Family Ministry

Cedar Falls and Waterloo :: POOL PARTAY!!!

 

Come join us for a great time at the Falls Aquatic Center. July 26th at 8:45pm. Can't wait to see you there!

On the road again...

We left the beach this morning. It was bitter sweet. Everyone wanted to stay but in the same way, everyone wanted to be home. We had one final camp session where we were commissioned to take the Truths we learned this week, remember them and live them out.

It's crazy to think back, the day we drove down to Panama City Beach it was raining and when we got there it stopped for the whole week until today, the day we leave. God had his hand on our group this whole week both in the little things and the big things and now he's providing for the return trip. The students are not the same students that got on the bus a week ago. God is good and He is faithful.

BigStuf Day 4

Day 4 of BigStuf was incredible, absolutely incredible.

This morning's session was all about connecting with God and doing so the best way you can. Then this afternoon we had a PLC PP (pool party) and later took off for the Pier Park Mall for dinner and some shopping. That's where some of the students and leaders found out about Red Robbin's endless steak fries and bottomless root beer floats. It was glorious.

As for the evening session, oh man it was awesome! It hit home for everyone. BigStuf took us on a digital journey where we connecting with each other, with God, and with God's Truths. Worship was strong and loud. There's no greater experience than witnessing 1500 students sold out in worship. Raised hands, belting voices, and surrendered hearts were extravagantly and overwhelmingly status quo amongst the sea of students.

Students were breaking down walls, throwing off burdens, and shedding lies. One male student was brought to tears just thinking about the ways God was moving in his life this week. The ways that God fought to connect with him. The ways that God was so gentle in opening up deep hurts, deep pains, deep insecurities. The way that God showed him his next step past his loneliness and into security and an identity in Christ. Then all the girls breaking down and accepting God's desperate and deep love for them through the Truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. God moved this night in huge ways and I can't wait to see what He has in store for these students once they get back to Iowa.

Pray for students as they come home that God will prepare the hours, days, weeks, and months of their lives in order to solidify the Truths He taught them.

BigStuf Day 3

WOW..what a day at BigStuf?!

Stuart Hall brought it this morning and talked about our identity in Christ, the importance of connecting with others and how when we're connected to others we are connected to God. After the morning session students hit their afternoon free time hard. Basketball tournament, pool party and games, para-sailing, jet skiing, beach time, souvenir surf shops, Wal-Mart, and then to top it off, BEACH WORSHIP! All that to say, they had a great afternoon!

And after the afternoon it only got better. The camp has quiet times built in so after dinner students had their quiet times. It was an amazing picture to see the sun setting and all across the beach thousands of students huddled down pouring over their Bibles and talking with their God. This time prepared them perfectly for the message at night. Jared Herd talked about what it means to follow the person of Jesus Christ. What it means to be in a relationship with the God of the universe. What it means to step from death to life and we had two girls step over the faithline! They stood up declaring their decision to follow Christ! PRAISE GOD! There's nothing better than that!

After the session we split into small groups and it was the perfect place for our students to talk about what God was stirring in their hearts. God is moving!

What a powerful week so far? And it's not even the last day yet! So keep praying and please pray specifically for the growth of the roots of the Truths that are being planted in the hearts and lives of these students this week! Let's begin to fight for what this means for these students as they come home to real life, all their friends, work, school, sports, Iowa.

More posts to come!

BigStuf Day 2

Day 2 of BigStuf is winding down and man was it packed! After a great night of sleep we woke up for breakfast and then onto the morning session. Stuart Hall was the speaker and spoke about the little, ordinary, and mundane things of life and how they are the moments that ready us and lead us to the epic life altering moments. King David in his teenage years proves to be a perfect example for that. That Truth really hit home with the students.

Today, students really began to feel the excitement of BigStuf and it showed. There were break danceing pits, the start of a 1500 person conference room wave (Cole Matlock), strategizing a front row seat saving mission, but most noticeably the students entered into pure and authentic worship. I tell you what, there's nothing more inspiring, encouraging, and motivating than worshiping with 1500 sold out students where hands raised and voices loud is the norm.

With that, please keep the students and staff in your prayers. Now more than ever is the time to fight for the hearts of these students. What a privilege it is to place a plea before our King on their behalf. Pray for TRUTH to hit home. Pray for sensitive hearts, open hearts, broken hearts. It'd be a shame if these kiddos came back to Iowa the same. Let's not let that happen. "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." James 5:16b

More posts to come! Stayed tuned.

BigStuf Day 1 (Sunday)

We landed! We made it to Panama City Beach, FL right on schedule. Our afternoon was filled with fun at the Pier Park Outdoor Mall before we headed to the resort to check-in and settle-in. We snagged some diner (mmmm...pizza) before rushing to row 7 seats for the first BigStuf session. And WOW was the first session amazing! Everything is done BIG at BigStuf and the first session was no exception. The speaker was awesome, music awesome, dance team awesome, mc's awesome, everything awesome! God's going to use this week in great ways in the lives of students and leaders. So keep praying and keep lifting us up while we're here at BigStuf!

More posts to come with some great stories!

On the road to BigStuf!

We hit the road for BigStuf! The journey started yesterday (Saturday) up in Osage, IA where 5 students and 3 leaders jumped on the bus and headed to Cedar Falls. They stopped at the PLC Campus to load up the rest of the 35 students and 8 leaders. It was such an amazing picture seeing students from 8 plus different schools and all three of our PLC campuses come together for this trip. It was amazing to have parents, friends and PLC staff send us off with prayers and cheers.

It’s been 20 hours on the bus so far and we just crossed the Florida state line. We plan on getting to Panama City Beach, FL around noon today (Sunday). It’s raining but spirits are high. We’ll find some fun things to do this afternoon before we check into our hotel and start up the BigStuf Camp tonight.

Pray for the continuation of building relationships and community, energy from the students, great weather, and good sleep tonight for students and staff : )

More posts to come!

Summertime

How is it July already? Have you noticed that school supplies are already in the stores? Do you feel like you have already missed opportunities with your children? Check out this article about making some great memories with your children this summer!