Summer 2026

When working with children and teenagers, a lot of ministry life follows the school calendar. As such, summer becomes a time of celebrating and reflecting on a year gone by, but it also becomes a time of planning and looking ahead to the future. The past weeks have been a combination of both.

Youth Mission Trip with The Philadelphia Project

At the beginning of July, Phil and I went with a group of 12 teenagers into Northwest Philadelphia for the teens to serve with The Philadelphia Project. This organization serves the Northwest Philadelphia area by coming alongside of dying churches and trying to revive them and by serving their neighbors practically. Part of their ministry involves bringing in youth groups to serve in their summer kids camps and to serve in their community ministries.

We had twelve teens who went with us on the mission trip to Philadelphia. We were beyond impressed by their work ethic and their joy in service.

Our teens were split into two groups: the first group served in the Summer Kids camp for the week, and the second group did some light construction work in the home of a community member. The teens were pushed beyond their comfort zones. Some learned how to peel six layers of wallpaper, patch drywall and spackle, while others learned how to lead kids games, craft times, and support teachers in their classrooms. Every one of the teens stepped up to the challenge they were given.

During the trip, the teens would serve during the day, but in the evenings they would listen to a speaker and enjoy time together playing games and hanging out together.

Our favorite part of each day is the "High-Low-Buffalo-Jesus" discussion. The kids share their high and low moments of the day, their buffalo moment (silly, funny, odd, or unusual things that happened), and a way they saw Jesus that day. They end up processing what ministry is like, laughing together at the funny moments, and praising God together for all that He is doing, and it is such a joy to watch.

God used the week to draw our teens closer to Him and to bless those around them, and it was a joy to watch Him do it! Phil and I left the week feeling like it was a time of reaping after several years of sowing in the ministry.

Vacation Bible School 2026: The Greatest Adventure

Normally, my ministry focuses on adults and equipping leaders, but there is something extra fun and special about teaching K-5th grade kids. Where else but in a kids classroom do you see broomsticks turn into puppets, cardboard turned into a sailboat, stick figure comic strips, and char-broiled paper fish? And where else but a kids Bible room, do you see pure awe and wonder at all that Jesus did?

The decorations for the week surrounded the idea of an explorer on a sailboat mapping out uncharted lands. The idea was that following Jesus is the greatest adventure we can have, because Jesus calls us to follow Him into the unknown.

I had the privilege of being Elementary Bible Team Lead for the week, which meant I was allowed to plan the lessons for the Elementary Bible times, and I was able to teach in one of the Bible rooms for elementary.

Our Vacation Bible School (VBS) looked at the life of Peter and his "greatest adventure" in following Jesus. We looked at the calling of Peter and the idea that "Jesus calls us to follow Him." We saw how Peter walked on water and how "Jesus challenges us to trust Him." We looked at Peter's denial of Jesus and the crucifixion story and saw that "Jesus cares for us no matter what we do." Then finally, we looked at Peter's restoration and Peter's preaching to the crowds on the day of Pentecost, and we saw how "Jesus calls us to invite others to follow Him."

For one of the lessons, we used "flannelgraph" but stick figure-style.

Every child who came through the doors during the week heard the gospel shared clearly, and we pray that God will use that truth to draw them to Him.

Preparing for the Road Ahead

This year, God has been challenging me in the importance of rest and reflection in the midst of the chaos and busyness of ministry life. I am a human with God-given limits. If I am not taking time to respect those limits through rest and soul-care, then I delude myself into thinking I'm God, the only one who is truly limitless.

After such an intense summer, Phil and I took a week away together to rest and reconnect. We've learned over the past few years at the church how intense summer ministry is, and so we've started scheduling a time of rest and recovery afterwards.

Phil and I took some time to rest together after a ministry heavy season. It was blessing to process the serious things and laugh together in silliness.

Phil and I used the time to reconnect with each other after an intense season of life and ministry. Our marriage and friendship is characterized by a blend of serious and silly, and so naturally, our time together was full of both. We reflected on all God has done and looked ahead to the coming year, and laughed a lot in the process.

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Prayers and Praises:

Youth Mission Trip:

• Praise God for how He is growing and shaping these teens in Christlikeness.

• Pray that God will continue to challenge our teens in their faith and pursuit of Him.

• Pray that God will be with our graduating seniors as they are entering a new season

Vacation Bible School:

• Praise God for the work He accomplished during the week.

• Pray that God will use the gospel message presented to reach the hearts of those who don't know Him.

Preparing for the Year to Come:

• Praise God for a time of rest in the midst of an intense season of life and ministry.

• Pray for wisdom and discernment as we enter a new (school) year of ministry.

• Pray for intentional patterns of rest as Phil and I serve in our respective ministries.

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