Today, I continue my series on the Never the Same teen missions trips. (This post was planned for last Friday, but I was traveling and without Internet. Snowy roads kept me from venturing out to find a connection.)  Since 2010, I’ve had the privilege of traveling as the writer on these trips and have served alongside NTS teams in Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. This summer, I’ll travel to Costa Rica with the group. Last week, I shared about two of the amazing adult leaders who regularly serve on the Never the Same trips. I can’t tell you about everyone, but here are a few more snapshots so you can see the kind and quality of Christ-followers God brings alongside Steve Goley (president of Big World Ventures) and author/speaker Susie Shellenberger, who together began sponsoring these trips 16 years ago. Elaine: Elaine comes on the trip as our professional counselor and spends many of her evenings meeting with teens who are struggling in one or more areas of their lives. But Elaine does much more than that. Fluent in Spanish, she often translates for her team and, although she has the freedom to stay back from daytime ministry because of her late-night work, she rarely does. Elaine’s love for teens, caring heart, and effective listening make her the perfect choice for this ministry. And I’m sure that’s why she returns every year. Ray: Ray is the person you’d never expect to see on a teen missions trip—unless you knew his heart. He’s single, forty-ish, and has his own landscaping business in the New Jersey/New York City area. But he also loves teens and loves to share the gospel. His business is built around sharing Christ with the least of these, and through the years he has employed many former drug addicts and street people. Ray’s teams typically do more evangelistic dramas than any of the others because of his passion for getting the Word out and the gospel in. Brenda: Brenda’s another wife and mother with a heart for teens and missions. Brenda’s caring shows in her eyes, her voice, and the many hours she spends counseling teens at “Tuck-Ins” (evening meetings where the women leaders check in with the students—men/male students have “Slap-Ins”). The students on her team develop a heart of compassion for each other and for the people they serve because they see that lived out in Brenda’s life. She loves much because she has suffered much, and everyone who knows her reaps the benefits. Rich: Rich is another man you might not expect to see on a trip until you looked inside and saw his heart for the Father and for students. He’s a strong,...

It never fails. Every year, I plan to blog from the mission field. And every year, I’m too busy serving, writing, and living the missions trip to keep up with  my good intentions. For the past four summers, I’ve had the blessing of traveling on the Never the Same summer missions trip as the writer for Sisterhood (formerly SUSIE) Magazine. For the past sixteen years, Sisterhood’s founding editor Susie Shellenberger and Steve Goley of Big World Ventures have partnered to take thousands of teens overseas. My charge each year (I’ve had the privilege of traveling  to Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru with them) has been to write the article about the trip along with other, smaller features as space allows. This past year, I did the cover story on Holly Starr, the worship artist who traveled with us, along with another story, “Postcards from Peru” (click the links to read each one).  Another reason I haven’t blogged during the trip is because I don’t want to give away material from my story before it goes to print a few months later. So, here in the middle of winter, I thought I’d share a few blogs and pictures (courtesy of trip photographer Emily Bailey and her team) from my experience on the field. Some of these stories appear in miniature form in the articles, and some haven’t appeared in print at all. Enjoy! FT. LAUDERDALE 2013: Leadership One of the first things that impressed me about the Never the Same trips was the adult leadership. Susie Shellenberger has a heart for God and for teens, and Steve Goley has the same plus many years of experience in planning and leading trips. Together, they provide a fantastic missions/youth camp/revival experience for the students. But Susie and Steve know they couldn’t do it alone. And because of their adult leaders, they don’t have to. Every year, dozens of adults travel on the missions trip alongside the students. The teams train in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where the adult and college-aged leaders meet a few days before the younger teens arrive. Some adults come to accompany their children. And others may have done that initially but now return every year. Many of these are head leaders, who lead one of the teams of 30-40 teens and students that go out to serve every day. These people love Jesus, teens, and missions—and it shows. One of the things that has most impressed me is the way each team reflects its leader’s heart. Throughout the trip, what matters to the leader becomes what matters to the students. And God uses each of these men and women to build His character into the lives of these young...

