From the Youth Pastor's Office
From spring to fall! I am not very good at keeping this blog up to date and I apologize for that. We have had a very busy summer and God touched the lives of many of our yuong peolpe this summer at camp. It was awesome to watch walls come down, hearts restored, relationships repaired and souls given to Christ. Continue to pray for our young people as they seek God and go deeper into their relationships with Him!
Last March my wife and I were invited to go to Paraguay as part of a Mission team with Spread the Word. (www.chog.org/Ministries/YouthMinistries/SpreadtheWord/tabid/238/Default.aspx) After much prayer and consideration, Emily decided that she wanted to be a part of the team, I had already decided as soon as we were invited, and we started fundraising. Well we are now back from South America! We had an amazing trip, and met some amazing people that love the Lord just as much as we do. The experiences that we had were amazing, By the way did I say the trip was amazing!
I was able to share in apublic school, the plan that God has for all of us, no matter age, location, or ethnicity. Helped feed 180 children at a church in Itapaso and was prayed over by a dear sister in Christ while in Ciudad del Este. For the Story on that one, click on my blogspot link below. www.mike-potter.blogspot.com. We had the chance to pray with Pastor Marcos about a new facility for the church in Asuncion and have received an e-mail that they are now the tenants of this building and they are making the preperations to move in and begin ministry in a new part of the Capital of this small country. The owners of this building wanted 800.00 a month for rent, Marcos countered with 400 and much prayer and the owners agreed after a meeting with the rest of the board that oversees the property. Praise God for faith and Godly men that will stand on the promises of God. Continue to pray for Marcos and Christiana Kurrle and the leaders of this relatively new church in a city of 520,000+ people. God allowed us to encounter and witness so much and so many wonderful things, I will try to get all of the stories posted on the blog mentioned above, so if you're interested, come over and check it out.
God bless,
Pastor Mike
Many times I've been asked, "What are you reading?" So I would like to include a short list of books that I have read, am reading and would highly recommend.
For youth leaders and youth pastors I would recommend:
Crazy Love, Francis Chan
Deep Ministry in a Shallow World, Chap Clark and Kara E. Powell
The Youth Ministry Survival Guide, How to Thrive and Last for the Long Haul, Len Kageler
God in MySpace: Answering questions of loneliness and despair, Derek Knofe
For Teens:
House, Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti
The Trilogy; Black, Red, White, Ted Dekker
When Teen's Pray, Cheri Fuller and Ron Luce
Don't Buy the Lie, Mark Matlock
Be the Change, Zach Hunter
Those are just a few that I found to be "good reads." If you have a suggestion of a good book to read or would like to contact me for prayer or to just talk, please e-mail me at pastorpotter@comcast.net and I'll be glad to do that.
God bless,
Pastor Mike