Mike King

Check out Zach and Jacob's Well people on CBS National News

Last week I spent the better part of three days with Zach Exley.  I loved every second I spent talking to him.  He is truly a refreshing and interesting person.  He does not have a church background and yet he is truly curious and intrigued by Christians, their churches, traditions and views.  I was drawn to his unique way of looking at church and culture. 

Here is a description of Zack I found online, "Zach speaks on progressive strategy as well as online organizing, advocacy and fundraising. He has appeared as a commentator on Hannity & Colmes, Hardball with Chris Mathews, Scarborough Country, All Things Considered, the Diane Rehm Show, BBC News Hour and others. He has been profiled by the Wall Street Journal, New York Observer, the Los Angeles Times, CNN Presents, Wired News, and other publications."

Check out his blog Revolution in JesusLand.  We spent the day together on Thursday at Youthfront Camp South.  While there CBS National News called him about interviewing Christians about the upcoming election.  He asked me if it would be good to have them check out Jacob's Well.  On Sunday morning a CBS news team stood on the sidewalk interviewing our congregants about the Presidential Elections.  They hit a couple of other churches also.  It should air sometime this week.

My traveling partner - Ian

My traveling partner on this trip to Assisi and self discovery has been Ian Cron, pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, Connecticut and author of Chasing Frances.  Ian and I are similar in age and life stages so he has been a good friend in this journey.  Here are a couple pictures from Assisi.
On the Balcony of our room.

At a Cafe

At the Basilica of St. Frances

Thankful...

I'm thankful for the opportunity to speak to a long time friend today, one that I haven't spoken to in nearly a year (for unfortunate reasons).  It was just good reconnecting for 15 minutes.  It was wonderful to hear her voice. 

A "Flower Carrier" Over "French Kiss"

My friend Julene Tegerstrand, who is living in South Korea, has written this post and it is worth you taking a few minutes to enter into her story.

Folmsbee Family

Over the last couple of years Chris Folmsbee has become my friend and a youth ministry collaborator.  For several months we have been scheming and dreaming about new and paradigm shifting ways of doing youth ministry, spiritual formation of adolescents and developing youth workers.  Last Thursday Chris brought his wife, Gina and their three kids - Megan, Andrew and Luke, to Kansas City.  We had a good time hanging out in Kansas City and giving them a tour of the YouthFront world.  The Folmsbee kids discovered that I got into American Idol this season as much as they did.  We spent three days singing "You Give Love A Bad Name."  Another plug - if you haven't read A New Kind of Youth Ministry, do it.

 

Will and Sarah Wedding

One of the things I love doing is marrying kids that have been involved in my ministry.  Sarah Babcock was involved in my youth group at Woods Chapel.  She came to our home throughout Middle School and High School for YouthFront stuff.  Through college she has attended Jacob's Well where we go to church.  Sarah is very special to us.  When she told me she had met a boy named Will I had the typical fatherly questions.  I am convinced that Will is the man for Sarah.  At the rehearsal I made announcements before we started and had my first break into tears experience.  I convinced them that I would make it through the service on Saturday night.  I had a couple of close encounters of losing it but maintained my composure.  This was a wonderful ceremony.  I loved seeing so many friends and young people that we have worked with for years.  The picture of Sarah and me is with Candice Jacks, another one of our kids.  God bless Sarah and Will Mason.

Roller Derby

Several of us connected to our student ministry Student Life in Blue Springs during the '90's went to the Roller Derby last Saturday night to watch the Kansas City Roller Warriors.  The reason we went was to cheer on Kelley Young (Pictured above, who was involved in our Student Life during High School and now attends Jacob's Well).  Kelley has gotten a lot of media attention for being a national Roller Derby All Star.  Below is a picture of us with Kelley after the Derby.

   

Meaty Bet on Chiefs vs Broncos

Kurt Johnson, a youth ministry friend and youth pastor at Saddleback has harassed me on my blog about the Broncos superiority over the Chiefs.  In Cincinnati we placed a bet -- the loser buys a NICE steak dinner for the winner when we are in Charlotte together December 1-3. 

GO CHIEFS

Kristen and Brian Wedding

We had a wonderful time at Kristen May and Brian Little's Wedding on Saturday night at the Philips Hotel.  The Wedding Ceremony was short but SO SWEET with amazing music provided by The Supernauts. 

The May's are friends from Blue Springs.  Kristen is friends with our kids and was involved in church and YouthFront stuff.  Kristie went with us to Hungary and Romania.  Kristen and Brian formed a band and have done very well.  The band is Vedera.

We had such a blast because so many kids we have worked with were there along with friends from YouthFront, Jacob's Well and Blue Springs.

Congratulations Kristen and Brian.

Rooftop

What are some of the things you can do on a day in November in Kansas City when it is 80 degrees outside?  You can go up on top of the YouthFront Auditorium Rooftop and engage in great dialogue with friends.  What a place to have a meeting.  Topics discussed 1) Alexis King (of course, I was there... duh!) 2) Politics and the changing landscape 3) The upcoming new YouthFront Podcast program for youth workers