I began YosemiteSummit.org in 2008 first for myself, to restart my weary pastors heart in a difficult season of life – and invited other pastors to join me. Over 50 have since on multiple annual Summits. I call it The UNconference for Children’s Pastors.
No Workshops, Just Worship
No Resources, Just Relationships
No Networking, Just God Working.
On the plane today I started re-reading from my first Summit Journal and decided to share it as many people often ask me – “Why do you keep going back?” This was my first journal entry, back in 2008. I was struck today by how well I described WHY I do this. If you want a taste of our Summits, visit the Highlight Videos at YosemiteSummit.org/videos
Below is the transcript, but here are the journal pages:
This place is beyond description, though of course, I will try. As I often say it is where God showed off. Our language lacks adequate words to do Yosemite justice.
Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Breathtaking. Beautiful. Magnificent.
I suppose the best I can use is awe-inspiring. Awe at the sheer size, and height, and depth, and distance, and beauty, and splendor that hits your eyes all at once. And no matter how many pictures you take (and I take a lot) you can’t contain it. You can’t capture it. You can’t even get your mind around it. You have to be here and just experience it. But what is the “it”—“it” is not Yosemite, it is GOD. His Bigness, His Majesty, His Beauty, His Greatness, His Power, His Creative ability. I do not worship Yosemite—I love Yosemite because it draws out of me a depth of worship I can only experience here. It’s like somehow God is more here than anywhere else. While I know theologically that isn’t true, this broken spiritual vessel is somehow healed here—even if only temporarily—and able to feel God’s presence like no other time. All doubts, All worries, All concerns, All pressures, All temptations, All my earthly distractions vanish here—and I get a taste of what heaven will be like. Not necessarily what I see on the outside here—but what happens to me on the inside here. And I beg God to let me take Yosemite, (His peace and presence) back with me when I return to my normal life. May I not forget these mountains, these waterfalls, these trees, and these vistas are all silently still here—even as I hurry about my busy life—to remind me that He is still there too, quietly, patiently, waiting for me to stop and ponder Him, worship Him, and return to that place of Awe wherever I may be.
I head there again for the Umteenth time on Sunday. Can’t wait.
If you are a male children’s pastor and want to join me next year, registration is LIMITED and now open.
