Northwood Huddle Recap-Tuesday May 26th

We had another great huddle today at Northwood High School. God is moving and I am happy to be a part of it. I can't believe we only have one huddle left! Mike Hatcher was our speaker today. He is on FCA's board and has helped me out a lot at Northwood this year in addition to raising money for the ministry. Mike spoke on recognizing the race that God has set before us, and running that race with endurance. He gave such convicting examples about his own walk and I think the students were deeply moved........Lets continue to pray for the kids as they get ready to depart for summer!

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27

"Do you now know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Cool picture of Paul Woz speaking at University High School. Kathy Darwood from Beckman High School made the design!

Isaiah House-Sunday May 17th '09

The Isaiah House is one of the 186 Catholic Worker homes in the United States. Catholic Worker is a movement founded in 1933 by an intellectual and a journalist who wanted to offer hospitality to the poor and the oppressed. Each house is located in a run-down neighborhood in various cities and offers food, clothing, and shelter to the needy.

Each house is autonomous; there are no boards of directors, no pay checks, and no pension plans.

Since 1997, Dwight Smith and his wife Leia have been welcoming more than 100 guests for breakfast on Sundays in their five bedroom house in an aging Santa Ana neighborhood. The Smiths serve meals to the needy everyday, averaging 14,000 meals a month with a budget of only $6,000.

Today the student leadership team from Northwood had an experience they will never forget as they served the homeless and was a part of the Isaiah house community. We were a witness to God bringing so many volunteers together to help love the community of Santa Ana.

I am personally very grateful for the opportunity that we were given. Thanks to Tim Mcsunas (parent from Northwood) who helped put this thing together. I was very humbled and encouraged to see more than 10 student leaders, a long with parents and coaches from Northwood come together and love like Jesus. Thank you for blessing me!

1 Corinthians 12:5-7 

"There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all."

University Huddle Recap- Friday May 15th '09

Another great way to end the week! We only have a couple huddles left at University High School and we are still reaching new students! I was extremely encouraged to see at least 3 new kids join the huddle today....way to go leadership team! 

Once again something came up for my assigned speaker and Paul Wozniak came to the rescue! He gave the same message he did on Monday at Woodbridge High School. He shared the good news of how God has a plan for our lives and he wants to use us to impact the world for him. He talked about Joseph and how he was used in the Old Testament. Paul finished his speech by telling the students that the Bible was truth and everything written in it really happened. He described briefly his last month in the Middle East and what the Lord taught him about the Bible. The kids faces were left in awe and found his talk very interesting! I am confident God used Paul to plant more seeds today.

Lets Continue to pray for University HIgh School!

Thanks to all the parents who have been faithful with their prayer and help with food. I am humbled by the example you have set!

(Sorry no pictures, forgot my camera!) 

Northwood Huddle Recap-Tuesday May 12th'09

We had Another fun huddle today at Northwood! Hard to believe we only have 2 left! 

Tim Lukei promoted a big event going on at Mariners Church May 22nd-25th. The "Do Something" weekend is full of service. The Church takes tons of kids to Mexico to help build houses and spend time in fellowship. This year they can not go to Mexico due to Violence and the Swine Flu, instead they will be helping out locally around Orange County. Click here for more

One of our student leaders spoke at the huddle today. Kyle Beane is a junior at Northwood and wanted to share more about his faith with the FCA group. He is a big time leader and all the students have so much respect for him. He talked about his mom being sick with what the doctors thought was cancer, and how that rocked his world. He was feeling distant from God, but started to pray more and rely on him after his mom got sick. God healed his mom and Kyle is telling the school that it is important for us as humans to rely on God during the good times and the bad. 

Lets continue to pray for this campus!

And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

—Psalm 9:10

Woodbridge Huddle Recap-May 11th '09

We had our second to last huddle at Woodbridge today! I can't believe how fast the school year is coming to an end! Our huddle was in the big gym because the upper gym was being occupied during lunch. The leadership team again did a great job of not only asking their friends to come, but reaching new kids who have never been to FCA. We started the huddle off by promoting camp which takes place at UCLA June 29th-July 4th (Click here to register). I brought a bunch of hand-outs so the kids could take them home and talk to their parents. 

