Pray.
Freakin pray. Like your life depends on it. Because it does. And write. Because writing gives you a voice whether or not you believe anyone can hear you. And they can. And sing. At the top of your lungs. For all to hear. As if the world is deaf. Because it is, and they need you to be the aid.
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I'm sure many of you have heard the new R. City song featuring Adam Levine, "Locked Away." I heard the song a bit ago on the radio and really liked it and the message (I thought) it was portraying. (if you haven't heard it or don't know what I'm talking about, here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GUm5g8SG4o) I really liked the sense of loyalty it seemed to try to evoke. Like, no matter what happens to us, I'll be there for you and love you the same.
Sometimes we need that reminder. But this past week, this song totally changed for me. I found out someone close to me is in jail for something insanely dumb that he did. He is quite literally locked away and probably going to lose basically everything. You guys have probably been waiting for a report on how Revive went (that's what I'm telling myself anyways). I haven't blogged about it because I couldn't find the words to describe it. Honestly, I still can't.
It was an amazing night filled with hope and love; one of the greatest nights I have ever been a part of. The best part about it, I think, is that most of the impact and inspiration that came from it, as someone who helped put it together with a lot of behind the scenes work, I may never have the opportunity to see the impact the night had. Maybe I will be able to in Heaven, but even then, maybe not. A local up and coming artist and a friend of Renown, Jeffrey Cameron, started off with a pre-show. Then Adam Sams, an artist who has toured with Switchfoot before and is from Jacksonville, opened the night. We had a few different speakers but the main one was Jamie Tworkowski, the founder of To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA). He introduced his best friend, Jon Foreman. If you told me when I was little that I was going to be helping put on events that impact people, I might have believed you because I knew my heart even then. But if you told me that I was going to be putting on big events with big name people, I would have thought you were crazy because who am I that some "celebrity" would want to come to my town? But if I've learned anything about putting on events, it's that it's not because of or for me by any means. I'm just the vessel being used. In high school, I was a leader for the FCA there (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and we put on annual volleyball tournaments. One year, we brought in Steve Cunningham, a professional boxer and steadfast believer, and my peers couldn't get enough of him. When I got in college, I had no idea that I would be doing what I did in high school but on a larger scale. I became a leader of a Christian (I use that word loosely because I'd rather say Believers or Followers of Christ but I just generalize it because that's what we are on campus) organization - actually, the position just fell into my lap, and I took it. But last year, we decided to start holding a few larger scale events. Like bringing in bands and speakers etc. Because . . . why not? Thus Revive and the G1 Conference were born. Revive is a concert event put on in the Fall. Last year, the hometown band that is just recently making it big, All Things New came and shook the floor. Quite literally. We thought that the floor was going to break open from all the jumping-ness and Jesus juice flowing in that place. Also a local band opened up for them. It was a night I hope I never forget. It was beyond amazing. G1 Conference is our God First conference geared towards young adults. We had pastors and speakers come from all over Florida. It was a two day event, Friday night and all day Saturday. And we had the bands SEU Worship, Bellarive, and the local band that opened up for ATN at Revive, as well as a special guest performance from Deraj. Needless to say, events like these have caused me to go even more insane than I already am, because I become like a control freak on the day of events because my mind knows what needs to get done and wants to do it all at the same time. At least I know that, right? But Revive 2015 is tonight. T O N I G H T. And guess who's coming? Jon Foreman and TWLOHA. Yes, the lead singer of Switchfoot and an amazing organization that is geared solely towards helping people. Because people need people. We're going to have a bunch of different people and organizations speaking because tonight is geared towards bringing hope to a community. I attend school in DeLand, Florida. We are located in Volusia County and are one of if not the leading county in the United States for deaths by suicide. Our county needs hope. Last October, I was helping a church out with their event called Fearaphobic. Basically, its a haunted house twisted with Christian themes and people talk to the people who go through afterwards, calming them down, giving them hope, etc. I got to be one of the talkers. That night, we heard sirens, which isn't uncommon because for a small town, we hear multiple sirens every day. But one of the pastor's wives that I was with wanted to pray. I'm glad she did. That siren was for someone who tried to commit suicide. That night. While we were putting on an event that gave hope. Why hadn't they come? Why didn't they see an out? Why didn't they have hope? Volusia needs hope. So we're going to try to give some back to them. And tonight? Tonight there is hope. There is hope coming back to Stetson University. There is hope coming back to Volusia County. There is hope. So don't be afraid to dream impossibly. It is impossible for Jon Foreman to know of a little town called DeLand. It is impossible for Jamie Tworkowski, founder of TWLOHA, to call us up and say that because his best friend Jon Foreman is going to be there, he'll be there. With a team of his own. It is impossible for Stetson University, a school that does not stand on its beliefs it was founded upon anymore, to fund a large portion of such a large event that brings in people who give the hope. And hope of Jesus Christ. All of this is impossible. But it's happening. For This Time, Cambria |
AuthorI'm a die-hard Sixers and Eagles phan, a writer, a teacher, and a dreamer. Archives
December 2017
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