updated CA schedule

God has opened some more pretty cool doors for this trip and networking opportunities. My schedule is adjusting daily, but this is what is happening as of now:

Jan
31st
AM/ Fullerton EV Free
PM/ Saddleback service, youth pastor Jason Petty
Feb
1st National Network of Youth Ministry/See You At the Pole
Parkcrest Community Church Youth Staff/Long Beach
2nd
Moms In Touch, Pres Fern Nichols
Campus Alliance, Pres Chuck Klein
Skyline Wesleyan staff
3rd
Saddleback youth pastors Josh Griffin/Kurt Johnston
Azusa Pacific Univ staff
FEBC President/staff
Mike DeVito, South California youth ministry coordinator
EV Free Fullerton youth staff
4th fly home

Pray for these meetings that God will give me favor when it comes to people getting on board for CYC.

Hearing God and meeting Bruce Wilkinson

Today was an extraordinary day. I attended EV Free Church in Fullerton, CA. This was the former home of Chuck Swindoll. My friend and former student, Jeremiah Lauber, is a worship leader there, and is doing a great job. Bruce Wilkinson, made famous by the best selling book "The Prayer of Jabez" was a guest speaker today. I won't be able to describe to you the scene, but I can say that from the moment he took the stage I was spellbound and felt God was speaking directly to me. It was such a powerful experience that I believe it may have been God's primary reason for me being out here in CA.

If they post the message online, I will link it to my blog right away, because I want everyone to hear it. What Wilkinson had to say was anointed by God, that's the best way I know how to describe it. I was in tears the entire message because God was reminding me that what I am doing is His dream, and His timing. I think you would be moved if you hear it.

The path He has taken me on is impossible. I know it CANNOT be done without Him, and I'm reminded of that daily. Financially, we continue to be on the brink of making it week to week. On top of that, God has spoke to me and told me not to ask for money. While I still don't completely understand this, I am trusting God each day to show me what He wants me to do. And I'm trusting that He is going to provide for my family. This issue has been the biggest mountain of faith in my life up to this point.

On a side note, I met with a good friend today, Steve Carter, who used to be youth pastor at Mars Hill in Grand Rapids and is now at Rock Harbor. He asked me, "Do you have any regrets making this move in your life?" I haven't had a one, and I told him that this morning was a reminder that although this road and mission are the most arduous thing I've ever gone through, it is never caused any regret at any moment. I've always been totally convinced that I am directly in the center of what God wants.

As you may know, the mission of Claim Your Campus is for students to be praying every day on every high school and middle school campus in America by 2013. Doing the numbers, if 3 students met at a school to pray, and you factor in 5 days a week multiplied by 67,000 middle and high schools in the US, the grand total of students needed to accomplish the mission of CYC is...1,005,000, just over a million students. It is crystal clear in my mind that Jeff Eckart does not possess the leadership ability to engage ONE MILLION students.

But it's clear, God needs 1 MILLION STUDENTS TO MAKE HIS DREAM A REALITY.

After today, I was reminded that this is God's dream for our nation. It will happen with or without anyone. Deep in my soul I know this is what God wants. It's not my idea, it is His. I didn't ask for this mission, nor did I seek it, God called. Daily I feel the inadequacy of being able to figure this out. Please pray for me.

I talked to Bruce Wilkinson today after the service and briefly shared with him what God has called me to do with CYC. It was an honor to meet him, but way more importantly it was an honor to be on holy ground and hear from God today.

God answered prayer in 10 min

The beginning of the Believe Tour has been phenomenal. Just on the first night we received a LOT of student interest. I stood at the display, and talked to probably 200 students and leaders about CYC.

One particular student's name was Courtney who's in 8th grade. She attends Ladera Ranch Middle. I asked her (as I did many other students) what the biggest issue her school faced. Her answer, MONEY and DRUGS. (keep in mind, she attends a middle school) She said students are so rich at her school that no one cares about anything. I told her about Abraham in Genesis when he asked God if 5 righteous people were in the city, would he spare it, and God said yes.

