Category Travel

YMV Gulf Coast Review

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Sunday, July 19 marked the end of the Gulf Coast Mission Trips and the beginning of  the YMV Participants MISSIONSHIP!  As I have been saying throughout the training, it isn’t about the trip, our mission needs to be lived out at all places and at all times.  The Great Commandment and Great Commission are who we are, not just what we do.

As I did with the first trips, I wanted to let you know a little about these teams and their leaders so you can pray for them this week and beyond as they begin the great joy of shepherding their flock in their own Jerusalem after their missionary journey…

The Gathering (served in Deweyville, TX): Kevin Olivarez and I met at the Cracker Barrel restaurant for breakfast while I was consulting for Pulpit Rock Church of Colorado Springs. Our Monday morning breakfast in January was orchestrated by a mutual friend of ours, Steve Burford.  Steve was serving as Small Groups Pastor at The Gathering and he thought the YMV strategy was something Kevin needed to hear about.  Well, we fast forward 6 months and Kevin is coming off what blogged like a great trip.  I look forward to debriefing via the phone and internet.  One of the things I have gotten to see in Kevin is his passion for the kids on his radar screen.  He loves, protects and encourages the students he serves. I love when a shepherd is a protector!

Pulpit Rock (served in Kinder, LA): Mark Tuggle, Sam Stidham and Kevin Matthews all took turns shepherding this group through the training and the actual mission.  Because PRC is between Youth Pastors each of these men played key roles in getting the students through the training and then Kevin landed the plane on the actual trip.  To be honest, of all the Youth Groups this is one of them that I knew the most going in.  Because it was a relatively small team and because of my consulting relationship with PRC I was able to spend extended time with a number of them going in.  I am thankful for the job they did.  Sam was the energizer who, though very young, stepped it up and did a great job of starting the training. Mark took over (though he is the Sr. Pastor) and shepherded the group through the d0g-days of spring when students are thinking about great weather rather than missions; and then Kevin Matthews answered the call and took the group on the trip, which is outside his normal call of worship ministries!  I’m proud of the job this team did in a unique Kinder!

Burien Free Methodist (Bridge City, TX): Mark Knight has become a dear brother in the last few years.  I first met Mark when he was interning at his Dad’s church, Highline Christian.  His Youth Pastor, Chad, and I were part of the same network of YP’s and we decided to do a trip together (introducing them to this style of trip).  Mark was placed on my team and I fell in love with the (then) kid.  I remember having Mark do the evening “rally cry” after each evening outreach (gathering our team for a time of praise).  Since that day I have seen Mark grow as a leader, then as a husband and now as a Youth Pastor.  He is now part of the YP network I call “home” and I just love to see him continue to grow and contribute.  His team had a highly “service” oriented trip compared to many others, I am proud that in spite of the heat, the group did very well in reaching BC Texas!

Grace Church West Seattle (Vinton, LA): Nathan Schlaud.  I had the privilege of having an Apprentice the last few years while serving as a Youth Pastor.  I remember interviewing a young guy from the midwest a few years back and thinking, “this guy sounds like he is ready to become a youth pastor but is strong enough to admit he needs some fine-tuning.”  Well, we hired Nathan Schlaud and we have become very close friends since that day.  Words do not and cannot explain how proud of him I am after seeing him grow up in many ways the last few years.  Elisabeth and I love he and Megan (his wife) (as do our kids).  Vinton was truly a special blessing to the students at Grace (and the leaders) and the Grace team was certainly a blessing to the community of Vinton.  Through it all I just sat back, read the blogs, prayed for the team and trusted the Lords leading in Nathan’s life as he led!

I love being able to partner with the Godly people who served in the Gulf.  The communities are served by great Pastors doing the foll0w-up and were served for a short while with great Youth Pastors who brought great groups to the Gulf!

Grace,
Brian

God’s Word @ Work!

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The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind, launching the ID/MT missions (YMV #2), landing the first YMV, traveling around to each of the 7 YMV #2 towns, home for a couple days, over to Spokane for the YMV #2 Landing, off the next morning to Washington Family Ranch (YL camp) and then home just in time to see my girls at their VBS program only to leave the next morning for the YMV #3 Launch in Dallas!  Now, I’m home!  Whew!

One thing I am seeing weaved through all of these adventures:  God’s Word (and Spirit) are at work in MIGHTY ways!

For whatever reason the following pictures tell the story to me.  Psalm 46:10 says “be still and know that I am God.”  As we take the time to acknowledge this, rest in it and then live in response to this great truth we see Him at work.  These students and staff took that time on Saturday morning in Dallas, I pray they (and we) continue to do so…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” ~James 1:22

May we be doers!

Grace,
Brian

What Would Google Do? (not the book)

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

At about midnight on Sunday, June 28, 2009 I realized I hadn’t printed the map/directions I needed to get from Superior, MT to Riggins, ID.  I had just finished a wonderful day of visiting/watching the two Montana teams participating in our Youthmark Mission Venture.

