It’s been a couple days since my family and I returned from Bolivar, MO and the 2008 Saved By Faith Youth Challenge (SBFYC) conference. This was an especially exciting year because it’s the first year my son Jordan attened as a Christian. He was really excited and I could tell he got a lot out of it. My 19 year old son Josh was in the ensemble (JJ Stupote) and I was the photographer for the event. We were also able to fellowship with our brothers and sisters from the church we attended while living in the Austin area, Cornerstone Baptist Church. We’ve missed those folks and it was really great to see them again.
I would like to give a recap of the event and some of the travel involved.
Friday, 07/04 – My wife Carole, son Jordan, and I set out in the morning for Hutto, TX so that we could meet up with our son Josh. My job for the day was to get him to Owasso, OK so that he could practice with the band on Saturday. Carole and Jordan stayed behind and came up with the Cornerstone bunch on Sunday. Josh and I got on the road about 12:40pm and drove about 450 in 7 hours, 15 minutes. Pretty quick! We made a quick stop at Little Ceasars in Waco for lunch (5 minutes) and then once (About 10 minutes) for gas in Dallas. We arrived safely at the home of Bill Stinson (And family). an associate pastor at Bethel Baptist Church in Owasso, OK. They still had their 4th of July celebration going and we got to enjoy the great view of fireworks from their home. I just want to say that the Stinson’s were great hosts and we appreciate their hospitality during our three day stay there.
Saturday, 07/05 – This was the day that the band practiced. I was greatful to be able to watch and listen as these fine young men and women practiced with a goal towards glorifying God with everthing they did. As I listened I started reading the book Why We’re Not Emergent
by Kevin Deyoung and Ted Kluck. So far and interesting book. I’ll probably write about it when I finish it. Anyway, the band put in a full ten hour day practicing and had to break down all the equipment so that it could be pack into the trailer on Sunday so that it would be ready to go on Monday morning.
Sunday, 07/06 – Josh and I got to attend Bethel Baptist for services on Sunday. It was a pleasure to finally get to hear Brother Bill Ascol preaching in his Church. I’ve heard him many times at SBFYC and he once did a conference at Cornerstone Baptist in Elgin, TX. In the morning he preached from Romans 7:1 – 8:4. The sermon was titled “The Law and the Christian.” He spoke about how to understand the relation of the Law to the unconverted. He made the specific point that the Law is the “plumb line” for sin. It gives the knowledge of sin. The evening service was just as much a blessing with the sermon covering Matthew 18:15-20 with the title being “A Call to Renewal. God’s Method of Recovering the Wayward.”
Monday, 07/07 – The first day of the conference (Or camp. I’ll use the terms interchangeably.). The band needed to get there around lunch time and the trip from Owasso to Bolivar, MO was supposed to be about three hours. The plan laid out by Bro. Bill was to leave about 7:30. I think by the time we loaded up and made a quick “snack” stop we were on the road a little after 8:00 am. We arrived around the time planned and began to unload and get setup. Here’s JJ Stopute’s leader Josh Ascol:
Josh Ascol hauling a couple monitors
Setup was pretty intensive. You can see it took the whole band to setup the drums:
And….time to start jamming:
The guitar/Bass players are always ready to go
After the campers showed up the conference started off with a rally and introduction. Really a great time of fun and getting accquainted. Here’s a few shots from the evening:
Megan Monroe on vocals
Luke Harden on guitar
Leader Josh Ascol
Camp Pastor - Todd Wilson
Director Bill Ascol
JJ Stupote
It was a great evening and ended a long day. With folks traveling from as far away as Florida we were grateful to God that everyone made it without incident.
