I know it's getting close to Desperation Season when....

1) The office gets filled with boxes full of merch
2) There is no snow on the ground in Colorado
3) I receive daily emails about graphic art
4) Butterflies of spiritual expectation start to flutter at new levels
5) Tents in tent tent city
6) Buses in the parking lot
7) Teenagers packing out every eatery in town
8) Prayer huddles in the parking lots
9) New Life's stage gets a makeover
10) Friends everywhere! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!!!!

Conference season is almost upon us. See you in a few!

Peashooters and Bazookas

Years ago, I ran an internship in Kansas City where one of the girls in our internship that deeply loved Jesus decided to quit the internship. As a leader, I was deeply saddened by her decision to pursue ministry training and opportunity elsewhere. The other leaders and I began to challenge her to stay in the internship. In so doing, we started using strong words like, “selfish and rebellion.” Of course, we felt those words were true. We called it tough love. In retrospect, it was not tough love. It hurt our pride.

Our friend and senior pastor stepped in and challenged us to see the young lady from a different perspective. He talked about what God was doing in the girl. He kindly rebuked us for using such harsh words. In a flash of unforgettable wisdom, he said, “Men, you carry peashooters. Stop shooting with bazookas.” He was right and I’ve never forgotten it.

Over the past two years, I have been amazed by the bazooka carrying parishioners, bloggers and pastors over the Ted Haggard scandal. Some point and shoot at Ted. Others fire away at church leadership. Most claim to know more than “the average person.” Many think they have “inside information.” As a pastor at New Life since June of 2000, I’m sad too. However, let’s put the bazookas down.

Ted admits to weaknesses. New Life leaders don’t think they are perfect. They did a good job in a hard scenario. Overseers worked hard to demonstrate grace and truth. There’s only one Jesus. He’s the only perfect one.

So, put your bazooka down and pick up a shovel. I’m a peashooter. So are you. Let’s build the Kingdom of God instead of shooting at each other.

Pray For The Desperation Leadership Academy Mission Trips

Honduras

This team will be working with our contact doing a variety of community outreach projects and ministry to local peoples. It is primarily a labor trip with a nice twist of children’s ministry and local church relationships. Their objectives will include the construction of a water tank, latrine system, care packages to local villages, community renewal (clean up process), painting, church building improvements, and children’s ministry. They will all be staying at the beach in a home in La Ceiba (nearby town from the airport).

Germany

This team will be working with our contacts at the largest church in Berlin (it holds nearly 3000 people, but has a weekly attendance of around 500-700 people – the spiritual environment of Germany is in a very desperate state, though ripe for salvation). This trip will primarily involve a lot of prayer, focusing on the Seven Spheres of Society (Arts and Entertainment, Education, Politics, etc…). They will be visiting significant spiritual sites that designate strongholds over the land, and praying through them. Additionally they will visit the location of the 100year Moravian prayer movement (Read about the 100yr prayer meeting in Herrnhut, Germany online)…about an hour and a half from Berlin – from which much of our history as a school stems in our structure and design. This too will be a powerful experience.

Prayer Points

- There will be a prayer meeting for those who are going on the trip Sat evening at 10pm, in the World Prayer Center here on campus (anyone local is welcome to join us!)

- Unity: amongst team members, between teams and contacts, and in the vision and purpose for us being in these locations

- Focus on the strategic objective of the trip, relationships, and ministry, and not to be distracted by menial things the enemy would send our way

- Strength and health: long hours of work and long hours of prayer can be tiring and really depleting

- That God would allow us to be genuinely used as His hands and feet in the places that we are going

- That the Lord would radically alter the hearts and lives of all students and staff that are going

- Safety and protection in our environments and travel

First Registration Deadline

Register today for the lowest registration price.

