Trip to Atlanta

So I am in a mentoring group call the Cadre.  It was created by one of the greatest youth pastors in the nation, Jeanne Mayo.  She has been apart of some of the most dynamic and powerful youth groups to date.  She has spoken at many different seminars and conferences including the National Youth Ministers Conference (she is a regular speaker).  She has a great way of teaching others how to do youth ministry.

But most important of all, she has a heart for people.  She learned from someone (can't remember who) to make the person you are talking to feel like they are the center of the universe by giving them your undivided attention.  She is a master of really letting people feel like they are cared about.  She either really has a heart for people, or she is the best faker the world has ever seen.  My bet is on the former.

Anyway, I am proud to say that I was selected to be in her year long mentoring program called the Cadre.  This is a small group of youth pastors throughout the country that can be poored into by herself and one another.  There are monthly conference calls that sometimes include outside voices such as Doug Fields and other nationaly known youth specialists.  The cadre also includes two trips to Atlanta where we stay at Jeanne's house and learn face to face from each other and from Jeanne.  She has a way of speaking into people's lives like no one I have ever spent time with.

Our first trip is scheduled for November.  For a while I was not going to be able to go.  All I have to pay for is a plane ticket, but I couldn't afford it.  But the board has blessed me with the funding to travel to this retreat so that I can continue to develope myself into a better youth pastor, and better youth coach.  I won't let this trip slip into the background as just another conference.  This will be life changing!  Thanks Board, and Pastor Troy!