2013 SYMC

This past weekend, Jean & I got to attend, for the fourth time, the Simply Youth Ministry Conference - and it ROCKED!~ #2800+ youth workers from across the nation (& world) coming together to become STRONGER!~ This year was the best of the four straight we've been privileged to be a part of. Personally, we came this year much healthier than last year (unemployed - yuk). We came, determined to focus on the relationship core value the most, although we left experiencing the others as well. As we arrived, we got a Facebook message from Rodney & Emily, a couple that we connected with from our Veterans in Youth Ministry connect group that we led last year. We were able to have lunch Friday with them, reconnect and talk life & ministry - Totally Cool! We also got a chance to hit the hotel diner, Velocity, and spend some time with Darren, Katie and Troy. we also got to have lunch with Jonathan and Josh - two guys we first connected with at IT Summit two years ago. (Congrats on your marriage in 12 days Josh!) What we didn't know, before coming, is that we would develop so many new, even deep, relationships with those in our Transitions connect group, many who came to peer panels AND those on the peer panels!~ Dan & Becke with Cadence are transitioning from Germany to Korea - yeah, you heard me. And they share both their struggles and excitement! Aaron is leaving his current church to go back for moire school - needs to sell their home & a million other things. Jody left her church to begin a new ministry, has no idea how it will be funded, yet clear leading by the Lord to go for it! It was both humbling to listen and TOTALLY AWESOME to spend some time in prayer with these, and others, asking God to be in the center of their transitioning! Then - oh my goodness - in the peer panels I was privileged to be a part of, I learned soooooo much! I got to know Tony Miles, Brian Berry, Wayne Yeager, David Perez, Jon Kelly, Len Evans, Jody, Liz Simmonds, Kelly Cohea and John Mulholland so much better. LOVED listening to heir wisdom too and, not sure if it was legal or not, but was taking notes on my phone as I listened! It was soooo great to listen to the questions (and wisdom) of all those who came and even get with them afterwards so we can connect after SYMC. (I've already connected with two peeps who came to those panels.) Sunday Night IT3 Par-Tay was a "taste of glory divine" - hangin' offline with my online family was GREAT! Thanks Jason & Rick soooo much for all you do!~ Monday morning Mama Caro had a "small church breakfast" and it was cool to get with Ross, who came to one of my peer panels. We exchanged info and have already connected since returning. We were also able to both listen to and pray with some IT3ers who are really struggling. I remember REALLY wanting and needing those prayers a year ago myself! Finally, yeah, we loved the general sessions and we even sat in on a few workshops too - LOL!~ Darren, Steph, Brandon, Greg - y'all rocked those times!~ So - my Top 3 take aways: 1 - Relationships trump everything else! 2 - We need to get going on recruiting more volunteers for LEGACY! 3 - Thankful God sent us home stronger! Until IT3 Summit, mrbill Philippians 1:3-6