Session 4

Session 4 (5/2/09) 10am

Worship -Joe Couch

Prayer:

-Eph 3:14-19 prayed for might and strength, to be rooted and grounded in love -David Perkins

-Romans 8:13 prayed for a spirit of discernment between the flesh and the Spirit
continued through vs 14-17 prayer for us to live in the Spirit and to know that we are heirs
-Michelle Vette

-Luke 10:17-24 prayer for Mark and Jill Pettus as they are moving in faith to put on the Motion Conference. Prayer for God to move in this mightily -John MacDonald

-Colossians 1:9-12 prayer for everyone us in the room, for knowledge and wisdom, to live a life worthy of the Lord, to please God in every way, for our lives to bear fruit, that we may be strengthened in God's power and not our own, that our love may abound and grow more and more, for endurance and patience, for a great harvest in this generation, for true worship, for salvations
-Dan Perkins

-Romans 12:9-12 prayer for Gods love in us to be sincere towards others, that we would hold each other accountable, to keep each other alive in spiritual fervor, for our hearts to be filled with joy, for patience, to increase our desire for a greater level of prayer. -Anelise Couch

-2 Tim 2 Prayer for Derek, that he would endure hardship and persevere -Chris Blankenship

-Romans 15:1-6 prayer for every ministry represented, that as we head home we would rise up in unity and in a brotherhood with others around our own perspective communities, to function like the body of Christ. -Daniel Webb

-Prayer for 3rd years and Detroit interns... Open up opportunities for them... That they would truly be world changers. Open doors for them and favor. To truly lead this generation. They would move in such faith, with such boldness. That they would be anointed with authority and power. Shake them and draw them close to you. May they be consecrated and set apart for you. Call them out by name. Give them ears to hear. Faith to move mountains. Willing hearts and service. Their intimacy with you would be above any activity they do. Your scripture would reign in them. They would have the blessing of Elisha...double blessing. When they seek you with their whole heart they will find you. Their one desire would be to know you. Your commands would reign in their hearts. They would link hearts and arms and take this world together. Spiritual mothers and fathers would come up behind them to support them. Angels to be around them and about them. Angels to be assigned to them. Renew their minds. They would speak forth your Word and truth. Faith that is unshakable and perseveres. Faith and understanding to command the darkness to flee. They would walk in Your power and Your authority. Increase their knowledge and understanding.

-Prayer with David for the Desperation Conferences this summer. That this generation would rise up and become mighty men and women of God. That they would take this planet. That they would live in , Desperate Pursuit, Diligent Prayer, Consecrated Hearts, and Focused Lives.

-Prayer over the Map of the US and a movement in our Nation. For a youth prayer movement that would move in the local church, sustained by young people. That students who go to the conference would go home and ignite their cities. For Motion Conference to impact the entire eastern sea board, that it would launch new conferences and thousands of kids would go home and live holy lives, that it would be a spring board, an awakening in Birmingham. For senior pastors to have desperate hearts and to lead the way for this generation. For the entire nation of youth pastors to have endurance and that they would press through and not quit, that it would be an example to students. For California, San Fran and LA, that youth ministers in that area would have hope and fresh revelation, that their lights would shine, that God would be glorified through them. To raise the level of discernment in the youth and the church, that truth would reign there. That youth pastors would be joined together in unity and vision, that authenticity would rise up in the bible belt area. For student leaders would rise up and answer God's call and be willing. For God to get into the churches, every church. For people that have been hurt by the church, that they would come back.

Worship: Hear us from Heaven!

Psalm 113:3 -Daniel Webb

END

Session 3

Session 3 (5/1/09)

Worship: -Joe Couch


-1 Kings 19:9-14 “What are you doing here? What does God want to do?” -Mark Pettus

-Justin Chandler shared about how he gathered with other youth leaders from his from His city and how they planned and prayed together to reached their city. It is so important to gather together to pray

-David Perkins, followed up by saying that it’s not all about talking method, but also praying

-Joshua Meyer wrote a love letter to his wife, to reaffirm his relationship with his wife and to keep it a priority over ministry.

-Curtis Chance shared about his refusal to lose heart in the hard times.

-Ashley Hochhalter shared about mobilizing the youth in her city to reach out to their own in the city and not just reaching out when it comes to doing a missions trip.

-Chris Blankenship shared the verse in Exodus 33:7-11 and about how God put it on his heart to cultivate hearts for prayer in all of life not just before dinner.