For me, 2013 ended with no wild celebration. But it didn’t end with a cry or whimper, either. 2013 finished with a cough as I found myself in the throes of bronchitis. Now, more than a week into 2014, I’m still coughing, but healing. I don’t get sick often, but this illness and accompanying prescriptions makes me more grateful than ever for good health. So what am I up to in 2014? Every once in a while, I use a blog post to share my calendar. So here’s where you can find me (and what you can find me doing) for the first few months of the new year. I covet your prayers and, of course, would love to have you join me at any of these events: January 16-19: Shelby Kennedy Foundation, Wilmington, Ohio  January 28: Stephen Ministers, Asbury United Methodist Church, Maitland, Florida; teaching on prayer January 24-25: Finish Well Conference, Sanford, Florida; Teaching on “Preparing for the SATs” and “Cultivating a Heart for the World.”  February 26-March 2: Florida Christian Writers Conference, Leesburg, FL; Representing Sisterhood magazine, serving as conference chaplain, and teaching on “How 2 Write 4 Teens.” March 5:  Wednesday Night Live, Asbury United Methodist Church, Maitland, Florida: teaching on “Stewardship of Words: Prayer” Right now, July  seems far away, but I also want to share that July 5-20, I’ll again travel with Susie Shellenberger and Never the Same Missions as the Sisterhood magazine writer for the Never the Same missions trip. This year, we’re headed to beautiful Costa Rica! I’ve had the privilege of going with this group to Guatemala, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru, and I look forward to seeing the great things God does with us in Costa Rica. If you’re a teen (guy or girl) or the parent/grandparent/friend of a teen, consider yourself invited! Click here for all the details. We do our training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and then travel to Costa Rica for about ten days. It’s a powerful, wonderful, life-changing time. For more information, check out my articles about two previous trips: “Journal Times Two: More Than Enough” (Ecuador 2012); and “Postcards from Peru” (Peru 2013). This year’s trip will have the same basic format but in a different country with deep needs and wonderful ministry possibilities. These missions trips mark some of my personal and professional highlights for the past few years, and I’d LOVE to have you join me. What’s God doing in you in 2014? Let me know via my “contact” link or in the comments below. And don’t forget to share how I can pray for you,...

Father God, Rescued is the word you brought to mind today. So many of those I love need rescuing: The one in a valiant cancer battle The one who keeps making poor choices The one whose health teeters on the brink The one poised for change—wise or unwise The one overwhelmed by financial troubles The one trapped in years of marital hurt The one crushed by abuse The one whose pain no one hears The one who cries for others The one who doesn’t know where to turn. I lift each one before You, my Lord, because I know You can meet each one at each need-point. You came to rescue each of us. Your name is Deliverer, Healer, Savior, Strength. Thank You for pulling these from darkness to light, from defeat to victory. Thank You for loving them more than I do. I stand as Your servant, and You are my King—AMEN.  Since this is one of those prayers that applies to everyone, I decided to write it out. I hope you’ll add your prayers to mine. I’m back to blogging after my Christmas break turned into a dual bronchitis and finish-the-manuscript break. I’m coughing less and catching up on other writing now that I’ve submitted my most recent book project.   How may I pray for you in 2014? Leave a comment below or email me through the “contact” link. I’ll be honored to lift you before...

Have you ever looked at an old song in a fresh way? That happened to me this year during our choir’s Christmas presentation. One of our favorite songs was a new arrangement of “Away in a Manger” featuring our children’s choir. I r   I realized anew what a beautiful prayer lies in the third verse and prayed it for the congregation and myself each time we sang.  Today, I’m sharing the verse and my prayer with you. Merry Christmas! Be near me, Lord Jesus—and with all those who reach out to You during this season of celebration. I ask Thee to stay—The good news of Christmas: You came, You are coming, and You will come again.  Close by me forever—for You are Emmanuel, who left it all to give it all that we might draw near.  And love me, I pray—for You so loved us that You gave. In Your sacrifice, we find hope. In Your presence, we find peace. And in Your example, we find the power to love as You love.  Bless all the dear children—those many little ones throughout the world who are hurting. Take them in Your arms. Whisper to them of Your love, of Your wonder, of good tidings of great joy.  In Thy tender care—from the heart of a baby born in a lowly stable, of the One who had no place to rest His head, of the gentle-but-powerful Shepherd.  And fit us for heaven—the purpose of Your life, death, and resurrection. Keep making us less and You-in-us more.  To live with Thee there—in that wondrous place where tears never fall and the joy and promise of Christmas never ends.   Happy Birthday, Jesus! On Your holy night and in Your holy name, I pray—AMEN.  Do you have a special Christmas prayer request? Feel free to share it in the comments below.  I know I will pray, and others will join us. Christmas Blessings!...

Merry almost-Christmas! Today, I invite you to check out my interview with my friend Eddie Jones over at the Christian Authors Network blog. Eddie shares some interesting advice based on his experience as both author and publisher. Enjoy (and thanks for sharing your wisdom,...