I jumped online at the church in Superior and Google Maps suggested two different routes I could take.  One taking approximately six hours and the other, about five.  Naturally I chose the six hour route, right?  Of course not.  I think most of us would choose the quicker route…

I didn’t have access to a printer so I simply emailed the directions to my phone so that I had the written directions at my disposal at all times.

I got about five hours of sleep and long before any of the Snohomish Free Methodist students were awake I was out the door and on my way to visit the NW Bible Church team in Riggins.

Headed east on I-90 for about 15 minutes and took the exit that Google told me to take.  Jumped on Fish Creek Road as Google demanded.  Approximately 2-3 miles in the roadway turned to gravel… hmmm?  Fortunately I had my phone and read that I was to stay on Fish Creek Rd. for a good 32 miles until I got to Hwy 12.

What I didn’t anticipate was the 11 times while on Fish Creek Road that I would encounter junctions (sometimes a Y, sometimes a T and even a few times a four way intersection of gravel confusion).  There was not a road-sign/marker to be found; I had no idea which was Fish Creek Road and which was Death Trap Road!  Stopping and asking for directions was not an option, I was in the middle of the forest, with no cell signal and only my XM Radio and Dan Patrick’s voice to comfort me!

82% of the time I made the right choice… however, those 2 wrong turns cost me a lot.  At one intersection I chose what looked to be the wider road, 11 miles later it stopped at a trailhead for what I am sure was a great hike.  After traveling back the 11 miles I then chose the right path only to come to another intersection of three choices… I chose wrong one more time, this time costing me 6 miles each direction.

My non-GPS road-trip cost me an extra two hours (it took me seven hours instead of the five or six Google suggested).

The spiritual analogies are flowing, This material WILL show up in one of my devotionals, training sessions or mission prep workbook, GUARANTEED… in fact, more guaranteed than a Google Map!

Grace,

Brian

My Personal Mission Trip

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

All this week I have been doing something I have longed to do for a very long time, about 19 years to be exact.

I am down in Central Oregon at Washington Family Ranch (formerly Wildhorse Canyon), a YoungLife Property.  I am down here with several hundred teens from all over the west and many leaders who want to love and support these students well as many hear the Gospel for the first time.  Specifically, I am leading with 6 other Kentridge Leaders who are here with 50 KR students.

As I posted just over a week ago, one June 28, 1990 I trusted Christ as Lord and Savior in a very similar setting, at Malibu Club in Canada (another YL property).  It is my hope (and prayer) that I will be able to help others in their discovery of Christ this week.

All summer long I will help students who are being sent on Mission trips in an effort to be trained for their mission at home.  It was with great hope I left on this trip as I have looked at this as the week I was really be “sent” on my own mission trip.  My prayer is the same for myself–I pray this will increase my mission back home!

Appreciate the prayers you can lift for me and for the students here at WFR!  I return today so that I can quickly turn around and launch the Gulf Coast teams (would love your prayers for this as well).

Grace,
Brian

The Tour of YP’s

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Thought I’d take a minute or two to thank each of my teammates for these first couple weeks of YMV’s… below I have listed the Youth Leader/Team Leader for each of the mission towns and something I appreciate about them and their ministry.  These are great folk, take the time to praise God for them!

Jeff Hawkins (Chehalis; led the team to Simms, MT):  Jeff and Sarah strike me as a “Mom and Dad” type of Youth Pastor.  They have a large family of their own and very much see their youth group as an extension of their own family!  Jeff gives freedom to the students where it has been earned and certainly can tell it like it is when he needs to as well.  I am very much encouraged by watching his own kids and the way they are following in Mom and Dad’s footsteps!

Ben Lunsford (Avondale Bible; led the team to Plains, MT): Ben and Gloria (and Caleb) are much the same as Jeff and Sarah, only a little (okay quite-a-bit) younger.  This young family jumps right into ministry together and though they have a newborn in Caleb, they tackled the ministry in Plains.  I have enjoyed getting to know this young family at our Seattle retreat, at a Youth Pastor/wives retreat we got to speak at and on the mission.  Ben exhibits strength and grace at the same time.

Jess Champers (Snohomish; led the team to Superior, MT): Jess and his wife Alisha (along with their two daughters) are quickly becoming good family friends.  Jess served as my “Lead” for this trip (which means he helped me with the scout and did the Landing).  Jess is a family man to the core and cares deeply for the lost.  Throughout the trip he would call or text looking for another way to help motivate his students toward getting out of their comfort zone and into the lives of the lost!  I love his zeal for the Lord and for the Lost.  He is a nurturer at heart!

Brad Hostak (River Ridge of Lacey; led the team to Council, ID): Brad is a former intern of mine, so it is with obvious pride I speak of this young man!  I love watching Brad grow as a Pastor–it is so evident he is listening to the Spirit and seeking to obey. On this trip his gift of discernment stood out.  He was able to examine a situation and lead accordingly.  Visiting Brad in Council brought extra joy to me in that Miki Vercammen and Nate Noble (former leaders for me at Blvd Pk) were both serving with Brad in the town where I led my last trip!