Tuesday, 07/08 – Tuesday was the first full day of camp. Of course each day included devotion time, prayer meeting, three meals, recreation, and free time. But the highlights of each day was a morning seminar, a morning worship service, evening “Rally time,” and evening worship. The Tuesday seminar was lead by Bill Ascol. His topic was “Relationships Shaped by the Great Commision” and he used Matthew 28 as his main text. He led un in answering two questions: “Why are you here?” and “Why do you go where you go?” He stressed the point that the great commission doesn’t call us to get decisions but to make disciples. We all have a Jerusalem, a Judea, a Samaria, and an uttermost part of the earth. We noted that in Acts 8:1-4 it took persecution for the Christians to go out and witness. He spoke about why we go and do the things we do. For example, God could have made us so that we’d never need a haircut or have to go to the store. But these “needs’ get us out into the world and are great opportunities for witnessing. He ended by summarizing that we should go where we go for the glory of God and the great commission.
In the morning worship time Dr. Roy Hargrave of Riverbend Community Church in Ormond Beach, FL brought the message. Bro. Hargrave spoke from Romans 1:16-32 and the Ramifications of Mis-Understanding This Text. He posited that the first relationship to honor God is to love God. We’re to love God before all others and two obsticles are 1) The flesh and 2) Not knowing the truth about God. He asked the question, “Do you know God or a contrived notion of God?” He ended with three points, 1) When God’s wrath is ignored, there is an increasing denial of man’s depravity. 2) When God’s revelation is ignored man’s accountability is diminished in his own eyes. 3) God removes His restraint and sin is allowed to abound with its consequences.
Dr. Roy Hargrave
In the evening worship time Dr. Hargrave’s sermon was titled “But Now” and he used Romans 3:9-26 as his text. Basically he answered the question, “What does the Bible say that the Law says to us?” Is says death, 2 Cor. 3:4-8 The 10 commandments say “I kill you,” Galatians 3:10. His main points were, the Law proves that we’re truly guilty, It gives us the knowledge of sin, it drives us deeper into sin (Gal 3:23), and You must look to the merits of Christ alone for your salvation. Overall it was a very evangelistic message and spoke to many conference goers.
Wednesday, 07/09 – The seminar for the day was “Relationships as it applies to our Parents” and was led by Pastor Bill Stinson from Bethel Baptist Church in Owasso, OK. Rev. Stinson used Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-2, and Colossians 3:20. He explained that to honor means to give special favor, hold in high esteem, or place value on. In the case of our relationships what comes out of our mouths reflects what’s in our hearts. Luke 6:45, Mark 7:21, and Matt 12:34. He also gave a test in the form of a list of points or questions to ask yourself about your relationship with your parents. It’s pretty long and I didn’t get all but here are some:
- Refusing to talk to them
- Rolling your eyes (Proverbs 30:11-13)
- Raising your voice (Proverbs 15:1)
- Calling them names
- Telling them no
- Threatening them
- Looking at the angrily
- Withholding affection
- Scoffing
- Willfully disobeying
- Cursing them
- Being rude
- Refusing to be corrected
- Not being attentive
- By Inturrupting
- Murmuring and complaining
- Comparing them unfavorably to friends parents
There was also a list of things to do to show parents honor:
- Remember that you will not always have your parents
- Learn to distinguish between their personality and position
- Learn to esteem them more than yourself (Proverbs 3:7, Philippians 2:3)
- Learn to listen attentively and do not interrupt
- Tell them right up front that you will obey. Obey first
- Let then know when you are angry
- When you blow it – stop – ask for forgiveness
- Learn how to make an appeal
- Work hard at being patent when they correct you – it’s their appointed responsibility
- Express gratitude that they love you enough to do what they think is best for you
- Pick wise relationships
- Learn to delight in their company
- Pick their brain – Ask what’s important
- Imitate what’s good in them – complement then on what’s good
- Remember that you are also a sinner (Eph 4:32, Col. 3:13)
- Remember that you will be blessed
Rev. Stinson closed with a reminder that to dishonor your parents will bring a curse on your life. Prov. 3:17, Gen 9:22. Lest the kids think I’m picking on them all these points apply to me in my relationship with my parents. While they are alive they deserve my highest respect.