Then I asked, could you find 5 classmates that cared enough about her school to pray for God to change it. She said she didn't think there were 5 students who cared enough to pray. I doubted her, and asked her to begin to pray about this issue to start with. I could tell she was taking this seriously, and I felt something unique about this conversation.

A few minutes later, she ran up to me with 2 other students and said "these guys go to my school, and they are Christians!" By the end of the night, she had found others as well that went to her school. I challenged the ones I met, and I felt a specific burden to pray for Ladera Ranch. This well off, comfortable student body will be rocked by the power of God at their school if Courtney and these students begin to pray.

I'm hoping to post a video of her today so you can meet her.

The Believe staff are great people. We made a late night run to In N Out Burger, and although I didn't order, I loved hanging out with their team. Johnny Scott, the Believe Director, introduced me to the staff and welcomed CYC. Things are off to a great start!

Update from CA

Arrived today, what a climate adjustment. In Detroit they had to de-ice the plane 2x before we left, and I arrive to sunny CA to see a guy in the lobby of the airport with a fleece hat and coat on. It made me feel at home, but it was hard to understand what this guy was thinking when we dressed himself.

Tmrw the Believe Tour begins, and I'm thrilled to see the response of students and adult volunteers to the CYC concept. Christ In Youth direct this event, and they are a first class ministry. Their team, led by Johnny Scott, are tremendous people and are very strategic in their planning and follow up after their events. It's an honor to work with these guys.

I'm staying with Jeremiah and Brandy Lauber. Jeremiah was a former student in my youth group in Plymouth, IN. He is leading worship at EV Free Fullerton Church. He is a gifted leader and truly a prophet. It was fun catching up today with him. I'm always challenged to hear what he is thinking and learning.

I'll keep you posted tmrw about what is happening on the Believe Tour.

NEEDING YOUR PRAYER

PRAY FOR ME, PRAY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF CYC!

I'll be in CA from Jan 28th -Feb 3rd. God has opened some huge doors for Claim Your Campus.

Beginning this weekend, CYC is being promoted on the Christ In Youth Believe tour . 20,000 jr high students from across the country will be challenged to start a CYC prayer group on their campus, and adult leaders will be encouraged to follow up with them once the event is over.

Check out the dates on the link.

Fri 29th Believe Tour
Sat 30th Believe Tour
Sun 31st
AM: EV Free Fullerton Church (Chuck Swindoll's former church)
PM: Saddleback church service
Feb 1st Azusa Pacific chapel service
National Network of Youth Ministry Director/See You At The Pole National Coordinator
Feb 2nd Moms In Touch President, Campus Alliance President, Skyline Wesleyan
Feb 3rd Southern California Regional Youth Ministry coordinator
Feb 4th back home

God has blessed me with a former student who is allowing me to stay in his house and use his car for the trip. Money is real tight so this is a huge blessing.

Here's how to pray for me:

-for jr hi students and adult volunteers to catch the vision of CYC at the Believe Tour
-for God's strategy with Campus Alliance and See You At The Pole organizations
-for God's favor for all those I meet with to talk about CYC

What is going on lately

CLAIM YOUR CAMPUS
-CYC prayer groups are in over 20 states now! We were represented at 4 events over Christmas break at the Love Mercy Youth Conventions
-CYC is being promoted on the largest jr hi tour/event in the country, Believe. Over 20,000 students will be challenged to leave this event and start CYC groups at their school. Adults are being trained at each event as well. This starts this weekend!
-CYC is in final talks with Campus Alliance, which has a 4 pronged strategy (one is prayer) to reach every campus in America. They are promoting and partnering with CYC and we will be linked to their 40+ affiliate organizations and ministries.
-CYC is strategizing with SEE YOU AT THE POLE to cross-promote one another leading up the the annual prayer gatherings across the country in September.