-John MacDonald shared a quote from Smith Wigglesworth. He wants a fire to be started wherever his students go, because there is a fire inside of them and the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be a part of the body of Christ, not part of a certain denomination.

-We prayed over David Perkins and Brent Parsley for continued favor and the power of the Holy Spirit.

-Shirley Chance got a picture of the run off water from the Rocky Mountains, and how the ministry from David P and Brent P at New Life will spill out everywhere like that water. She also got the words, “you can have the gold but don't touch the glory.”

-John MacDonald prayed for everyone for more of God, for more fire from God, for a fresh anointing on us all and a passion and fervor for more of God, for the gift of healing, prophecy, for the spirit of boldness, for a great understanding of our identity in God. That we would move like a mighty army. That we would move by the Spirit and by the power of the Spirit.

-Steve Harmon shared about how God challenged him to have belief, and to no longer operate in a spirit of fear over his youth group.

-Michelle shared to Steve that he is in rhythm with God's timing. God will never leave him or forsake him and that God sees his heart.

-We prayed for Steve that he would have a spirit of boldness and courage. We prayed that the spirit of fear would be broken.

-Beth Diehl prayed for Steve to be bold like a lion.


-As we need the air to breathe, are we living our lives the same way with God, that we would breathe His presence in everyday of our lives. Shared by Derek Jerome

-Daniel Webb shared Haggai 2:6, 7. To speak it over this tribe that is here.

-David Perkins followed up more with verses after and how it speaks of the end when Christ returns. He was convicted from last night on how we don't long for Christ's return.

-Joe Couch prayed for us, that we would have that longing in our hearts.

**after each person shared we prayed for them as a group

-Michelle read Hebrews 11:10. She sensed that God is beckoning us to look to God and to have faith like those in the Bible, we have more revelation then they ever had. That we would have a love for God like they did, that nothing would stop us from pursuing that. She prayed that over all of us.

-Ashley H felt like we should pray for God visit each of us individually, as a group and for His presence.

-Samantha Covert gave a word to Michelle Vette, Justin Steinhart and Joe Couch.

Session 2

-Jon Egan
-Counting on God
-My Savior Lives
-Overcome

Prayer and Scripture:

-Job 38-42 (read various parts) -Joe Couch
-followed by silence and soaking in God's presence

Scripture Reading:
-Ephesians 3-18-21 -Steve Harmon
-Romans 11:33-36 -Brent Parsley
-Isaiah 62:12 -Josh Meyer
-Isaiah 52:1-3,7-8 -Mark Pettus
-1 Thess 1:5-10 -Michelle Vette
-Psalm 65 -David Perkins
-Psalm 101 -JD Swilley
-Isaiah 49 -Daniel Webb
-Isaiah 55 -John MacDonald
-John 6:41-51 -Chris Blankenship
-Revelations 5:9-13 -Joe Couch
-Matthew 6:19 -David Perkins
-Isaiah 40:28-31 -Jill Pettis
-Galatians 5:22-26 -Josh
-Ephesians 4:11-13 -Michelle Vette
-Psalm 77:12 -Jerry Jamison
-Ephesians 1:1 -Justin Chandler
-Psalm 17:15 -

End in small group prayer.

Notes from Desperation Prayer Summit: Session 1

We had an amazing prayer summit in Vail last week. I'll post some of the prayers | thoughts | ideas.

Session 1 (4/30/09) 7pm
Worship- Jon Egan

Prayer Direction:

Acts 2:17-21 this generation -David Perkins
Joel 2:12,13 brokenness and willing hearts, fasting -Joe Couch
Prayer for God to do what He wills -JD Swilley
Habakkuk 1:5; 3:2 -Anelise Couch
Isaiah 54:2-4 enlarge our tents and ministries -Mark Pettis
Matthew 7:7,8 -Curtis Chance
Daniel 12:3 that we will shine Christ -Beth Diehl
Psalm 89:1-17 exaltation of the greatness of God -Daniel Webb
Matthew 6:33 prayer for God's power to move -John MacDonald
Prayer against the generational curse of a spirit of defeat and fear; focus on Christ and His power; for a spirit of Victory -Jon Egan
Prayer to stand on the promise that the Spirit of the sovereign Lord is on us; send us; may revival start in our lives first -Jerry Jamison
Isaiah 61:1 -Jon Egan

