Mini Update

So... as I think about what to write about... I'm thinking that the last 3 weeks have FLOWN by... and YET... Each day has seemed like a MONTH by itself... Ever had one of those times?? Can't believe tomorrow is October 1st!! (oops.. it's now TODAY! :) 12:01am!) Our biggest news of the last few weeks has been SMASH.

We are now starting a new session we call "SMASH unplugged." Our 'BIG' SMASH sessions are FULL ENERGY, EXCITING, POWERFUL, IMPACTFUL, and a message that HITS HARD. We wanted to ADD to that by having small groups. HOWEVER, THIS TIME we wanted the small groups to be the kids that REALLY REALLY want to be there. So we are doing them on the OFF WEEKS of SMASH (which is every 2 weeks).

We are really excited about them. Chris and I both will have a group. Please pray for these kids. 2 weeks ago, we had an information session and we had 18 kids show up!! We know we will have about 23 in the groups! This is AWESOME!! We have been consistently running about 30 - 35 in 'BIG' SMASH. WHAT A BLESSING! You guys need to hear how Chris presents the message... it is so amazing! I stand in awe! He, of course, takes NO CREDIT for it... as it is the Holy Spirit speaking! IN FACT, Chris has tried on 2 occasions to give just a light happy devotion instead of the HARD HITTING, IN YOUR FACE, CONVICTING message that he has been giving... AND GOD SAID NO!!! He has not let Chris back down any. And amazingly... the kids keep coming! We've even had a couple of kids 'accuse' us of creating the message JUST FOR THEM. Nope... that's the power of the Holy Spirit!! We didn't do anything!!

This last time... we had SMASH at our Interim Pastor's house. It was so great to let him see FIRST HAND the power of the Holy Spirit through Chris and straight to our kids' hearts! It was incredible! We played a "LECRAE" song (this is a Christian hip hop/rap group) that just SMACKED everyone in the face! It was awesome! It was about not waiting until you had everything fixed up to come to Jesus... but come as you are... RIGHT NOW! The song is called "Take me as I am" and was given to us by the Glaze's at BC of Cabot. Thanks so much!!

Please continue to pray for the school. As there are still things not completed for several reasons... and we have some parents and staff giving a lot of "FEEDBACK" in the form of "HELPFUL ADVICE" that sometimes isn't really.... you know what I mean! :) Please pray for Peace and Encouragement for Chris and the Administration as they are are doing the VERY BEST that they can!! AND... are being very WISE with use of school funds. Chris is not always the Good Guy when it comes to Sticking with a BUDGET!! **Everyone who has every had a Budget can completely agree with this!!!**

We love you all dearly! And Thank you so much for checking in and seeing how we are doing! I will be posting more pictures soon.... but now... to bed with me! Love you all!!

SMASH RETURNS!

SMASH has returned and we have been in AWE of what the Lord is doing there!!! We had 33 at our first meeting!!! 35 at our second meeting!! AND 40 at our last meeting!!! 40 Kids all CRAMMED into our apartment! (This is where these pics were taken, in our new apartment) It's been so incredible!!! The Holy Spirit has been moving through Chris in an AMAZING WAY!! The Lord has given Chris the EXACT thing that the kids needed to hear... to challenge them and convict them!! By almost EVERY Account... our kids all had a BAD SUMMER! Almost all of them admit that their walks with the Lord strayed during the summer. AND.. they all ADMIT that they need some "IN YOUR FACE" TRUTH RIGHT NOW!! and THAT is exactly what we've been giving them!! No Sugar Coating... We have gotten some great responses, but we have to keep them on track... (don't we all need that help!! :) ) Please pray with us on their behalf... that they will continue to yearn for the PASSION for CHRIST that they had back in April, May and June! Thank you!!

Here are a few pictures from our last SMASH! In fact... we did a "SMASH AND CRASH!" And we had 40 students for SMASH, and then 25 "CRASH" or spend the night!! It was awesome!! :) The guys and Chris crashed at Casey's apartment. The girls, and Megan, all crashed here! It was GREAT! We took the Subway to the mall, and had a BLAST! The kids didn't get home until almost 5pm on Saturday... so we were wiped out! But it was so worth it!! **We are reminded each time that we do this... that "WE ARE OLD... OLDER THAN THEY ARE!!!" :) :) :) We wake up WIPED OUT!! But WE LOVE IT!!! **