I told the young people at the beginning of the week, without wanting to give too much away, and trying to stay out of God's way (we all need to do that more often, don't we?), that the week is a process.  Each moment of every day builds on each other moment throughout the week.  It is amazing to look back to the beginning of the week.   We now dance with less self-consciousness, sing with greater boldness, and love one another with more intentionality.

In the typical “flow” of a week at Montreat, Wednesday or Thursday can be sometimes jokingly, sometimes cheesily, be referred to as "cry day."  It is not unusual for someone on the platform, or in a small group, or back home group to share a deep and difficult personal experience that they have had and how God was present in that experience.  The natural rhythm of this conference didn't take us there with a specific “tear jerker” story, and I actually appreciated that intentional decision by the leadership of this conference.  But the total sum of all the stories shared, the theme of the week, and the small group experiences, and the years of love and nurture so many of you in the Pioneer family have already invested in the young people, led us to not a culmination but to a “birth” of sorts.  To be more theologically on point I am reminded that "anyone who is in Christ is a new creation, the old life has passed away, new life has begun."

We had a powerful back home time last night.  All of us have "stuff" in our lives and in the lives of those we love and care about.  Add to the mix that being a teenager in today's world may be one of the very hardest times in life, or it certainly can seem that way.  The young people on the conference planning team had talked about wanting a conference that “went there” – that would risk being authentic and real.  Our youth took that to heart last night, not because of a challenge given to them by someone else, but because of the very deep and real ways they have experienced God this week.  They “went there” and got real with one another.  Although they know it won't be as easy back home, they expressed their deep desire to be a youth group that can be real with each other.  They definitely don’t want to be a Montreat clique, but want to work to bring others in the youth group into this kind of sacred space, this safe sacred place that a “real” youth group can be.  They want to literally wrap arms around one another and give each other encouragement in times of struggle, shoulders to cry on in times of grief, and to love our Pioneer family, our NE Ohio neighbors, and our global neighbors in ways that our real, in ways that matter.  It will be a challenge, but one we are all ready to tackle because of the experience we have shared this week.

What matters most to us is for you to continue to buoy us with your prayers, love and support, as we continue to pray for you, so that we may come down from this mountain changed, and ready to set this World on Fire with the love of the living God.  We want this to be not for one week in July each summer, but to make it a more intentional part of our everyday lives.

WOW... what a week it has been.  I'm crazy enough to believe that with this particular group of young people, sharing their stories, bringing others into the fold, and holding each other accountable, the ripple effects of what God has done in this place will reach even the farthest corners of the world...

THANK YOU PIONEER.  We love you and cannot wait to share with you and have you hear directly from the youth about this experience.  Pray for traveling mercies and our safe return tomorrow (Saturday) night.  We hope to be back around 7:00pm.  Pray for God to continue to work in the lives of these young people so that they hear over and over again what they already know:  that there is no place they can go, or no challenge or struggle they face, that can separate them from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

See you soon!

Hey Everyone!  I’m having a blast here at Montreat.  Today has been my favorite day so far.  We started the morning with some fun energizers as always, and then sang some great songs.  This morning’s Keynote was great.  It was all about not being alone, and having a cloud of witnesses around us.  Then in small group we played some games then had a group discussion.  Today was the first day that everyone really opened up and talked during discussion, so it was really interesting and a lot of fun.  This afternoon is our day off so I am sure we will have a lot of fun and laughs.  Last night’s worship service was eye opening (even though most people’s eyes were closed).  We all remembered our baptisms by having water flung on us (so much fun!). Lastly, last night there was a Trace Bundy concert.  He is an AMAZING guitarist.  Craig, Chase, and Conner’s faces were priceless watching him play (wide eyes and dropped jaws).  I can’t wait for the last few days.  Each day feels like a week here!

Peace&Love,

-- Erin R.

(Oh yeah, our leaders are great!  We are having so much fun with them and they teach us something new each day!)

In the past week I have seen a change in myself…  I have grown physically and emotionally through the help of others in our at home group, and my small group.  Through this experience I have learned to love my friends and enemies as we love God and ourselves.  This week we have talked about a “fight” to make our world good.  When we say we are “fighting,” we say we care.  We say we love.  For who… what… why do we ‘fight…  We call this a “fight,” but what are we fighting for?  Sometimes our fighting causes destruction, pain, and hurt.  For who… what… why do we “care?”  But how many times a day we see people in need of assistance and do something about it?  A person in the street playing his broken guitar to make ends meet to feed his family.  Or a person on the street without a coat.  Or a child begging for food since his parents can’t provide for him and his brothers and sisters.  But for who… what… why do we “love?”  When the holidays, birthdays come around do we often think of those with no family or friends to spend that special day with?  Why do we “fight” against each other when what we need to do is come together as a family in Christ and work together for healing, and peace, and a better world?  In Montreat I have found that family.  We are not alone in this world and when we feel the most alone and we turn away from each other we need to remember Jesus Christ and the love he has for us and we are very blessed with our lives.

-- Lizzy D-N

The first full day of the conference is well under way.  We had a nice soft overnight rain that cleared off in time for our 15 minute morning walk to the auditorium.  Energizers and singing were followed by our first keynote session.  Our keynote leadership team, led by Adele Halliday and her drama team from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, started to dive into the theme of “World on Fire.”  Our conference co-directors told the adults last night that the youth members of conference planning teams did not want things sugar coated, and wanted “to go there” this week.  So we will be “going there” exploring real themes and real issues that our young people deal with in their own lives locally and globally.

It started slowly as we were asked the question “Where in the world do you live?” followed by “Where in the world have you been?” and “Where in the world is your favorite place to be?”  The questions then turned introspective, “Is there anything in your personal world you wish could be changed?”

From there a video montage that posed the question, “How many words does it take to make someone forget all that God created them to be?”  The answer: one.  Words have power.  Unfortunately some words uttered in school halls, homes, and even in church can hurt and do damage that takes a long time to unpack.  Labels can be hurtful.  Waiting for change can be hard too.

The drama team brought scenes to life from Exodus chapter three:  Moses, the burning bush, and the Israelites’ hard knock life of slavery under Pharaoh’s iron fist.  “When will God answer our prayers?” the Israelites must have wondered.  “Where is God while our backs are physically breaking?”  “Where is God when we are spiritually empty?”

We sang the words, “I follow the flame…”  The flame never quits burning.  God calls us in our ordinary everyday lives to do something different.  Responding to the needs of the world seems like a big job.  The good news is all you need to start a fire is a match and then give the flame a little room to breathe.

We have 18 members of the Pioneer family who have already felt the spark in our own lives.  Here in this space of Montreat there is plenty of breathing room to let the flames burn bright!  God is good…

Still to come:  small group recreation this afternoon, dinner, and then our first conference worship service of the week.  We feel so supported by all of your love and prayers.  Thank you Pioneer family!