“When the music went out and we all came together and continued singing the song with just our voices, it was so powerful for us all to come together and just sing together and feel the presence of God” – Leadership Weekend Participant
The presence of God was certainly felt in the room the night the music faded, leaving simply our voices to sing in acapella of the reckless love of God.
It was a little taste of heaven. Listen in, if you’d like.
As Young Life leaders, we often pray for “God to show up” at club, or we report to parents and supporters after a week at camp that “God really showed up this week!” But our speaker Sterling Roberts, Area Director for Milwaukee Young Life, challenged us in this, saying: “God is going to show up because this is His deal. He’s already here. Will YOU show up?”
And over 200 Young Life leaders did show up!
Photo credit: Firestorm Photography
These individuals said yes to being a Young Life leader—or at least learning more about what it means—and followed through on their word by attending Leadership Weekend 2018, a faith- and team-building weekend sponsored by the Western Great Lakes Region.
Some leaders return year after year, but this year a good number of attendees were brand new and got a taste of Young Life for the first time.
“We had quite a few brand new leaders with us who have never experienced Timber Wolf or Young Life before. Hearing their excitement, passion, ideas, and vision and how they are on fire to go home and show up for kids was really exciting.”
—Leadership Weekend Participant
At Leadership Weekend, leaders come to worship and rest in the Lord together.
To pray and lament the hurts in the world.
To grow and learn from seasoned leaders.
To plan and get inspired along with their teams.
To play together and enjoy the company of friends.
Who could say no to a weekend like this at Timber Wolf Lake?
Photo credit: Firestorm Photography
There were so many beautiful, picture-worthy moments. Like that moment you see a friend from a different part of the region who you don’t get to connect with often.
Or that moment you realize you’re not alone as a leader, but rather part of something bigger and more beautiful than what you can do on your own.
Or that deep feeling of joy you experience watching Capernaum teams care for one another and their friends so beautifully.
Or when you see this ministry come full-circle and you run into former YL students who have now become leaders. This happened for Grand Traverse Area leaders Erik & Christy Lindstrom who met up with some former Young Life kids who are now college students leading YL in a different area.
But there were moments to wrestle corporately with heavy hearts too.
An example of this was the time of lament led by Associate Regional Director Mike Bredeweg. Mike shared about his “lament mentor”—a friend who helps teach him that it’s okay to be sad and sit with difficult feelings. Mike then led us in a prayer of lament over the things in the world that anger us, the things that are not the way they are supposed to be. We confessed together how we have been part of silencing the stories that make us uncomfortable and ignoring the people who tell them. Jesus, have mercy and forgive us.
Sterling’s talks urged leaders to lean into uncomfortable conversations too. “We need to be ready to deal with the enemy,” he said. “But know that we have an advocate, Jesus, who wants to use the sifting to make us not to break us. He wants to restore you. He’s going to pull you through,” was a message some leaders really needed to hear.
Another Leadership Weekend tradition is hearing a word from Regional Director Chris Theule-VanDam. He called on leaders to have the eyes of compassion for every kind of kid in the schools we’re walking into (Matthew 9:35-38), to learn their names, and get to know their full story.
Photo credit: Firestorm Photography
“Who are you seeing? Are you learning their names? Are you seeing their full story?”
Leaders were sent out from Leadership Weekend refreshed, inspired, and equipped for another year of ministry. One participant summed it up like this: “I have never laughed so hard, understood so deeply, and learned so much.” And another said, “It’s just wonderful to be together in a place with a bunch of people who have the same heart for the ministry.” Yes, and Amen!
Go in peace, Leaders, to love and serve the Lord this year as you introduce kids to Jesus Christ and help them grow in faith.
>> To catch a glimpse of Leadership Weekend through the eyes of those participating, you can search the hashtag #YLLeadership2018 on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
>>Or view our Facebook photo album here.