We played a really funny came which involved oreo cookies! The object was to stick the cream side on your forehead and without using your hands roll it down your face into your mouth! I didn't think it was possible until they did it!!! 

Paul Wozniak was our speaker today! He shared the good news of how God has a plan for our lives and he wants to use us to impact the world for him. He talked about Joseph and how he was used in the Old Testament. Paul finished his speech by telling the students that the Bible was truth and everything written in it really happened. He described briefly his last month in the Middle East and what the Lord taught him about the Bible. You had to be there:) 

Thanks to al the parents for their dedication! You are a huge piece to what the Lord is doing on this campus. Love you all!

Lets continue to pray for this campus!

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 

Beckman Huddle Recap-Thursday May 7th '09

As humans don't we always try and control what is going on in our lives? I always have a vision about how I think something should go, but God usually does his own thing and I am left thinking...his way is better:) This week at Beckman there has been testing going on in the Commons where we usually have our huddle. So we had to switch to a classroom and I was doubting how the huddle was going to go. The classroom is small so I assumed nobody was going to come, especially after taking tests all day! I brought a great speaker and I was thinking I hope I don't embarrass the ministry today. This guy thinks we have this sweet set up and now I am stuck in a little classroom. What a typical way to think!!!

To make a long story short the huddle was great. The leadership team did their job by getting kids in the classroom and we were left with little standing room. Jeremy Renken (our speaker) spoke on light and darkness and related it back to his own life, and his walk with the Lord. I was so encouraged to see football players there. A couple of them came for their first time!! We also had a couple of new moms come...what a blessing they have been at all my schools! The most important thing that happened at todays huddle was that God's name was glorified! I could feel his presence as he used Jeremy's words to encourage and love the students. 

Lets continue to pray for Beckman High School!

Galatians 1:10

"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ"

University Huddle Recap-Friday May 1st '09

University's huddle is the best way to finish off the week. I love it because they are filled with truth right before the weekend hits which will be filled with temptation and regret. My buddy Leo spoke to the kids today! He is a High School Pastor at Saddleback Church in Irvine and does well with high school students. He spoke on getting involved and forming a community. The huddle at University is very young.....lots of underclassmen that come from different ways of being brought up. Muslims, Buddhist, Non-Christians, Jewish and Christians make up the huddle. If we can get across the message of living in a Christian Community at this age, what will the huddle look like in 4 years? What will their home life look like? Great message!

We also promoted a big event going on at Mariners Church May 22nd-25th. The "Do Something" weekend is full of service. The Church takes tons of kids to Mexico to help build houses and spend time in fellowship. This year they can not go to Mexico due to Violence and the Swine Flu, instead they will be helping out locally around Orange County. Click here for more info

Be Blessed!

Irvine Huddle Recap-April 30th '09

We had to call a little audible today at Irvine's huddle! Usually we have this huddle in the gym but they had something going on, so we had it outside in the beautiful SO CAL Weather. There was a little distraction from all the kids eating outside but overall God blessed the huddle and spoke through our speakers. We had two FCA student leaders from the school speak. Brianne (Sophomore) and Caitlyn (Senior) both spoke on what the Lord was doing in their lives and how he has been faithful to them through thick and thin. We had new faces that were there to hear their peers speak on our Savior! There is no better picture in my mind than students paying attention as a fellow student shares their faith. I am very proud of these two girls as they both were a little nervous to share in front of such a large group. You could tell they had been praying about it and God truly used them today.

Lets continue to pray for this campus. I am seeing more and more green sweat-shirts which tells me the campus knows about FCA. Way to go! We are doing KINGDOM WORK!

Mater Dei Huddle Recap-April 30th '09

Today we had our last huddle for the school year at Mater Dei, and boy was it a great one!  I had to leave early to attend another huddle, but the first lunch was great. Andrew Yelich, Kathryn Haugen, and Scott Thomsen who are all seniors spoke on what the Lord is doing in their lives and how this high school journey has already come to a close! It was awesome for me to see three seniors stand before their classmates and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and how they have learned so much about their walk with him these past couple of years. The second lunch from what I gather went great as well! Lainy Barkley had the opportunity to share!

