Posts Tagged ‘WSN’

Into the Eye of the Storm

Saturday, September 6th, 2008

Every September we have week-long National WSN team planning meetings called Verticals.  Not really sure why unless meetings within the 10 regions are supposed to be called Horizontals. We meet and strategic plan for the year and try to tackle big issues we face.   All in an effort to see be able to take God’s glory to more and more places.

Usually we meet in places like a beach in California which makes it nice for me.  Last year I went early and spent the weekend with my sister, Belinda, and hung out with a good friend who is at Talbot.  Meeting along the coast is a nice break because even though we spend most of the times in meetings when we do get a break you can walk along the beach.   One year we went down to Mexico City which while not the beach was fun because we were at the start of the CityFocus effort and spend a day going to campuses launching movements.  Once we even met in Estes Park, CO which was especially sweet because its only an hour away.  Plus fair-skinned that I am, I’d rather hike along a trail in RMNP than along the beach.
But this year, though the reasoning escapes me, we are meeting in Daytona Beach, FL.  I think maybe because its close to our HQ in Orlando or maybe we got this sweet deal. Of course we got a sweet deal, it’s hurricane season.   Hanna made landfall this morning but Ike is right behind her.  He is supposed to go along the Keys and into the Gulf but if he makes a right-hand turn we are toast.  Either way we are wet.
At least we know next year we will be back on the West Coast..  deal or no deal.  I vote for Seattle or Portland.

Erik Steffen Went Home

Sunday, June 4th, 2006

My friend and fellow co-worker, Erik Steffen, went home to be with Jesus last night. Erik leaves behind a wife, Kelly, and two boys, Alex (2 1/2) and Jensen (11 months).

Erik came to know Christ as his Savior while a student at the University of Georgia through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. He and Robin were involved in Crusade at the same time. Robin remembers him as a dynamic leader who boldly shared his faith.

Erik went on a STINT to Turkey and joined staff and served in the Great Lakes region where he met and married Kelly.

I haven’t known Erik that long. I had heard of him and then we communicated a few years back about some STINT issues as he was serving as partnership coordinator for the Great Lakes region. The next year – 2004 – Erik joined the WSN team and took the same role in the Great Lakes that I have in the Great Plains (Associate Regional Director). I only got to spend time with him at a couple of WSN Nat’l meetings but I really enjoyed getting to know him and especially talking abut the Dawgs. I recruited him to be a team with me to help design and plan a training conference for our WSN summer project leaders in January 05. I remember him apologizing to me for being behind on his job because he was having these severe headaches. It turned out it was brain cancer.

I have really been impressed by Erik and Kelly’s faith and perspective. God has really used him these past couple of years as he fought cancer. I can see many lives he has touched just by reading their updates.

I am saddened that my friend and brother is gone. I am sad and grieve for his bride and that his little boys will grow up with no memory of him. I rejoice that his suffering is over and that he with his Lord that he loved and served.

 
 

Better Tag Cloud