A great send-off
September 5, 2008
Last weekend will go down as one of my fondest “farewell moments” around North Point. I had a great opportunity to share a little about the vision for the new church in Denver with about 800 people at North Point Ministries’ (NPM) Singles Labor Day Retreat. My good friend Joel Thomas, Director of Singles for NPM brought me up at the end of the weekend to share my story and pray for me.
Me (L) and Joel (R) at our last session of LDR08
Joel wanted to share my story, because my return to faith began in the Singles ministry at North Point just over ten years ago. He told a brief overview of my story and asked what I’d like to share with everyone. After listening to Brennan Manning, our main speaker this year, all weekend I didn’t feel like I much to add. So I reiterated the idea that Brennan had given us all weekend through the lens of my own life – God met me where I was ten years ago and loved me as I am, not as I should be, because none of us are as we should be. That encounter with the risen Jesus set my life on a new course, and everything since has just been small steps of obedience. After sharing for a couple minutes, many of my closest friends from staff came up, laid hands on me and prayed. It was a great feeling of deep encouragement and sincere love.
I hope something I said Sunday night was of value to someone there. I hope God used that time for someone. But regardless of how He used it for others, for me it was a wonderful and generous gift from my Father for which I’m very grateful.
-Stephen
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Man, that’s great! I’m praying that this transition for you guys will bring all kinds of stories to the surface of how your ministry has impacted others…not for your glory, but so that you may be encouraged that your lives really do count for Him. There is SO MUCH cool stuff ahead of you!
Great to have the blog up and going. An early online presence is HUGE. Good job!
Stephen – If my memory does not fail me, I think I first heard your name at LDR 1999 or 2000. We prayed for you because of what was going in Russia. Could that be true? You are an incredible man and I respect you greatly! Thanks for what you’re doing. Very inspirational.
Good memory Mr. Scroggins. You are correct – that was LDR 2000 when I was commissioned before leaving to work with MAF in Kazakhstan and then Russia. I didn’t know you were there. There was a cool sense of deja vu around this year’s retreat thinking back to eight years ago. God has allowed me a really cool ride these eight years, and I’m definitely looking forward to what’s next.
So are you going to come out and guest speak in Denver for us?
-Stephen
Stephen – wish we could all hear the same- would you be able to have some time at a staff meeting? Praying for you all and your families! What a grand combination – dreams that are God inspired and the courage to go after them.