Derek Edwards (Lake Sawyer; led the teams to Cambridge and Cascade, ID):  Gotta love those admin-gifted Youth Pastors!  I thought I was pretty administrative, then I met Derek!  This guy is quickly becoming one of my favorite guys to partner with in ministry!  He has his own secular full-time job, yet finds time (or makes time) to be a great family man and part-time Youth Pastor at a large church!  LSCC did the right thing in hiring Derek.  His teams were well trained and executed so well!  I loved seeing him in action and it was evident his leaders serving with him were in tuned with all that was happening!

Joe Monto and Mike Gerspach (Calvary South; led the team to Crouch, ID): Joe and Mike are so different, yet their gifts work so well together.  This team from Calvary exceeded all expectations and I believe are coming home with a new heart for their community.  My prayer is that Joe and Mike will have the “trust factor” needed with the teens now (they are both relatively new to their positions).  They did a fantastic job in Crouch!  Mike is one of the hardest working guys I have ever been around and Joe’s gift with music almost matches his heart of compassion!

Rob Holster (NW Bible of Spring, TX; led the team to Riggins, ID): I wish Rob and Michelle lived in the Seattle area; I know the Aabys and Holsters would be kickin’-it quite-a-bit.  They are a fun couple who have stepped-it-up in their ministry just north of Houston.  They obeyed the Lord on this trip and in preparation for this trip.  Their group was so well prepared and in-step with the Holy Spirit the entire time.  Southern hospitality was delivered to Riggins, and I know God was glorified through Rob’s leadership of this team!

Wow, I am blessed to have served with this bunch, not to mention the number of volunteer leaders these teams brought with them.  I am glad God chose these teams to go to these towns!

Grace,

Brian

Did The Landing!

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I was not supposed to be there… but for whatever reason the Aaby family decided on a great adventure yesterday and drove to Spokane to greet the teams coming back from Idaho and Montana for the Landing!  Youthmark has assigned “Leads” for each of the regions.  So, where I do the launch at each place I also have one of my Leads doing it with me.  This Youth Pastor is one of the guys going on one of the trips in this region; then, on the back end this Lead does the Landing (because I am normally off to the next launch). So, we were covered in terms of leadership, but this was going to be my only chance at a “Group” debrief besides the very last one this summer (last week I landed the Chehalis group, but that was just one team, whereas this week there were seven).

Late Friday night I was feeling very excited about the teams and I just lob-tossed it out to Elisabeth, “feel like a road trip to Spokane tomorrow?”  We discussed it at length and decided to sleep on it.  There were many positives about doing it and a few potential negatives.

In the morning we still uncertain about doing it or not (that’s a long trip for the kids).  And ultimately at 9:15 AM decided to do it.  We were out by 10:00 AM and in Spokane Valley by 3:00 PM (including a couple short stops)–teams arrived at about 3:30.

Our kids were fantastic and were rewarded by watching some great fireworks on the way back through Ritzville, Moses Lake and Vantage!

Below are some pics of the Landing, I’m sure I’ll post more about it later and probably at my Youthmark.com blog.

Grace,
Brian

More YMV Pics

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

I have uploaded more photos from the second part of my trip this week.  The first set of pics (two posts ago) were from Plains and Superior, MT and also from Cambridge and Council, ID.  These next pics incorporate Council, Riggins, Cascade and Crouch, ID.

The stories I am reading and praying about posted on these blogs here are far better and tell a better story than these pictures, but to give you a little glimpse of what was taking place, enjoy these pictures below!

Grace,
Brian

The Return

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I am so excited about this second week of YMV’s, I am getting home today from a tour around to each of the seven towns Youthmark served this week and the debrief (landing) of the Chehalis team which served in Simms, MT last week…

I greatly missed my family and am so appreciative of their support of the ministry.  I was able to get pics and video this week for promotional stuff for next years YMV’s.

Here are a bunch of pics from the tour, more to come later (haven’t uploaded all of them yet)!

I know I sound like a broken record (though I don’t know what a broken record sounds like), but we NEED your prayers and we are seeing God answer these prayers, so please go here and read through/pray through the blogs.  I have been posting on my youthmark blog as well.

Grace,
Brian

YMV Launch in numbers

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

114: The total number of participants at the YMV Launch #2.

25: The approximate number of vehicles in the Opportunity Pres. parking lot right now.

19: The number of missionaries who will be “Landing” tonight, coming home from Simms, MT after a great week.

15: The number of people who barely stayed awake to 11:00 PM last night– because they are from Spring TX and had been up since 3:00 AM (Pacific) to catch their flight from Houston.

7: The number of towns these missionaries will be serving this  week (June 27-July 4).

6: The number of churches serving on this second YMV (LSCC has is going to two towns)

5: The approximate number of hours I was able to rest last night.

4: The approximate number of hours I slept last night.

3: The number of times I have been to this Starbucks in less than 15 hours (addiction? No, wifi? Yes).

2: The number of YMV participants at this Starbucks by 6:20 AM–way to go Miki (she just walked in!)

1: The ONE reason we all came, the ONE name we hope to exalt, praise and proclaim, the ONE way to salvation… JESUS!

Appreciate your prayers, my guess is that most of the Youth Pastors will be able to post today, so check out the youthmark.com blogs page.

Grace,

Brian