April 28, 2008

Leadership is as joyful as it is costly. Many would disagree with the joyful aspect, but that would have to be their own personal problem of choice. My opportunity to lead here in Asheville ramps up daily. My advancing leadership is proportional to my realization of the power of influence over those whom I lead. I’m not so much speaking in terms of their receptiveness, but their reaction to me as a person. For while people are looking to be lead, many of them are looking to find themselves, and they will often mimic the character you exhibit. It can be nerve-wracking to realize at times, if I were to be honest, but I will say to you it greatly advances my accountability to God and helps me grow closer to Him. As I’ve said in previous updates, RAD has given me new eyes to look at my life and the areas I need to grow in, so with growing leadership, I find it much easier to take these things before the Lord. It makes sense now why the simple model of life, which my director Rob and his family lived out before me, have grown and impacted me the most while I have been in RAD. I saw nothing less than the love of Jesus in each one of them, so for me that means I will continue to violently remove anything in my life that doesn’t present that model, not only because I desire to be like Jesus, but also for the benefit of others. This is what will change the world—not the eloquent words of our faith, but the daily life of our choices and actions. Jesus Himself said, “…love one another, just as I have loved you, you are also to love another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Robert and Rebecca Nicolas just hosted another Catapult weekend, which was off the chain for real. They invited a German couple, Waldi and Doris, who attend F.I.R.E. and Morning Star schools of ministry. Waldi and Doris did some serious prophetic ministry with the kids on Friday night and a lot of destiny and encouragement came out of it—it was really amazing. They also taught on the ability to see in the Spirit on behalf of other people. I had some pretty amazing words unleashed into my life that night. Doris, who didn’t know me from Adam looked at me and said, “There is a serious mantle of leadership over your life and you also have the ability to sharply see in the spirit.” This totally confirmed a word I received from a couple at church on the previous weekend, which was pretty amazing! Another girl, Amy, who also doesn’t know me very well came up and said, “I feel that God has given you the keys to go into doors, which no one else can walk through.” This really pumped me up as I feel like it really solidifies my calling to go love on the hardcore scene. The next night, we had Remix, which for all of you who are not familiar with the ministry up here, Remix is a night of worship and prayer. God really showed up that night and laid some callings on people to go beyond the four walls of the church and bring God to the classrooms, streets, or wherever and that obviously pumped me up all the more for I know I’ve been called to do. That night was especially good for me, as I felt God really download a confidence and an unapologetic for which God has made me, who He is to me, and what He has called me to do. I only need to remain humble about it, for I don’t wish to become arrogant or prideful about it. This was especially good for me as I have found myself constantly shaken by other people, and I really got sick of it and decided I wasn’t going to allow it anymore and God surely backed that up.

On a less important note, I want to tell all of you that one of my biggest dreams has come true: I saw five black bears!!!! Although, I have hoped and prayed for just one, I saw five of them! Tom Camacho and I planned a day hike in Laurel Ridge in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where we were searching for a rock face, which he has been eyeing for years from across the ridge at a camp he runs during the summer. His plan is to do a “no fear factor” activity, where he will repel kids off this rock face. As we were driving up to the trailhead, I saw something black and fuzzy dart in front of the truck out of the corner of my eye as I was admiring the mountain vegetation to the right and left. To my surprise, I looked to my right and saw a little black bear cub join the company of three other little cubs and a sow.  It is unheard of to see a momma bear with four cubs! I sat there in shock, staring at the bears that were within a close proximity to the truck. After I came out of my state of awe, I got out of the truck as they slowly made their way up the mountain and stopped within 100’ proximity and I had eye contact with the sow for a good five minutes and I was seriously stoked with this experience. Our adventure continued a few hundred feet beyond the bear sighting as we began our climb and search of this face. Our map read that we had a 1000’ climb to overcome within a mile to get the charted point on our map. It was really awesome too, as Tom taught me a little bit about wilderness navigation. We proceeded about a half mile up what seemed to be an old horse trail and our map led us of to the right, which turned into bushwhacking up the side of a mountain to get to our destination—actually, I should have termed our little off-the-beaten-path adventure as briar whacking, for that is exactly what we did.

My greatest joy in being here remains as my opportunity to disciple and love on the kids within the youth groups in Asheville and to build relationships with the community here. It really brings joy to my heart that most of them have been very transparent and vulnerable with me, as I feel that they feel safe with me. And while that brings me joy, I do take that lightly in any way. I can honestly say everything I have engaged myself in here in Asheville has been a success, yet I struggle with being diligent with every bit of my time to take care of personal responsibilities. Thank you for taking the time to interest yourself with my life and what I have been doing. Please continue to pray that God would use me in any way He can and that I would be able to seize every moment in every opportunity that He gives me. While I greatly anticipate what He has in store for in the next stage, I still desire to be all I can be here and now. I would also like to address the needs of my team and RAD as a ministry. Please pray for my fellow teammates that they will be empowered in every way possible to impact others and that they would wisely use the next two weeks to impact others. At this time, RAD has no students for next year, so please pray hard that God would bring some people in for that. If you have read this, than you are probably aware of the great difference RAD makes in the lives of people. I love you all and thank you again for reading this!

In Him,

Matthew Griffis.