Kyle Mitchell

Kris Merkel's Poetry

During my farewell celebration Kris wrote a poem to share his thoughts.  Who knew?  Kris Merkel, a poet.  You can read more on his myspace page. 

So long ain't so long

So long ain't so long.

I know that now,

 But maybe I knew that all along.

People come, people go

it's just how things work.

 The only things that will never leave us

are the memories we share.

No illness, anger, grief, or distance could take away,

all those days we've spent together.

You watched me grow

 and I in turn watched you as well.

Remember how you said that you felt like a father to me?

Well I think it is I who feel like a son to you.

Nothing can be done to make you stay

 but then again why would we try?

You are you and I am I

and even though we don't see eye to eye

 we both have one goal in mind.

 If I don't see you in this life

 I will in the next.

Then we can kick back

 and have a laugh

 because we both know

that one day we will see each other again.

 This may sound dire even cryptic

 but it is heartfelt

 and it is with love that I will help send you on your way.

 Remember it's not the start or the end of an adventure that matters

just the journey.

And through this journey

I know that we have both benefited

and we have both loss.

So in honor of you I say

 farewell and good tidings

 I will miss you

But it's okay

Because so long

ain't so long

My final Crossfire

I hate going to my funeral.  This is the second time that I've had to sit through it.  Don't get me wrong both have been amazingly beautiful and yet also painful.  Sitting and listening to people step up and take a mic and then share the funny things that they remember about time with you and then share a serious heart moment to let you know how much you are loved...amazing.  The people of Crossroads have wrapped themselves around my heart and will never leave that spot.  I am so grateful that God appointed me to come to Adrian for 4 years of my life.  It was worth every moment of investment.   My life is so much richer because of all of you.  I'm honored to have been a part of your lives.  Each moment that God gives us to live is so precious and so many of you have chosen to share parts of your hearts and your lives with me and my family. 

I hope the next place God takes me, he lets me stay until I actually die, but one thing I've learned is to invest wherever He sends me, for however long he asks me to remain.  As much as it hurts to leave, I'd rather have the pain, than to have never had the relationships.  They are so worth the grief that comes because of the life that is shared.  I feel sad for those who are afraid to connect with others and don't want to hurt so they build walls around themselves.   They will never know the deep satisfaction of connection.  With pain and loss comes deep and abiding joy.  I've learned you can't have one without the other and so I choose to embrace them both.  It's a rich life.  Thank you students, C4 Staff, and the people of Crossroads for taking up cherished spots in my heart.  You add so much value to my life. 

Fashion Cents

Our Second Annual Thrift Store Prom is set for tomorrow night, so I headed out to get my Prom outfit.  Is it a bad sign when you see items that are still in your closet?  Or see shirts that you used to wear all the time?  When the Thrift Store sends you down memory lane, it can't be a good sign.  I'm thinking that the next step is that I'll be in an antique store and spot items that I used to use.

Our Team is ready to win!

Tonight C4 leaders gathered in my home for a final meeting.  I couldn't help but remember all the meetings that we've had in this living room and tonight it was filled with friends.  The grief lingered, yet the overarching feeling of love and commitment to students emerged.  I'm so excited for this team to continue the work that God has begun in them and the students of Crossroads.  I've always loved watching leaders run with the ball in ministry and score touchdown after touchdown.  Tonight we talked about how to play the game without the head coach on the field.  This team is ready.  This team is prepared.  This team came to play.  This team plans to win. 

God has great things planned for the team in the months ahead and like a father in the stands I'll be watching, cheering, and celebrating every winning play.  I coudn't be more proud of a group of people.  Go Catalyst!  Go GOD! Rock the house!

The Joy of Student minsitry

Sometimes in student ministry there are moments of frustration, but also there are those moments that you sit back and soak up all that God is doing.  Tonight was definitely one of the latter times.  My heart filled up with joy as I watched two Middle School students leading in Middle school worship and doing an incredible job leading their peers.  It was inspiring to me so I know it had to be inspiring to the middle schoolers.  Then during Crossfire for High School students Mike G. shared his story about his mission trip to Mexico over the Christmas break and I flashed back to his first mission trip to West Virginia as a new believer where his faith just started taking off and then listened to him being a small group leader for 4 other guys and leading a family to Christ and investing a week of his life serving.  I can't wait to see where God takes Mike.  His love and devotion to Christ inspires us all.  And then Mandy shared about her week at "Passion '07" and I thought about what a year of change for her and what amazing growth.  From being a new believer, to diving in to small groups and all that Crossroads offers, and serving in so many areas.  Her love for God is so fresh, real, and amazing.  Joy swelled up in my heart. 

Then as we were leaving, Matt and Jen and I were walking out and evaluating the experience a bit before our meeting tomorrow and they shared with me how the band took leadership and literally set up all the equipment and Pete and Matt didn't have to lift a finger.  Ben led out in prayer and they were done early and practiced in between Middle School and High School services.  It was the way we've prayed it would be:  Students leading students to reach students.  And a little thing,but its really a big thing.  Jen, a new student and new believer stopped at the C4 table and picked up a Quiet Time journal.  I stepped over to explain what it was and how she could use it and she quickly replied, "Oh, I know, I love using it.  I have filled up my other one and I need another one".  Joy flooded over me.

