Hello from Youth Pastor Summit, Orlando FL

Hello from Orlando, FL. My wife and I have been on quite a journey since Sunday. Sunday morning Birmingham, AL was hit with "church canceling" snow. Weird. Then we boarded a plane to Charlotte N.C. to catch another plane to Orlando, FL. That flight had a 6 hour layover due to extreme snowy weather. Again, weird (for us).

Finally arriving in Orlando around 4:30 am we checked out our rental car, headed to the hotel for check-in, and into bed at 6:00 am. 7:00 am we arose to be at the conference at 8:00 am. Let's just say we were really struggling.

The first day was packed with inspiring messages, good thought, and applicable information to student ministry. Over 3,000 youth pastors were being equipped for ministry once again. Some information was fresh and new, some was rehashing what we need to be reminded of every now and then. There was something, however, that would not leave my mind. The "leaders!"

The focus of the day was to empower "leaders" to "lead" students. Do this. Do that. Preach this. Preach that. Remember this. Remember that. As I said earlier, all good and valuable info, but I can't help my reoccurring thoughts. What about the "leaders?"

Who is really pouring into them? Who is re-energizing their heart, soul, and passion? Of every one hour session that was presented by a different impactful leader, why wasn't there one that encouraged the "leader" themselves. Once again I saw my call staring me in the face screaming, "Brandon, you have to or no one else will."

As of this writing it is nearly 9:30 pm here in Orlando, FL. I haven't slept but one hour since rising at 5:30 am on Sunday morning, and yet I sit here wide awake with that thought running over and over in my mind. "If I don't, who will?"

Today if you are reading this and something leaps in your spirit and the thought of saving even one of the 1,200 pastors a month who are leaving the ministry, grab hands with Cultivate and let's make a difference. Let's make deposits into those who are being withdrawn from.

I will... will you?

Brandon