Hello friends,
This summer I have been asked to participate in an amazing program. I will be at Snow Mountain Ranch (SMR) for the Rocky Mountain Region's summer training program (STP!) I'm excited to be here in Granby, CO for numerous reasons. 2 years ago I did STP as a student and it changed my life. I learned so much about God, His grace, His Son and His kingdom. The Lord did an amazing work in my life that summer, as well as the 80 other students that were up at SMR. What I learned that summer about laboring and discipleship played a significant role in me coming on staff with The Navigators.
It's a joy to be up here with the program director, Adam Sperling who is currently the campus director at University of Wyoming with his wife Renae. Adam was my bible study leader and a mentor during his time at CSU. I'm also up here with the other EDGErs from CSU, Dan and the lovely Michelle! We have a staff couple from University of New Mexico, Clint and Leigh Ann Trebesh, Danielle Clapper from CU, Sandy Collins who is currently a teacher in Greeley, CO but did EDGE Corps w/ Danielle at Wyoming, & we have Darrell & Sandy Dooyema (Doy-a-ma), who have been on staff with Navs for 43 years! Our staff team rocks!
So what is this STP thing all about? Well we have 72 students from all over the Rocky Mountain Region come up to SMR to work and grow in their relationship with God. SMR is a YMCA camp and students work either 40 hours a week (Team Members) or 20 hours a week (Team Leaders) and we get to invest in their lives outside of that time. Students will be studying Colossians & 2 Timothy this summer; encouraged to have daily QT's (quiet times) with Jesus, challenged to share their faith in evangelism, meet 1 on 1 with their designated team leader or staff member, spend a weekly half day alone with God (HDAWG, 4-6 hours) and much more! The program is 8 weeks long and we just kicked it off this week!!
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| Team Leaders and Staff at Adam's Fall in Grand Lake, CO! |
As a staff member, I will invest in 2 Team Leaders this summer. I will meet 1 on 1 with them each week and also lead them in bible study. I have the privlege to meet with Tim from UNC & Cameron from UNM. As team leaders, Tim and Cameron each have 3 team members that they will invest in through discipleship and lead in bible study each week. Each team shares a room in the YMCA staff housing. 4 men in a room = life on life to the extreme.
This summer we are encouraging the students to share life by looking to Jesus. A big theme for the summer is "with." Mark 3:14 says "And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach"
As a staff team we want to be with our students and sharing our lives with them in the midst of ministry. Just as Jesus did with his 12 disciples. Another theme we have for this summer is to be life long learners. Darrell amazed us (staff team) by saying he was here to learn from us. One might think that a staff member who's been with the Navigators for 43 years might have the role to teach us; Darrell understands who God is and that he can still learn much from His Word and His People. I'm very excited to get some time with this man this summer.
Please pray that these students will be changed and encouraged by God's Word this summer.
Also please pray that these students will be open to listening to what God wants to teach each of them.
Thanks for your prayers and support and giving me the opportunity to be up at SMR this summer.
Love you guys!
