Last month St. Paul, St. John’s and Immanuel Lutheran churches sent 9 Jr. High students and 3 adults to a youth Quake in the Dells. We FOUND ourselves among 500 fellow Jr. and Sr. High youth and their youth leaders together in worship, service, learning, swimming and having a blast throughout the weekend. The Quake is about exactly what the theme was this year: being ‘FOUND,’ found in Christ. God is always searching us and searching for the lost and accepting us for exactly who we are; who He made us to be.
What a full and amazing weekend this was for the few students and adult leaders who were able to attend this year (Thank you to Stacey Hackbarth from Immanuel and to Chrissy Murphy from St. John’s for giving up your weekends). Leading us in worship this year was the brother duo of Swen and Dean, whose stories, musical gifts and knowledge of God’s Word was inspirational to our faith formation away from home. We were equally blessed by the good news shared by keynote speaker, pastor and church planter, Pastor Gabe Kasper of the ACTS Church Network in Austin, Texas. Throughout the weekend, our group grew closer to God and to one another through daily family times, worship and hearing the Word, through Treks (workshops), a food-packing service project, late night activities on Saturday, which included crazy dress-up, hanging out at the water park and just being ourselves, children of God – known, loved and FOUND in Him.
Almost one year ago the public announcement was made by Youth Encounter, original creator/founder of Youth Quakes, that they were closing their doors. Thanks to an organization called Life Promotions who took over leadership of Youth Encounter’s events ministries to allow Youth Quakes to continue. Life Promotion’s found, Bob Lenz, paid the Dells Quake a visit Saturday night with a profound message of about the value of life and the love that God has for our kids, and for all of God’s children. Bob Lenz and Life Promotions are at the forefront of anti-bullying in our nation and has recently developed an anti-bullying curriculum for both private and public schools.
In summary, thank you to all people who prayed for and supported our students and our youth ministry that helped to bring them to the Quake and back home safely. Those who have attended a Quake know that they are not all about water slides and wave pools. The Quake is a great event for growth in our faith, a deeper understanding of the love God has for us and a safe place to grow as church and understand what it means to be church.
‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.’ Luke 15:6b
Gerad Von Holten
Youth and Family Ministries