Last sunday night, Resonate Students and their friends gathered around what might possibly be called a bonfire, but was closer to a campfire to enjoy food and fellowship. Here are but a few of the pics from that night.

Have a story about it you’d like to share? Let us know!

Yeah, Matt's pretty tall.

Where'd all the marshmallows go?

Pattycake? It's a tradition. Well, it is now.

"I can cook one-handed!"

I think they were all talking to each other.

Ok, so it's a BIG campfire.

Flamin HOT Doritos!

Is it still called a Hot Dog when it's burned like that?

Doesn't matter, Derrick will eat it anyway.

I am not worthy.

That was the thought running through my head as I watched over 865 students gather on a high school football field last night. There were football players, cheerleaders, nerds, geeks, preps, goths and all other manner and “class” of teen there - all for one purpose: To come together in the name of Jesus. I’m sure some of them came just for the free pizza, but God’s ok with that too.

So after the pizza, and the greetings, and the worship team, and the student speakers, and the dramas (all great, by the way), someone came up and gave an altar call. I watched over 150 kids walk up to the front to make a first time commitment or a rededication. I followed, encouraged because I was a “youth pastor” and I can do this. Boy was I wrong.

There I stood, praying behind a few young men and after a while something occured to me. They had walked down the “aisles” to make this incredible life-changing decision, and I was scared to death to speak to them. I kept waiting for some other leader or adult they might have known to come find themThey didn’t know me from Adam or any other guy, and yet they were supposed to pour out their greatest needs at this most emotional moment? Nope. They stood there, eyes open, waiting for something miraculous to happen. Nothing did. The longer I stood there, the more I knew that if I didn’t say anything to them, they were going to walk away, unchanged, and probably not make a decision like this again in the near future.

So there, standing on the 40-yard-line of a football field , surrounded by 864 other people, God helped me overcome something I didn’t even know I had a problem with. I mustered up my courage and tapped both boys on the shoulder. “I know you don’t know me,” I said, “but I wanted to ask you something: Why did you come down here?” “To know God,” the boy names James said. The other boy known as Jonathan nodded.

God moved, overcame fear, and began change in those lives last night. And I got to be a witness for Him.

I am not worthy. But I’m glad I was there.

Hey there! Have a SYATP story you’d like to share? Tell us about what happened at your school!

For those of you who weren’t there (and those of you who were, but were just too sleepy), the lock-in last Friday night was a blast! Although I have to say lock-ins were never my favorite part of youth group when I was younger, I find that I’m enjoying them more the older I get.. I mean, when else do you get to stay up for 2 days straight and it’s ok to drink nothing but sodas and coffee and do nothing but play RockBand?? oh yeah, when you were 15.

Tired?

Anyway, now that I’m finally rested up, I’ve posted some pics of the lock-in on the Gallery page, so check them out, and leave comments about how it went for you!

Peace.