022, this year's retreat hosted over 300 women from multiple states. This was one of those moments (of many) I felt incredibly proud of my wife (Becky). She not only spoke with conviction and grace to those gathered but also received the affirmation of what can occur when we give God our YES.
The way she tells it, no one was asking for a girls retreat back in 2007. But God called her to plant that seed and she trusted Him to water it. It is not often we get to enjoy the sweet fruit that grows from the seeds God calls us to plant.
This past week, the 4th family to move to Colorado and join our launch team unpacked their last box from the moving truck. We are planting seeds and asking God to water them. Thank you for your support financially, in prayer, and more!
You are part of an incredible story. We are working hard, praying desperately, and celebrating every moment we can. Thank you for taking time to read.
A few other updates:
1. While in North Carolina, for the retreat, Jared attended and reconnected with the church her worked at for a total of 9 years. They are huge supporters and great friends!
2. We have begun contracting a design team to create our public website.
3. Our weekly dinner church now averages 4 households in attendance.
Please consider joining our supporter list, click here.
Please consider giving a financial gift, click here.
Comments