My First & Last Event With The Students

Having let everyone know a month ahead that I am planning to leave the church in pursuit of a new direction of ministry in my life has given me some time to reflect further on how much of a big deal this move is.

Of course, it also gives the students and their leaders enough time to plan a surprise going-away party for me before I leave. It was pretty cool, not only for the fact that the students impressed me by keeping a secret that well from me, but also for the fact that it was my very first surprise party ever! Thanks to all the students, leaders and parents that helped in planning and took time out of their Presidents' Day holiday setting it all up!

The goodbye party comes just days before my last event with the students. Chalk it up to irony, poetry or whatever, but getting to do the 30-Hour Famine with the students right before I leave is somewhat significant to me, since it was also the first big event I got to do as their youth pastor!

And, though I'm not usually one to change my hair style very often, it may also be interesting to the reader to note that the intiative and commitment of the students during the event resulted in my getting my head shaved bald, which lasted even to my ordination day! So, if history repeats itself a third time, it is very well possible that I may find my hair green on my last day at Cornerstone! Strange, that at some significant milestones for me at Cornerstone should coincide with an odd hairdo of mine...

Church family, thank you for supporting your students, as they take on the challenge not only to fast for 30 hours but also to impact their world by doing their part to save the lives of children. Remember to pray for them, and let them know you are doing so.

Students, as you start fasting on Friday, let me encourage you to trust God for the strength to make it through the day and through the weekend, relying on spiritual food and the Holy Spirit to grow us all, as we learn more about what we can do to impact our world!

I'm ready with the green hair dye at hand... :)

Just Green Hair

Well, the 30-Hour Famine is underway, and students are finding people to sponsor them, as they fast for 30 hours, from February 22nd-23rd! And, as an added incentive, I've agreed that if they reach their group goal of $5040 (which is enough to feed 14 kids for a whole year), I would dye my hair green! So, conceiveably, I may be sporting a new hair color on my last Sunday here!

You may seen another added incentive posted earlier on the website or announced somewhere else. However, after further consideration, I felt that I needed to rescind that offer, in light of what we are trying to accomplish with this event - awareness of world hunger and poverty, as well as what we can do to do be salt and light in this world. Therefore, the one incentive remains - green hair for Peter... IF they hit their goal! :)