Its incredible how much more the students listen when its one of their peers speaking. What a special huddle!

Thanks to the moms for providing the pizza all year. You are amazing and I am extremely Blessed!.......Thanks to Kathleen Kelly for her faithfulness to the kids and organizing a lot of it. 

Until Next year! Be blessed!!

 

Northwood Huddle Recap-April 28th

On Tuesday April 28th the Lord was again filled the gym for Northwood's huddle.  A little over 200 kids came to hear the word of God! Thanks to everyone who was praying for me in particular since it was my day to speak. I spoke on Loving your Neighbor/Enemy. There is so much hate in the world and Northwood High School has dealt with death every year since the school has opened. My prayer for them is that they are first loving the Lord and secondly loving each other the way we are called to. 

The Lord is continuing to provide new faces every week and I know he is doing a work in their hearts. I talked to a number of kids after the huddle that were strongly convicted about the message. I think a lot of times as believers we tend to not realize how important the commandment is about loving your neighbor. Jesus says it is the second greatest Commandment! Lets be praying for each other and start acting like it:)

Matthew 22:37-40

³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Woodbridge Huddle Recap April 27th

We had another great huddle today at Woodbridge High School. Close to a 100 kids showed up to hear Jeremy Renken speak. Jeremy works for FCA in the North County area and is a very gifted speaker. He shared his heart and how he was saved and challenged the kids to not go another day without seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ.

After the huddle both Jeremy and I were approached by two students. One student has been coming all year and the it was the other ones first time there. They both had questions about Christianity. I left that day feeling extremely blessed to know that we were still reaching new faces this late into the year. Lets continue to pray for the students at Woodbridge High School and know that God is doing a work over there.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." 

 Colossians 4:2

Field Stone Leadership: Special Olympics (April 25th 2009)

A few months ago the Southern California Staff started our first ever FieldStone Leadership Acadmey for our student leaders. We chose 36 of the best student leaders we have in Southern California and took them on a 3 day "Lead Like Jesus" Seminar in San Clemente. There were no seniors that came because we are trying to develop students that will be coming back next year. It was a great time and the students learned truly what it means to Lead Like Jesus. View Video here

As a follow-up on April 25th we took the students to Long Beach to work in the Special Olympics. We wanted to put the students in a situation where they would have to use their skills and the things they learned by serving others. It was truly a treat! We all had a great time and made new friends! 

After the Special Olympics we took the kids to a Church where we were met by their parents for a closing ceremony. We recoginized them as leaders, prayed for them, and ate a lot of food:)

Our goal is to see this grow! 

I had one student from the Irvine Area, our boss wasn't lying about the spots filling up! I am very grateful Chris Del Carlo (Irvine HS) was able to go. I will have more there next year:)

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to  give his life as a ransom for many."

Night Of Champions (April 24th 2009)

Last Friday night we had our biggest event of the school year.....The Night of Champions! The event was held at Kingsfield Church in Irvine, but it was not an FCA Irvine event. It was for all of Orange County, more than 900 people came! 

There was close to 700 free In -N-out Burgers as the crowd grew large waiting outside the Church. Once the doors opened up it became one gigantic huddle! 

 We were treated to an awesome worship band led by Rock Harbor’s Pete Shambrook.  College athletes Robbie Boyer and Megan Sadler shared what God has done in their life, along with professional surfer, Tim Curran.  It was such a blessing to hear from such talented athletes.  OC FCA Director of Ministries, Barry Martinez, gave a message about the Father’s unconditional love for us and asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ into their life.  Over 95 kids stood up to either re-commit their life to Christ, or to commit their life to Him for the first time.  Can you believe that, 95 kids believe that, 95 kids! 

            God really was at work in all aspects of NOC.   Parents started praying for the event daily a week before it came and a group of moms prayed upstairs while the night program was going on.  God answered prayers and worked in ways that only He could!  What an awesome night!

Pictures on the blog coming soon........click here for pictures from the ocfca website