This morning, I – [Shawn] — packed up all of our personal belongings at Destiny.  It was a sad day. Too many memories and strong relational attachments here to not have some emotional response…

As we are making this transition, this blog will also be making a transition.  If you want to continue following the Shoup family and my — Shawn’s — blogging and youth ministry endeavors, we invite you to join us by visiting / subscribing to our personal site found at elevatingageneration.org.  Elevate Student Ministry’s new pastors-to-students, Derick and Pam Brown, will be taking over the content of this site as of this week. As a result, this will be our last post here.

I’m writing content for several student ministry web sites and hope to do more of that as we make this move.  I’ve been slow lately with all of the going’s on, but am committed to the call on my life and the amazing network of youth workers / peers I’ve met over the years.  I also have a deep passion to see this generation follow God with everything that’s in them.  That’s why our ministry tagline has always been “elevating a generation”: we genuinely want to see students go to the next level in their relationships with God.

For all of you that have been a part of Elevate Student Ministries over the past 9+ years — students, leaders, parents and the rest of our Destiny family — we love you.  Words are not enough to convey our gratitude for letting us be a part of your lives.  It has been an honor that has been unsurpassed by anything else to-date.  The memories, laughter, and tears will never leave us.

We truly hope that you can join us for the Destiny-hosted farewell service this coming, Sunday night at 6:30 PM.  Non-Destiny friends, peers, and family are invited, too; we want to hug and thank you all in person.  You can Facebook RSVP to the event here.

We’re expectant about where Derick and Pam are going to take this student ministry.  We’re so excited that God brought them to Destiny to take this thing to the next level.  We wholeheartedly encourage you to support them as they step into their new roles as your pastors.

On a closing note: if you aren’t already, I invite you to connect with me on [Facebook] and [Twitter].  Distance doesn’t mean that we have to be disconnected in this technologically enhanced world.

Much love.

For more information or to get involved, please visit http://foursquarehaiti.org.

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Thirteen-year-old Erik Martin is living with liver cancer and just had an awesome wish granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This is a story of Seattle taking on a giant, city-wide role-playing scenario for the comic-loving boy who likes to dress up as Electron Boy.

One of the role-players pretending to be Spiderman woke up Erik Martin showing him the following video and requesting his help…

The part of the story that touches me the most is that so many participated in this, supporting and enthusiastically cheering on Erik as he “came to their rescue”.  AWESOME!

Watch this video — especially near the end. Very moving…

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If you’ve moved by the video, consider donating to the relief efforts by the Middle Tennessee chapters of the American Red Cross, and if you have any other ideas on how to help out with recovery from the disaster, please share them in the comments.

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These are paid positions.  Click here for more info over at YouthWorks.

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When I watch it… (tears)

Visit ComeTogetherNowHaiti.com to purchase the track.  100% of your purchase will go to Samaritan’s Purse and the American Red Cross.

Contributing artists include: Aaron Shust, Alathea, Amber Hezlep, Anthony Moreino, Anthony Skinner, Ashley Cleveland, Austins Bridge, B. Reith, Brady Toops, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Byron Chambers, Calvin Nowell, Charmaine, Chris McClarney, Chris Sligh, Chuck Girard, Dana Jorgensen, Darwin Hobbs, David Mullen, Don Poythress, Donovan Tea, Dorothy Savage, Duane Allen, Echoing Angels, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, Greg Jennings, Hillary McBride, Jaime Jamgochian, Jared Anderson, Jasmine Sagginario, Jason Baird, Jason Dunn, Jimmie Allen, Jody Davis, John Ford Coley, John Schlitt, Joseph Martino, Julia Ross, Justin Rivers, Kate Lazar, Kate Schettler, The Katinas, Kevin Max, Kirk Sullivan, Lara Landon, Lanae Hale, Lannie Anderson, Lee Greenwood, Mandisa, Manic Drive, Margaret Becker, Mark Hall and Megan Garrett of Casting Crowns, Matt Dowley, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Melinda Doolittle, Meredith Andrews, Michael Cavallo, Michael Olson, Michael Tait, Michael Tash, MIKESCHAIR, Mike Weaver, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Paige Armstrong, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Rachel B. James, Reco Hight, Restless Heart, Ruben Mundo, Russ Mohr, Sarah Ross, Sarah Sadler, Selah, Shannon Cochran, Shawn Cavallo, Stephanie Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Terrence James, TobyMac, Tommy Coomes, Travis Cottrell, Trey Heffinger, Wynonna, and Yellow Cavalier.

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What’s crazy is that there are amazing, nationwide movements of God happening over there… things that aren’t getting any airtime in the news. On February 12 — just a week-and-a-half from today — President Préval of Haiti called his nation to 3 days of fasting and prayer in place of the regular Mardi Gras celebration. Over 1 million Haitians attended this epic event. Watch the following video; I pray it stirs something inside of you to pray, go, and give.

For more incredible videos, pics and ministry happenings in Haiti, please visit my friends over at facebook.com/ymath.  They are back from their trip now, but these stories still need to be shared.  Let’s make this real to our hearts and love and serve Haiti as we are called.

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