Song: Light up the World


Prayer for Specific Bullets of God's Glory:
• for miracles -David Perkins

• for young people's faces to be set like flint towards God; for a generation that walks with God -Michelle Vette

• for dreams and visions; for fathers in the church; and for the fatherless to be healed; for a fearless generation -Michelle Vette

• that we would be obsessed with God and His will for our lives -Michelle Vette

• 1 Cor 6:17 Raise up a generation that glorifies God with their bodies; -Daniel Webb

• Righteousness; break immorality and bring forth Holiness and Purity -Daniel Webb

for the fatherless; that they may be given hope and that Gods light would shine into their darkened lives -Beth Diehl

for the Elisha anointing; that we would far surpass movements of the past; raise the spiritual ceilings -John MacDonald

for Faith
-John MacDonald

for the Thoughts of the young people; that they would not worry but be filled with peace
-JD Swilley

• that young people would fix their thoughts on heavenly things and the promises of God -JD Swilley

• Psalm 63 Anointing of power; for the help of God; declaring we cannot do without God -Kurt Chamberlain
• Romans 12:11,12 to never be lacking in fervor; for prayer to erupt by the Holy Spirit; that young people would be known for prayer -Joe Couch
• that we may know the hope of our calling; for God to show us His ways; illumination of God's word, that it may be life -Chris Blankenship
• Jeremiah 1:6 prayer against fear; break bondage of fear; that we would have the fear of God not man -Anelise Couch
• to have the glory of God shining from them; for people to walk in boldness and courage -Anelise Couch
• Romans 1:16 crush the spirit of shame among youth pastors; that they would stand boldly and not be ashamed of the gospel -Daniel Webb
• that the god's of this world would fall in the eyes of the youth; that God would fulfill them and raise them up -Steve Harmon
• 1 Cor 12:12 that we would be Christ’s hands and feet; that we would reach out to the lost of this generation; to know Gods call -Jacob Wheeler


Song: Light up the World


Repentance from our wicked ways: 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Repentance for:
◦ wrong motives
◦ laziness; apathy
◦ for trying to please others; let us stand firm and please God
◦ for overlooking the unloved; for playing favorites
◦ for wanting to be seen before men
◦ for looking upon and listening to things that are not of God
◦ for just looking for numbers and results and not being personal and comparison
◦ for divisions we have created
◦ for our poor examples; may we be called back to a holy lives
◦ for our freedoms being a stumbling block
◦ for creating an atmosphere of hype instead of just simply God
◦ for being just busy
◦ for letting things get in the way of spending time with God
◦ for wasting our time
◦ for believing false doctrines
◦ for judging to quickly; for looking to status
◦ for lack of preparation in sermons
◦ for just settling to do just enough; for not being excellent
◦ for not saying the hard things
◦ for living mediocre and not calling students to fullness in Christ
◦ for putting God in a box
◦ for being selfish
◦ for finding identity in ministry instead of God
◦ for searching for our own attention
◦ for just feeding ourselves and not others
◦ for not reaching out to our own families
◦ for jealousy of others becoming greater than us
◦ for not focusing on the task, but focusing on the wrong things
◦ for abuse that has been afflicted to others
◦ for forsaking our first love
◦ for not decreasing that God may increase
◦ for holding on to the little things
◦ for pride; self sufficiency
◦ for mockery
◦ for giving up
◦ for lack of passion
◦ for not supporting our pastors
◦ for talking about God but not pursuing God
◦ for being in love with ministry and not God
◦ for believing in the worlds standards and listening to it
◦ for hypocrisy; calling others to a standard but not living it ourselves
◦ for not leaving the flock to go after the one
◦ for not believing God's word
◦ for resting in the world instead of God
◦ for not choosing joy in all circumstances
◦ for relying on our own strength
◦ for having secret ambition
◦ for making promises that we can't keep
◦ for doing ministry as a job
◦ for reading the bible for sermons
◦ for forsaking the least and choosing the more lovable
◦ for forgetting where we came from
◦ for forgetting of the great price you paid for us
◦ for not functioning in excellence in everything
◦ for self righteousness
◦ for making converts rather than disciples
◦ for not believing in who God says we are
◦ for putting a lid on God
◦ for living with condemnation
◦ for not being prepared for the harvest
◦ for not asking for dreams and visions
◦ for not longing for God's return
◦ for living in religion instead of relationship
◦ for being frustrated with others
◦ for quitting before we start
◦ for not going with faith
◦ for doubting God's promises
◦ for not staying in God's authority
◦ for living on yesterdays revelation