Bro. Hargrave spoke in the morning worship service a sermon titled “God Gave Them Up” and his passage was Romans 1:24-25. He posited that sin is progressive in nature – it grows by degrees over a period of time. We were reminded that we should glory in God’s longsuffering towards us. Psalm 86:15.
For the rest of this post I will just introduce the topics so as to keep this long post from getting even longer. You can get recordings of the messages from www.sbfyc.com.
Wednesday evening Dr. Hargrave spoke to us again. His topic was “Sin and Wrath Before Grace and Truth.” The text was Romans 1:8. The main points were – 1) Paul declares the universal nature of God’s revelation, 2) Describes teh voluntary and radical corruption of humanity, 3) Defends the presence of God’s wrath against high treason, and 4) Debunks the general consensus that we can gain favor with God outside of Jesus.
Here’s a couple shots from Wednesday:
Sarah Stinson, Josh Ascol, and Andrew Stinson
Megan Monroe, Josh Rector, Nate Koch, and Luke Harden
Evening Worship
Thursday, 07/10 – The last full day of SBFYC 2008. This is always a bittersweet day. We’re (The adults at least.) tired and ready to head home but at the same time sad that the conference and great teaching are coming to an end. I missed the moring seminar because my camp photographer duties had me busy getting pictures ready so that Karen Ascol could get a slideshow together for the evening rally time. However, Michael Jordan of Capitol Baptist Church in Oklahoma City brought the message “Relationships and a Christian Worldview.” I heard it was fantastic and plan on getting the recording when it’s available.
Dr. Hargrave brought the message in the morning worship service. His title was “Gospel Ingredients” from Romans 1:14-17. His main points were – 1) We have a moral debt to pay, 2) The proclaimation of the gospel, 3) The problem of the gospel, 4) The power of the gospel, and 5) The purpose of the gospel. I commend the recording to you. One statement he said that stuck out to me was “You don’t see the Holy Spirit, you see the fruit of His work.”
During the afternoon recreation time there was a short opportunity for JJ Stupote to play and take requests. It was relaxed and most who attended had a blessed time.
JJ Stupote leads an afternoon worship time
The highlight of Thursday recreation time the “Precision Abdominal Diving” (PAD). It always promises a bit of entertainment and red skin.
Takin' it on the chin
Thursday evening was the last time we were all together. Another favorite at SBFYC is “Mini-Josh” and “Are You Unique?” Here’s a couple shots from Thursday evening rally time:
What's that going down his arm?!
"Mini-Josh" trying to eat jello
Impromtu gathering on the stage for the "Shower song"
The message brought by Dr. Hargrave was titled “The Ministry of Reconciliation” and came from 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. The main points were – 1) God knows my motives, 2) We must guard the reputation of other Christians, and 3) We’re qualified to be ambassadors for Christ because we know what it’s like to be under sin.
All in all it was a great conference. I personally had a blast being the “official photographer” and will post a link to the candid shots soon. If you are looking for group pictures to order you can do that here.
Friday, 07/11 – Time to head home. We all got up between 6 and 6:30 am with the intent to be gone by about 7:30. After packing and cleaning our rooms we headed to McDonalds in Bolivar. After a long wait we had our breakfast, gassed up the vehicles and got on the road right before 9:00am. We were going to “caravan” with the Cornerstone folks until we got to Dallas. Then they would head to Austin and we would head to Houston. Jordan was going to ride with them until the split. Well, that was our plan anyway.
I called my son Richard as soon as we took of to check in on them. My daughter-in-law Laura was expecting their third child any day. Well, when I called Richard informed me that Laura was in labor! We quickly retrieved Jordan and made tracks for Houston. Of course, I was thinking we had plenty of time. Labor lasts about 8 to 12 hours right? Not! At about 10:20 my son called and said I had a new grandson at 10:08! I just can’t describe what that feels like. You have to experience it your self.
We made it to the Houston area about 8:30 pm and got to see Noah John on his first day of life. What a blessing to end a week of blessings.
