Community during Chaos
These are just a few of the faces that received a back pack this last week.
While the city of Aurora was reeling from the shooting at the Century 16 Theaters on Friday. Saturday some students from Marachek Middle School and who are partnered with Save Our Youth came to our offices to get back packs for school. These students each have an adult mentor that is focusing on enabling them to see a brighter future.
Through out the summer the team members of Elevation have been putting together the back packs. We started with the goal of sixty back packs. Wanting to make sure that we were able to take care of all the students that make up the Aurora Public Schools students in Save Our Youth. What happened was Elevation really stepped up and we ended up with seventy-one backpacks as well as seven extra bags worth of school supplies.
Even though we had spent the last day and a half with families that were experiencing great hurt and loss. That evening we were able to see some smiles on faces that might not have been smiling when it came to the first day of school. The people of Elevation was used by God to make a difference in our community. I am so fortunate to be the pastor at Elevation and to see the people understand the value of being a church for the community not just in the community.
Thanks to all of the Community Groups and the Team members that donated to these smiles at Elevation. I can not wait to see what happens next when it comes to caring for our community.
What are some of the ways that you can be used to be for your community?
What a story!
We met Nick Vuijic several years ago in Arizona and what a meeting it was. He came and spoke to the students at the church that we were working with at the time. He shared the amazing story of what God has done in his life and how he had given a great chance to share with people about who Jesus is in his life. Take a look at this short video of an amazing man.
Reflections on Sunday
Yesterday was the last Sunday that we as the Bloyer family would be serving at Northgate Christian Fellowship. It was very bittersweet. We have been so blessed to have been a part of this church for the last two and a half years both as a staff member and as a church member. Through all this time we have been able to see God do amazing things. Students not just attending at a church but leading and serving in the church. Students that have taken steps of faith with Jesus with over thirty of them getting baptized. Parents recognizing the need to be the spiritual leaders in the lives of their kids. Fathers dedicating to restore the relationships that have with their kids and their wives.
It is amazing to me that I am amazed at what God does. But this is what God does the amazing! So I thank God and the people of Northgate for allowing us to be a part of something amazing. I know that even now God is preparing the church and it’s people to do something even more amazing then we have been a part of in the last two years. It has been my pleasure to serve with the staff of Northgate and watch their blood sweat and tears when it comes to not just talking about church but being the church.
I personally want to thank Pastor Ken Jensen for his support and leadership as we have walked through the last two years. I also have been blessed with his encouragement as we embark on this journey into starting a church. Much like he did nineteen years ago in his living room. I have appreciated his care and concern for our family and the church that God is bringing together in Colorado.
As we leave to start a new journey in Colorado we take with us the friends and family that God has placed in our hearts and lives from Northgate. Thank you Northgate we love you.
Leading by Example
Over the last couple of months I have really taken the time to think about the things in a church that I hope to see in Elevation Christian Church. One of those things is that we will have Godly older men leading in the church. I pray every day that the Lord will bring into this church a group of men that will be willing to get messy and be a part of the younger men’s lives in our church.
Titus 2:1-2 (NLT) But as for you, promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching. [2] Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have strong faith and be filled with love and patience.
As I have spent the last 16 years working with Middle school, High school, and College students I know that this is what most of the young of today hunger for in their lives. That because there is a void of men leading their homes in a way that is loving, caring, and Christ like we have a generation of boys and men that are walking through life with out any idea of what to do. May we the men of Jesus Christ first ask God to forgive us for not leading like we are suppose too. Second I pray that we ask the women our lives to forgive us for not loving and caring for them the way Jesus would want us too. Finally that we will stop walking in previous generations footsteps and make a change by trusting in Christ to make us the husbands, fathers, and sons that he wants for this world.
This last weekend while I was speaking at Northgate Christian Church I made the statement: “If you are husband and you are not loving your wife the way Christ loved the church then you are stupid.” Well I still believe it, the only problem is that I think that most men just don’t know what to do when it comes to being that kind of man. If you are a husband, father, or sons then what are you doing to lead your home like Christ would have you too? If you are an older believer then who are you investing your life into today?
Paul Wright & Rootdown
So this last Friday we had Paul Wright and Rootdown play at our church for a very intimate concert. They were full of energy and they did a great job of making the students and families at the concert feel special. You would have never know how many people were in the building. Which I did as I watched ticket sales. But they were there to share the love of Christ with the people that were there and they made the night awesome. Why? How can I say that?
First as a Dad my kids love Paul and the guys they can not wait to hang around them. These guys make the people around them so comfortable and they are FUN. They don’t take themselves and what they do so serious that they can’t enjoy the people around them. That is something that I have to say I love about these guys.
Second as a Pastor to Students the kids of our church want to have these guys around. This last concert was a younger crowd and I have to say that it worked out great because the came back to church on Sunday with a new excitement for being a part of the student ministry. They saw that you can have fun in a worship sense and they were acting that way Sunday. Thanks to the guys for leading our students in this way.
Finally as a friend I am so encouraged to know that these guys are out their touring and sharing their gifts and talents. I am so proud of the men that they are and the way that they are serving Jesus in what they do. I pray that that everyone who gets to hear these guys or just hang out with these guys are able to to catch a glimpse of what it means to serve Jesus with all that you are and who you are. Thanks guys for a great night.