Song: I Exalt Thee
Greater

Word:
-God wants to remove us from slavery and wants to make us as His sons and daughters. Romans 8:14. -Michelle Vette
-God wants to bring a spirit of Adoption
-Prayer to receive that -David Perkins

Summer Conferences Are Around The Corner!

If you were able to join us for any of the nights of Desperation last week, I hope that you were as blessed as we were. I have received several emails that give God all of the glory! It's always humbling to see God move in this generation...I love being apart of what He is doing!

As a reminder, the pre-registration deadline is May 1st which is less than five days away! If you have not registered, you can register with a credit card online at desperationonline.com or if you need to pay by check please call 719-234-7789 to lock in the pre-registration price. After May 1st the conference price will go up twenty dollars per registrant so please make sure to register soon!

This year's conference theme is going to be highly engaging as we focus on our role as Christians to light up the world. The war between light and darkness has such an impact on our generation and if we have the light in us how great is that light? We need to be a light to this world not shinning dimly but with the power of the Son! I am so excited for all of you to be a part of what God will be doing at this year's conference...see you this summer!

Tour | Pete Greig

In just a few short days, the Desperation Band, our students, and I will be heading out on tour. Each night we plan on starting at 7 p.m. and here are the stops:

April 15 - Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, Texas (tfchurch.org)

April 16 - Gateway Church (North Richland Hills Campus) in Dallas, Texas (gatewaypeople.com)

April 17 - Hope Community Church in Springfield, Missouri (hopechurch.net)

April 19 - Life Church in Olathe, Kansas (getlife.info)

April 21 - "Revival Town" at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado (newlifechurch.org)

If you're near one of these churches, these nights are open to anyone of any age in the area desiring to attend. Every night will be dedicated to prayer and worship and I hope to see you there!

I am so happy to announce to all of you that Pete Greig will be speaking at the June Desperation Conference! Pete Greig is one of the founding champions of the 24-7 Prayer movement, the Director of Prayer for Holy Trinity, Brompton in London, and a facilitator for the Campus America initiative. 24-7 Prayer has grown rapidly and unexpectedly from a single night-and-day prayer vigil into an interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice that has touched more than a third of the nations on earth since 1999.

You can still register for the Desperation Youth Leader Prayer Summit by simply clicking on the "conference" portion of the website and then "prayer summit." Please register soon, as registration for the Prayer Summit ends on April 17. The June and July conference price break expires on May 1st which is less than three weeks away, to register simply go to our website and click on the "register now" button. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us by simply responding to this email.

Spring Tour with the Desperation Band

Tour is Coming. I'm stoked. My whole family is going! theFurnace is ready....

Top Ten Ways You Know You Married a Woman With a Faster Metabolism Than You:

10) You pick where to go on date night based upon the dessert menu.
9) You keep buying scales and she keeps throwing them away or putting them in the cupboard.
8) She perceives a Taco Bell Fourth Meal commercial to be a good idea and not merely a marketing campaign.
7) You spend more money at the concession stand than the ticket stand.
6) People bypass you to ask her about her exercise routine even though she doesn’t workout.
5) She orders chocolate milkshakes at McDonalds and you order water.
4) You look worse than she does after three pregnancies.
3) You have a special list of items from the grocery store while she eats what the kids are eating.
2) The photographer constantly asks you to tilt your head a different way in the pictures while she remains picture perfect.
1) More than 20 friends have said, “Thank God your kids look like her!”

