As usual the HBz did their thing in Germany last month. We spent our time working with the Youth Group of Neues Leben Church (New Life). The youth group was made up of around 40 guys and girls. Our time was spent hanging out at their youth meetings on Wednesday and Saturday night: giving testimonies to the things God has done around the world, preaching, and leading discussion groups. The best thing about the month though was hanging out with the youth every night: Soccer in the park, Family Guy, grilling out, going to the sand volleyball court, or watching a crappy high school musical in Germany because our friends were in it. It was this time where relationships really formed. It was this time when we heard about the students lives, and got to speak wisdom and experience into them. And Got to pray for the youth.
Another highlight of month was the youth camp in Belgium. Around 250 youth from all over Belgium were there to grow closer to God and have an awesome time doing it. There I got to meet same freaking crazy guys (see bottom picture). A few highlighs from camp:
1. Patrick and I led a workshop about being Wild Men for God. The story was from 2 Kings 9. The punchline was “Drive like a Madman”. When Jehu discovered that God annointed him as King, he drove like a Madman to dispose of the evil King Joram. The point was that we are all commisioned by God to be His ambassadors and His hands and feet. So go live like a Madman, live life with passion for the Lord and His work.
2. I got to talk to a few guys at the camp who were struggling with God. And I was able to encouragement to keep wrestling, keep asking questions, keep digging. Christ is real and therefore questions are not bad. They just lead to a more full faith in Christ. After praying with these guys you could see, and they spoke of, a lightness and a feeling of peace. It was awesome to be used by God to have conversations with these youth and see them come out on the other side with a firmer faith in Christ and a greater desire to have a relationship with Him.
3. One morning one of the camps leaders asked me to give a short message during morning prayer. I had approximately 3 minutes to prepare something. 10 months ago I would have freaked out, but this year I have had to give so many last minute messages I knew from experience God would give me something. He did. He gave me the story of how the Isrealites brought the Ark back to Jerusalem. Every 6 steps they stopped to sacrifice and praise God. And I talked about how we now carried the presence of God inside of us, we dont need to carry the Ark to have the presence of God. What would it be like if we were as passionate as the Isrealites and stopped to worship God every 6 steps. I just encouraged them to find ways to worship God all day long, not just during times of musical worship.
Not all was great in Germany. It was almost scary being back in a Westernized country. We lived in very nice homes, had wireless internet, frozen pizza and TV. We drove around in VW cars, and hung out with guys that spoke English really well. It was as close to coming back to America that I could get out on the Race. And it was scary how quickly I took those nice things for granted. How quickly they turned from God’s blessings into my rights. And how quickly I felt myself get lazy: lazy physically and lazy spiritually. I am greatful that God allowed the Banditz to rock Germany because it opened my eyes to the danger we all will be in when the Race ends next month and we head back to the States. Has God captured my heart enough this year that when I go home He will still be my focus and that I will drive like a Madman in His work or will the comforts and ease of America be too much? Germany was just the preseason. The question will finally be answered starting this September.
