The Castle-13 years running!

The Castle.

Say that to any random person on the street and they'll look at you funny. Say that to someone from the ages of 13-35 who attends or is friends with someone who attends Portersville Bible Church, you'll get a smile and you will release a flood gate of memories. Goofy times, hard times, fun times, and spiritually changing times.

It's an actual castle in Franklin, PA where we take a youth retreat for 7h each year during Christmas break. This year, if I've calculated right, was my 13th year in a row. 6 of them as a student, 7 of them as a counselor/helper/do whatever you need me to do. It's such an amazing time. I've been there with a myriad of youth leaders and helpers. We've done EVERYTHING under the sun to reach kids. Each year the Castle is the same....yet completely different. The food is the same, in the same order, Mary is the same, the building is the same, the trip is the same, the gym in the same, the rules are the same, the awkward PDA convo in the same (still awkward). . The kids are the same---the faithful, and different---the friends of the faithful. The kids are the same---their names, and different---matured and changed through Christ, or changed through other things-good or bad, over the years.

This year was so amazing for me. Tyler, my youngest brother, is a senior. I started helping at the Castle when the seniors were in 7th grade. I have watched them for six years. As I stood there and watched them worship, God brought me to tears. My precious 7th graders are now worshipping God and having great communion with Him. They are standing there, eyes closed, praising our Father. Amy is in deep prayer, asking God for direction in her life. Praising Him for who He is. I have been through so much with her. She is sooooo precious to me. I cannot wait to see how God is going to use her. Tyler is going forward to commit to serve. My little brother, in love with God, not caring to be the center of attention at school or wanting to do wrong things. The picture of my cousin Lee with his arms out and in all-out worship is burned into my memory. He used to be so little. Now he's so grown. He's going to change the world.

I cried a lot this year. I know....I'm a leader. I'm not the one who is supposed to be affected. Yet...I was.

I was put to the challenge to create a Prayer Room-Sanctuary- for the kids to get away and get quiet before God. Kristin gave me great ideas which I put into action. This was only completed with amazing help. I just pray that someone was blessed by this. It was totally God.

Come...all who are weary...and I will give you rest.

Know God.



Forgive and wash away the hurt and pain caused by people.



Look back at the commitments you've made in the past. Have you kept them? What's keeping you from them? Renew them today.


Look in the mirror. What do you see? What does God see? What do others see?

Look around you. Where can you serve? What can you do? You're not too poor, too young, too alone, too little to do something for Him.

I was the Senior High Girls counselor. They are amazing. I love working with that age group.