Saints- young and old.

REVIVALTOWN is the Tuesday night prayer meeting at New Life. I'm amazed at the number of faithful intercessors that show up to pray each week. Desperation Band leads worship. We unite each week asking God for unity, faith, salvations, humility, strength, and miracles. It's a joy to be a part of.
Tonight, I was taken back by the unity between young and old. Bruce, an older brother, introduced himself to my four year old son as one of "David's friends." I loved that! I've worked with students for the past eight years at New Life. So, I'm finding it fun and refreshing to pray and connect with young and old at REVIVLTOWN. I watched an older man pray with a young man. I saw middle aged women praying with college girls. My son, Dawson, asked Renata if he could pray for the people of Colorado Springs to know Jesus. Anyway, I'm overflowing with enthusiasm tonight because of the authentic unity around Jesus. The Tuesday night crew may be diverse in age, but they are united around Jesus....

Prayer movements are Missions Movements...

I love this! The House of Prayer in Kansas City fills the prayer room and the streets! Check it out!

Murray and Deborah Hiebert

Great News!

Murray and Deborah Hiebert are moving to Colorado Springs to serve at Every Home For Christ. God has called and directed them to move here and I'm so excited! Murray will be the director of prayer at Every Home. They have 3 precious little girls. I'm very exited.

Oh, Deborah is my sister, but I am 8 minutes older! (triplets)

Matt Pitt & Chris Tomlin at Desperation 09! Plus, Desperation Tour Info......

God is good and faithful! As we have been praying about Jesus being our light and salvation, our anticipation for the '09 summer conferences has been building. I firmly believe that God has incredible plans for this summer and I look forward to seeing you here in Colorado!

Matt Pitt from the Basement in Birmingham, Alabama will be speaking at the July conference! The Basement was literally started in Matt's basement, where people would gather to worship, pray, and seek God. He has a major heart to see a generation in desperate pursuit of God. Check out Matt and his ministry at www.thebasementonline.com

If you are coming to the June Conference, you can attend an evening worship session on Wednesday, June 24 with Chris Tomlin for FREE! All you have to do is register for the June Desperation Conference by May 1st and wear your wristbands that night.

In April, the Desperation Band, a bus load of students, and I will be making five tour stops. Each night we plan on starting at 7 p.m. and here are the stops:

April 15 - Trinity Fellowship in Amarillo, Texas www.tfchurch.org

April 16 - Gateway Church (North Richland Hills Campus) in Dallas, Texas www.gatewaypeople.com

April 17 - Hope Community Church in Springfield, Missouri www.hopechurch.net

April 19 - Life Church in Olathe, Kansas www.getlife.info

April 21 - "Revival Town" at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado www.newlifechurch.org

If you're near one of these churches, these nights are open to anyone of any age in the area desiring to attend. Every night will be dedicated to prayer and worship and I hope to see you there!

You can still register for the Desperation Youth Leader Prayer Summit by simply clicking on the "conference" portion of the website and then "prayer summit." Please register soon, as registration for the Prayer Summit ends on April 17. The June and July conference price break expires on May 1st which is less than two months away, to register simply go to our website and click on the "register now" button. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact us by simply responding to this email.

Light it up!

Welcome DLA First Year Students!

