LIFE
I have not posted a blog for a year and a half to be exact. I don’t know who would read this. But, God has been doing a lot in my life. I went from being Mr. single man to being happily married to a beautiful princess from the cold dark country in the arctic called Finland. I went from being a seven year intern at Calvary Chapel Santa Barbara to directing my own non profit Christian ministry called Victory Sessions. Heck, I turned thirty years old! I am so glad life has changed.
My life now is been consumed with being married and reaching out to Surf kids (AKA groms) in my hometown. My new ministry is called Victory Sessions and the mission is to reach out to the surf groms of Santa Barbara through two seasonal programs. Surf camps during summer vacation time and an After School program during the winter months.
I have just finished my first season of Surf Camps. They were a huge success. I got the opportunity to minister to so many kids this summer. It was one of the most action packed, busy seasons of my life. I love putting on Summer Camps. They are so amazing. God moves so mightily when you have an entire week, seven hours a day to pour into a fixed group of impressionable kids. I have never done so much ministry within a month and a half and had so much fun. It’s similar to the high a christian gets on a short term mission trip. But, I did not have to travel to a distant country. I was doing it right here in my hometown. I am already looking forward to next summer.
Now I am gearing up for a new season of reaching out to the non-christian surf kids at the public schools. I am gonna be going to four different Jr High and High schools everyday here in Santa Barbara and picking up kids in order to take them to the beach for a surf. The idea is Recreation Relational Evangelism. I am also partnering with the local Christian Surfer’s chapter to get all my kids plugged into a solid surfers Bible Study. The common ground is surfing and the goal is to show them who Jesus is and the plans he has for them personally. I also plan to remain involved in the Calvary Chapel High School group called Fulcrum where I served as the assistant Youth Pastor. It compliments my surf ministry really and Calvary Chapel is a great place to plug bran new Christian Surf kids into as a church.
As for my marriage, I am just enjoying the ride of getting to know my bride and learning about myself. She is still an enigma to me. The fact that she is from such a unique culture that is so different from my own causes me to be aware of my culture. I want to learn everyday more about her and what makes her tick. It’s definitely been a challenge. I have been humbled by the experience. God, is using my wife to make me a better man. She is my perfect suitable helper as my engagement counselors told me she would be. I am so amazed everyday that she would leave her homeland to come to this crazy country and live with a crazy, salty, surfer, from California like myself. I am pretty sure she had no idea what she was getting into when she said “yes”. But she is such a trooper and I think God is making us one flesh. Slowly, but surely. I have a lot to learn and grow into. Being the spiritual head, like Jesus is for the Church is not an easy task. Don’t let anyone tell you its easy. But wow, it sure is worth it.
Please pray for these two ministries if you are reading this. Victory Sessions, and my Marriage. They are both going good but I still would love your prayers. And if you would like to leave a comment to let me know about your life I would love to pray for you as well.