This is an important week for CYC as the Believe Tour begins, as well as meetings with National Network of Youth Ministry, Campus Alliance, Moms In Touch, and Saddleback church. (home of Rick Warren)

NTS CAMPS
-NTS Camp will celebrate it's 10th anniversary this summer!
-We open our second location this summer in Kankakee, IL at Olivet Nazarene University. 1 week will be at Olivet beginning June 28, and 2 weeks at Houghton on July 12 and 19th.
-many new churches are on board (including Battle Creek First, Joy Lutheran and others) and we expect record attendance
-we are in the process of working with Poetice to bring the Zambian orphan teen choir to help lead worship at our camps this summer
-our camp theme and special guests will be announced on our updated web site very soon, look for a follow up email

NEVER THE SAME
-we achieved official 501c3 status
-we launched our non-profit web site
-supporters can now give easily and securely online at this link

HOW YOU CAN PRAY

-pray for the financial means to make the vision of Never The Same possible
-for jr hi students and adult volunteers to catch the vision of CYC at the Believe Tour
-for God's strategy with Campus Alliance and See You At The Pole organizations

WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT

www.neverthesame.org
email: jeff@neverthesame.org

My Bible Learning Blog

This is the intro to my Bible learning blog.

One of my seminary profs said that one of his profs knew the Bible well enough that if someone mentioned a chapter, he could tell you what is was about. I've always remembered that, and it became my goal. I've wondered of a method to help me achieve this, and I came up with an idea.
There are a lot of 'read through the Bible' type plans, but I couldn't find any to help me achieve this particular goal. So here's what I came up with:
+read the Bible in chronological order
+read 4 chapters a day/5 days a week (20 chapters a week)
+summarize each chapter when reading it
+review (or catch up if needed) on days 6/7
+it will probably take about 30 minutes a day to do this
+read primarily the sections of the Bible that connect historically (basically, everything except most Wisdom LIterature)

With these parameters in mind, I figured I would read 5 days a week, 4 chapters a day 50 out of 52 weeks in 2010. Doing the math, this figures to be 1,000 chapters. For you Bible scholars, there are 1,189 chapters in the Old and New Testament. If you subtract Psalms, Proverbs and Song of Solomon it comes out at exactly 1,000 chapters.

So this is what I've decided to do in 2010 as somewhat of a new year's resolution. Forgive me, I'm still an optimist at heart and believe in new year's resolutions. (last year I went without soda for a year along with 2 of my daughters, so I know they work) I've found for me, and I think for most people, the key to keeping a commitment is a supportive/accountable community of people doing the same thing.

So, this is why I've started this blog. It will be simple, and it will be a method of accountability for me and hopefully for you too. Therefore I encourage you to not only consider doing this for yourself but also asking others you know to join you on the journey.

I'll be posting the reading schedule in the next few days. Easy enough, you can get started right at the beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1 starting Monday, January 4th.

Feel free to post your ideas and comments along the way.

Welcome

It's been a long time coming. I've needed to set up something for people interested to be able to track what is going on in my life, as well as the mission I've been given. Well this is it. I hope you decide to follow this blog (subscribe to the right) and stay up to date on what's happening.

So much is going on, with things changing and developing almost every day. I'll keep you up to date on what God is doing.

In a nutshell, I want to make sure people are hearing what God is doing regarding two movements: Claim Your Campus (CYC) and NTS Camp.

CYC a student movement of prayer that is sweeping across the nation. As of right now, CYC prayer groups are in 20 states and moving quickly.

This week, CYC is on tour with Believe, a jr hi student event that is touring across the US. Check out the link that has the dates and locations.

NTS Camp branches out this summer for an additional week and location. Our theme will be unveiled this upcoming week on our web site.

Thanks for reading, and most of all, praying!

Please leave comments so I know people are reading and knowing what's happening.