The Word

Everyone has new year's resolutions or at least they think about things that they'd like to do differently in the new year.   Pastors are no exceptiong.  The new year always brings a good opportunity to evaluate what's happening and what's been happening in ministry. 

As I look back on where C4 has been and where we are going, it's a very exciting journey to be on.  One of the goals I have for '07 is to see The Word more prominant in our ministry.  We all know that the Bible is the foundation for all that exists and though our teaching has been based in Scripture, I'm ready to take our group deeper.  In all our gatherings where we teach the Word, I want to see Scripture become more relevant and applicant to all of us.  In order to do that we have to chew on it, discuss it, and apply it.  We know a lot of Truth already, but we need to let the Word penetrate us and change us. 

New year's are all about change, but we know that the only lasting change comes from the Word dwelling in us.  So let's dive in!

The Road to Passion '07

On the final day of '06, six college students and I left Adrian for a road-trip to Atlanta for "Passion '07".  I've been at almost every "Passion" experience with a group of college students and I love seeing students get a taste for the incredible pursuit of God.  Taking four days to seek His face and listen to His voice can radically change a person and give them a heart for the Kingdom.

Hopefully I can stay connected to the i-net and keep you posted with some of the experiences that we have.  I would send you pictures, but I broke our new digicam that we got for Christmas on the first time that I used it.  So you're stuck with the type version.  Check out the 268 generation blog for pics.

Holiday Cheer

Last night was Awesome!  The food my wife prepared combined with all the great stuff that C4 volunteers brought in was a feast!  There was an abundance and everything I ate was incredible.  It was so great to see people filling up the house and sitting around, meeting new people, and getting to know one another.  It was great for Crossroaders to just be able to sit and relax and connect.  Our volunteers are the greatest and serve so hard all year long. They show up early and leave late to make sure that everything goes well.  It felt good to say thanks to them and see them enjoying an opportunity to just be together. 

There was a steady parade of over 150 people that came tonight and as usual I got to meet some new faces and families.  It's another great thing about Crossroads.  We always have new people looking for a place to connect.   

I'm thankful to all who carved out some time during the busy Christmas season to stop in, say hello, and enjoy some time together.  I'm also especially thankful to Brent who came over 5 hours early to help give an extra set of hands.  I can honestly say the house wouldn't have been as clean with out you my friend!  I'm also grateful to Mike who brought his new Wii and set up the big screen in the office so that students could play and have some fun at an otherwise "adult" setting.  It was great to see the room filled with students having fun (I was really wishing that I didn't have to be the host and could just disappear to the attic where all the fun was going on, so you'll have to bring it back so we can hook it up to the new plasma).  And Kathy deserves a medal for staying down in the basement for 5 hours with the Mitchell children and all the 10 and under crowd that came.  I would have been a basket case after probably 30 minutes, but you stayed and helped get the kids to bed.  Caed was VERY disappointed that you had to leave and convinced that you wanted to sleep with him in his toddler bed. 

May Christ fill your hearts and your homes as you celebrate Him this Christmas season!

4th Annual C4 Open House

Tomorrow's the big day!  Our 4th annual C4 Open House.  Lisa's been baking and cooking all day.  I've been cleaning and finishing the sealing the grout in the bathrooms as well as putting some final touches on the Christmas decorations.  This year the kids got in on the baking and we had some great fun. 

So if you're in the neighborhood and want to meet the greatest volunteers at Crossroads, then stop by tomorrow from 4-8 PM for some awesome food, great friends, and Christmas Cheer.  Mike G is bringing his new Wii and we're turning the attic/office into a gaming paradise.  We'll be projecting the games and having a 360, and hopefully some additional game for your gaming pleasure.

Visions from the Roundtable

At our Catalyst Ministry Round table we shared some of the following dreams and things we want to impact about our community.  Here are some of the quotes written down on the cards from each table.

"We want a comfortable place for students to hang out"  "using sports and sporting events to draw more students" "A place where student's would not feel threatened"  "Believers reaching out"  "we see a lot of 'busy people'" "hurting people"  "A youth Center" "A pole-barn on the new property as the first building and be dedicated to students" "reaching Jr. highers specifically"  "lots of kids that are without Christ around us"  "homeless students in Adrian"  "SITL skaters"  "A place for students to worship"  "lots of depressed teens" "kids not caring about school, family, but 'just getting by'"  "pregnant teens",  "teens sad and in need of comfort", "teens trying to fit in with the wrong crowd", "fakeness", "a need to fit in", "people needing God's love and looking in the wrong places", "teens needing guidance", "divorced parents", "broken homes", "hopelessness",  "a building for the youth". 

What do you think students around us need?   How can we meet these needs?  What is God calling you to do to make our dreams come true and our nightmares go away?