Today was much like yesterday.
We started with the Labs (small groups) from 10-12, then did lunch on the lawn outside of the center.
While we did lunch, we practiced the street play (same one that Senior Wave did at church).
While we were doing do, it got a double ace approval from an observer with mental health issues, who excitedly recognized God as the helper, and wanted to take out the man (Jesse) who was chasing the lead person.
By the way, we are eating packed lunches, saving money!
Afternoon sessions followed, though we’re getting information overload. Continue reading dcla day 4

Starting to get tired, these are long days!!!
Back at 11:45, then sharing highs and lows.
We arrived at the center for 10am, where we broke up into Labs, our assigned small groups for the weekend.
They are led by student leaders, which is neat, though a number of our youth found their groups too quiet, not much personal sharing.
We ate lunch on the lawn of the Museum of American History (they took our picture for their newsletter, we’re now a part of American history!) Continue reading dcla day 3

The first day was great!
We started with continental breakfast.
A slow start to the day, a unexpected scenic tour of Washington.
We got there late for the 10:30 opening, only to discover that we were four hours early (they changed the time of registration).
So, we went on a walking tour to the White House.
We ate lunch there, and watched the protesters – for peace, banning bombs, baking bread, universal health care, Tamil refugees, and one man opposed to Tamil protesters.
We rang the doorbell, but Barack could not come out.
We went to the museum of natural history, part of the Smithsonian.
All museums are free here!
Then to registration.
They have a huge activity room with inflated slides and bungee jumping and ping pong and four square and basketball, as well as some displays and stuff to buy.
We first went for dinner, then the big session began.
They are going through the bible from Genesis to Revelation – really well done, short sections, a variety of mediums – speakers, bands, skits, media presentations.
Final concert was Family Force 5 – very loud and wild (moshing and body surfing).
(Instead, I went to a QA with Shane Claiborne (very quiet and inspiring).
Back at the residence at 11:45, a time of sharing the highs of the day, and then to sleep.

Our drive to DC went well, uneventful, which is how we like it.
We met the Belleville group at 8:30, and we followed them (they have GPS).
The van ride was pretty quiet, the group is still gelling, but by the end of the night it was better.
They are mixing with the Belleville group fine, though that group is younger.
We arrived at 7:30pm, traffic into DC was not as bad as feared (thanks for praying).
We found our rooms – the elevated plastic mattresses will take getting used to, but the rooms are air conditioned.
The lady who manages summer accomodations is also a tour guide for the Catholic University of America (which is where we are staying, in the residence), so she gave us a walking tour, nice.
We had pizza for supper, ironed on our logos onto our t-shirts, and played Jungle Speed in the lobby.

One of my God-moments was stopping at a gas station and filling up – on caffeine.
I made myself the biggest cappuchino I could get, but when I went to the counter the lady said, `have a good day, its on the house`.
She said they randomly do this for customers, to give them a good day!
I thanked her for giving me a God-moment, an experience of unexpected grace!

This is where we are going with 7 youth and 3 adults from Crossroads (Nathan and I are going too).
We leave this Thursday, (July 9) and come back next Thursday (July 16).
In addition to the event, we also hope to spend time doing community service in the capitol!
Please pray for us, for safety as we travel, and also for a huge God-experience!!!

As we prepare to relocate our services to downtown Ajax (Falby Court), it is good to get to know the churches in the neighbourhood, and to begin praying for a spirit of unity and cooperation in Jesus’ Name.

1. Hope Community Church (Salvation Army)

2. St. Paul’s United Church

3. St. Bernadette’s Roman Catholic Church

4. Crossroads Church (meeting at Bolton C. Faulby P.S.)

5. St. Timothy’s Presbyterian Church

6. Southside Worship Center

Our church is in the process of relocating.
Not just the location of our Sunday morning services, but our whole ministry focus.
We are looking at this as an opportunity to build a bridge into South Ajax, and in particular the downtown (South Harwood) corridor.
We presented this idea to our community, and they responded with the following feedback.
It was very positive, and an encouragement to the leaders that the Lord is leading us in this direction. Continue reading feedback from Falby

Church Cancelled!

Tomorrow our ‘service’ is being canceled, so that service can happen.
Crossroads people are spreading out in Durham region tomorrow morning to perform a variety of community service assignments.
These are not projects planned by the church, just individual and family initiated efforts.
Handing out flowers at the hospital, picking up garbage, planting trees collecting donations for the Oshawa animal shelter, car wash for Ajax-Pickering food bank, bike repair clinic at Falby Court… and more…
So cool, the creativity and enthusiasm are inspiring me!!!
Please pray for God encounters.
Please pray that we are impacted, as well as our community.
Please pray that this is just the beginning of an ongoing relationship with the community.
We are meeting tomorrow afternoon at Falby Court (Bolton C. Falby) for a BBQ, and to look at the facilities for a possible new location for our ministry efforts.
Check out www.crossroadsinajax.org for more information!

This past Sunday a group of us walked and prayed around Bolton C. Falby Public School.
I have been enjoying it on my own, by it was an even greater blessing to do so as a group.
I thought about the people of Israel marching around Jericho, but was not praying that the school walls would come crumbling to the ground.
But there are walls that need to come down, spiritual and social and emotional and racial walls.
And not just walls in THEIR hearts, also in OUR hearts.
We were reminded again that “these people” are not a project, that we are not their liberators parachuting in to help or fix them.
They are people with dignity, people deserving of respect, people who need God and Jesus just like we do.
They are our brothers, our sisters, living in a broken world with us, needing God’s forgiveness, God’s hope, God’s help, God’s Son, God’s Spirit – just like us!
This is an opportunity to be blessed together, to grow together, to be empowered together! Continue reading more prayer walking

As Crossroads considers changing its location, and also its ministry focus, the following video of a church plant in Michigan is an inspiring reminder of the need for sincere and serious prayer…