Alan Pastian

NEW LEADERSHIP IS HERE

When it comes to new leadership in our churches, nothing is more apparent than the leadership coming up now...and they aren't sitting around.  Young adults want to make a difference now rather than waiting.  They are putting themselves out there to make a difference no matter what the risk or the the pay.  Because of community based things like twitter and facebook, the hierarchal leadership is replaced with a desire for collaboration and tribal coagulation so that what they could accomplish alone and on their personal platform is now replaced with a mentality that "we" can do this rather than "I."   I'm going to definitely harness their passion.

YOUTH WEEKEND IS HERE

I don't think we fully realize how great it is to have a pastor believe in students and the student ministry in such a way that he is willing to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into this coming generation.  River Valley has always been about investing in good things with a good return...that's why we are where we are today as a church.  This weekend we will be praying for the youth of RVC and to that I want to say thank you to Pastor Rob and to all of you who believe in the students at RVC.  This is a generation you CAN believe in. 

Stories

When it comes to the future of our youth ministry, I get excited.  It's stories like these that remind me that I love being a youth pastor:

A young girl came up to me last night and said that while we were worshipping, tears came into her eyes and she said that felt her heaviness lifted and she met Jesus during the worship.  She then confessed all of her hurts and dark areas of her life with a hug right after saying, "I met God tonight...I almost didn't come."  

A young man went on one of our missions trips this summer and said to himself why he isn't being a missionary here?  Channeling his passion, he started up a Bible Study at his school which in turn has birthed over 4 school Bible studies coming out of our youth ministry, led by our students from their own schools.

A young girl has not been to church since she was 5 years old because her parents lost trust in the church and simply stopped going.  She came to RVC for the first time 3 weeks ago.  She came up to me after one of our ONE Wed nights and said, "Thank You.  I can believe in God and I can trust God again with my life.  He really DOES believe in me!"

A  young man came up to me recently and said, "I'm supposed to be a Pastor I think?"  To which I said, "What are you gonna do about it?"  To which he replied, "Spend as much time I can at my church and learn...let's do this thing!"  

Everyone has a story that has brought them in touch with God.  In our youth ministry there are plenty and plenty more to come.  Kingdombuilders is happening this weekend.  Our miracle offering this weekend is investing in the future generations and in future pastors and leaders.  We have an incredible kids ministry and youth ministry facility on the way...and it's because of your generosity.  

I wanted to say "thank you" in advance for giving to Kingdombuilders.  Because of your generosity this weekend, you are helping create stories that are yet to be written and will be talked about for years to come.  You just don't know the impact you will have on our students lives here at RVC but realize your giving makes a difference.  

FILL IN THE BLANK

I was talking with some people recently about my kids. They are both so unique and different. I remember I was searching for some words to describe them. "Anja's very precise with things," I said. "She'll line up her her stuffed animals in a straight line and then play with them like an assembly line playing with each toy in order then putting it back in line again. She's very meticulous." People have to search for words to describe each other. Here's a phrase for you someone may use to describe you: "I met him/her a few times, and he's/she's really ___________!" How would they describe you? What word would they use to fill in the blank? We all leave an impression on people. The mark we leave is shaped by our passions, our appearance our personality and our integrity. The younger we are, our personality and appearance tends to dominate how people describe us. But as we mature, it seems our integrity tends to be used as a describing factor more often than the others: She's really honest, he's very reliable, they are very trustworthy, etc. If people were to fill in the blank, how would they describe you?

RARE

I was telling some friends that I think what I have is so rare compared to many whom I talk to. I think it's rare to find a church that you fully trust with your faith, family and would sacrifice for. I think it's rare to find friends that you can be transparent with who you can be vulnerable with that love you for who you are and accept you for who you are. I have talked to many where their church is in turmoil and experiencing some unhealthy dynamics or their friendships are shallow or experiencing jealousy, frustrations, etc. If our faith is built upon the great command to "love God and love others" that means that so much of what we do hinges on relationship. When those relationships are healthy and reliable, it's a treasured thing.

Father's Day

Have I told you I have the greatest family in the world? I had a "Happy Father's Day" in unison when i got up and was getting ready for church. After I received my Father's Day pie, we went to Highland Park for some walking and then went to Grand Ave where we had our taste buds dazzled at Cafe Late...one of our favorite getaway places. It was memorable but keeping my one-year-old entertained at meal time gets harder and more creative each time, the older he gets. This time around the salt and pepper shakers were 2 giant trucks smashing each other with a lot of salt shrapnel.

Have I mentioned that boys are incredibly different than girls when they are toddlers?

ROCK ON Fall Retreat!

We had a great time this fall at our High School Fall Retreat. This year's theme was "ROCK ON" and in true ONE Student Ministry fashion we did it up right! We spent some time away in small groups, dressed up like rock stars, had an incredible time with God in worship & message. Not to metnion, we partied like rock stars with energy drinks and a 20 foot limo to give us that rock star edge! The students said it was our best fall retreat yet and I think I agree with that.

ANJA AND HER THOUGHTS ON GOD

Life is so amazing. Anja gave her heart to Jesus at bedtime prayers a few weeks back. To which we have had a lot of God conversations in our house lately...

1. "Dad you're nice, mom's nice, Magnus's nice and God's nice."
2. "Why does it take so long to get to heaven?"
3. "Hi God. Hi God. Hi God. Hi God." (as she turns her head looking everywhere around the room as she heard recently that God is "everywhere."
4. "Mommy, do they have little girl princess pajama's in heaven and little girl toys in heaven?" (as Anja is contemplating spending an eternity in heaven to which Heidi replied, "They have the best ones ever" and Anja giggles with excitement)
5. "God's bigger than all the spooky bad people." (as Anja is contemplating halloween and its holiday history)
6. "When I get to heaven I'm going to ask God to show me how He makes it rain...I like the rain."
7. "Dad, how can God be in my heart and be in heaven at both times?" (as Anja contemplates God's omnipresence)
8. "Are you going to be in heaven because you have to be there with me" (as Anja calls some of her friends after she gives her heart to God to which one of her friends said, "you're wierd Anja")
9. "...and then Jesus married the princess and they lived happily ever after in the big, big castle." (as Anja was putting the finishing touches on one of our bedtime Bible stories)
10. "I want to marry God."

APPARENTLY I LIKED THE PICNIC

Ummm, I have nothing more to say...ok? I didn't make time. There.

FAMILY PICNICS

The picnic was outstanding and well done on so many levels. As a pastor, I walk away from those events totally pumped about RVC, what we've done and where we are going! When you think of famly picnics you think of the relationships you haven't seen in a while and you get to simply catch up on what's been happening. To all of you who I "overtalked" my welcome, I personally wish you all a thank you and there's more where that came from. You think of the wierd uncle who wears black dress socks and bermuda shorts who everyone gets nervous around because they think that he's going to say something wierd or do something crazy like dance with a plant (I had one of those wierd experiences yesterday too...you know who you are). You think of how you appreciate your family and friends and it's one of those reflective moments. We only get together once a year and I had to stop last night and just look around at all the RVC faces. Some of you I know your story. Some of you, I only see at a distance in service. But we are together and that's special to us as pastor's...to have all of the church together to honor God. I love our RVC family picnic and maybe next time I can baptize in my speedo or at least a snorkel mask to change it up...wait, I just realized something, I'm the weird uncle everyone gets embarrassed about. And I'm OK with that.