Westward Travels!

We’ve been putting many miles on our van heading west. We started in Minnesota, then headed through South Dakota, then through Wyoming and into Montana. We just arrived in Idaho and will be heading towards Washington soon. It’s been really cool to see new areas on the country.

We spent the last few days at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. It’s a place for kids/teens who’ve had issues or troubled circumstances. We got to spend time with some of them during their music class, just playing songs and singing together. We also got to talk with them during meals.

It was clear that they need the love and redemption of Jesus, and it made our ministry feel very important. Our contact told us several times of how grateful he is that we came, and how he’ll be “reaping the benefits” of our visit for months to come. This was very encouraging for us.

To me being there really illuminated our need for Christ, not just their need for Christ. We may look at that group of kids and think, “man I’m glad I’m not that messed up” or any number of other shortsighted thoughts. But are we not just as messed up in God’s eyes? Does the Bible say that you can go to heaven if you are polite, donate money occasionally, and try and raise some good kids? Not quite. Regardless of who sins more or less, it doesn’t change our position with Christ. Our redemption through Christ is accomplished not by acknowledging the things we do good, but by acknowledging that we still screw up. Then, by acknowledging our inability to redeem ourselves in God’s eyes without Jesus.

Realizing all this has given me a different perspective on our ministry. It was awesome being at that boys and girls ranch, but most of our ministry is to the Church, where our brokenness isn’t as readily apparent. But we all need Jesus just the same. And I don’t think it should stop at “Jesus died for me, yay”. I believe that’s enough, but also that we should seek to understand God’s character and his will. And hopefully, that’s something my team and I can learn to convey through our concerts.