Chad- Welcome man! I love Warren Woods Naz! John Mac is my brotha.
Jessica- Welcome from Augusta! I loved being at New Hope. Glad you are here.
Anna- Welcome to Southern Colorado..your trip wasn’t too far J
Kylie- Nebraska? Hmmmm…I think we are football rivals. Welcome!
Josiah- Bro glad you are in DLA…It may have taken me 13 years to get you here, but we got the job done!
Jacob- Napa is so B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Give REVEREND Daniels my appreciation for sending you!
Brandon- Welcome to DLA from Iowa..hmmm, don’t know much about Des Moines other than Yonkers department store and the Ground Round restaurant on Merle Hay…
Morgan- you are so tall bro! maybe we can be on the same bball team at Gold’s gym.
Sarah- boomer! Welcome to a more beautiful state without a good football team…
Jessica- Wow, thanks for coming all the way from Florida…wow, that’s far.
Nick- From Adventure church….welcome bro
Abby- Ohio? So far away..Very cool. We are so glad you are here!
Jaylynn- that’s a super cool name. welcome to DLA…
Sean- glad you are in DLA…one of the few Springs people..
Jennifer- Canada eh? Awesome! DLA is global now!
Andrea- California….wow, lots of those! Welcome!
Leah- Marshfield! Home of the super cool movie theater downtown!
Meghan- Welcome to the Springs! Short drive for you…
Alyssa- Glad to have a Texan…like my sister-in-law.
Alana- Welcome! You are gonna love being at New Life and DLA!
Jeremy- Kansas? Wow…2 in a row. Welcome man.
Kenneth- Thanks for all of your help already bro! Welcome to the DLA tribe!
Jordan- Dude, you look like an ad from American Eagle man…cool hair!
Alyssa- Welcome from Life Church! Real. Relevant. Revolutionary! Oh ya!
Megan- Michigan! It’s even colder there than here!
Melissa- Welcome from Iowa!
Aaron- Short drive from the west side of Denver…welcome man.
Ryann- Welcome from Dallas! Brady Boyd, our pastor, is a huge Cowboy fan… you two should talk.
Jana- Maine! Wow! A Maniac! That’s amazing! Welcome to Colorado…
Abree- Welcome from Trinity! Glad you are here!
Kacee- This may be a delayed welcome, but welcome none the less. It won’t be much warmer here than Wisconsin
Kenzli- That’s a cool name. Welcome!
Carter- Welcome from Steam boat! Glad you are in the Springs for DLA man.
Jessica- Crown Point!!! Dr. Ron Johnson is the man!
Charity- Welcome! So glad you are in DLA!
Hailey- Tulsa….wahoo! Welcome! Glad you made it to DLA!
Josh- You are a preacher man! Welcome to DLA bro.
Jacob- Garden City…that was a great night of desperation….love it!
CJ- So glad you are here, a lot of years in the making, thanks for coming to DLA bro!

Cool Factor

Relating with culture gets most of the hype, but relating with God is what matters.

On Thursday, I spent time with Britt Hancock, a missionary that reaches small villages in the mountains of Mexico. He drives a truck, wears a knife, and sounds like he’s; well, from the mountains of Mexico. Yet, he oozed phrases that pierced my heart. They were not ideas he had read on the latest blog or ministry conference, but ideas he had wrestled with in prayer. An hour with him caused my heart to soar with faith.

There’s a lot of emphasis on being culturally cool in youth ministry these days and I’m for it. I’m for wearing hair over your ears, shirts from the Buckle, and really cool jeans. [That’s cool in suburban Colorado Springs. I’m not sure what is in your context.] Yet, I’m more and more convinced everyday that knowing God in a dynamic way trumps being culturally cool. People are thirsty for spiritual reality and desperate for God in their lives.

We have to fight to keep our priorities in the order right:
1) Faithful to Jesus [Word of God alive in the heart, praying, fasting, righteousness, etc.]
2) Fresh in our times [culturally cool]

Desperation Youth Leader Prayer Summit

God continues to do exciting things as His people pray and I'm eager to share with you about our upcoming youth leader prayer summit.

In September, Brent Parsley and I met with youth leaders from across the nation at the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs. As we talked about effectively reaching a generation, we felt compelled to unite as youth leaders in friendship and prayer. Each of us brings incredible skills and resources to the table; yet so often many of us find ourselves yearning for authentic relationships and more of God's presence in our lives and ministries.

With that in mind, we invite you to join us and others in Vail, Colorado for the Desperation Youth Leader Prayer Summit. Held April 30 through May 2, it will be a time of worship with the Desperation Band, prayer, relationship-building and dialogue about ways to influence youth for Christ. Space is limited so please register as early as possible by clicking on the following link. http://www.desperationonline.com/prayersummit.jsp?ID=3