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I met Mke Yaconelli at a Youthworkers Convention all the way back in 1999…or was it 2000? I can’t really remember. I remember I was wrestling with the frustrations of being a clueless youth pastor. I bumped into him in the Expo hall. Either I really looked depressed or the discernment meter went off inside him but whatever the case, for the next 15 to 20 minutes we talked.
Not talked like a celebrity to a peasant, but talked liked a little brother to a big brother. He’d ask a question, I’d try to impress him with an answer…he looked at me and I really can’t print what he said in return. “Now tell me the truth.” His big fat heart for students and youthworkers was contagious. He was the source of encouragement for thousands of youthworkers across the globe but for 20 minutes - he was my personal sage.
I use to think my experience was unique. It wasn’t. I think Mike would purposely walk around conventions looking for people to run into and encourage. And his encouragement was not all that different than his talks.
Here’s a smash-up of some of his later talks.
Tags: Mike Yaconelli, student ministry, youth ministry
9 responses so far ↓
1 Karla Yaconelli // Jan 24, 2008 at 12:35 pm
A kind friend sent me a link to this. I don’t know who you are, but I just wanted to say thank you for continuing to remember my husband. It blesses me to kmow that his impact on your life remains and continues. Know that your OWN impact on the Kingdom of God is colossal. Thanks for loving kids and for encouraging me today.
2 Grant // Jan 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm
It’s us that should be thanking you, Karla.
For sharing your husband with us! Thanks for you both being an authentic example of so many things - marriage, ministry, laughter.
3 robert // Jan 24, 2008 at 4:17 pm
amen grant! both to what you said about yaconelli and for thanking karla for sharing him.
you know you’re really a pretty good guy considering you’re a bronco fan.
4 kurt // Jan 24, 2008 at 9:28 pm
This is what makes the internet so cool. That Karla can somehow hear about your post and leave an encouraging comment.
I first saw/heard Yac at the 84 convention in Portland. I was a brand new youth intern and I couldn’t believe what a great gathering it was. I mean these guys brought in Undercover and Steve Taylor for music. Undercover!!! Those rabble rousing punkers!!! I wondered, “Was this allowed? Are we okay having such a great time???”
Over the next 15 years the NYWC and Mike’s messages and workshops were like the balm of Gilead for so many youth guys who served in churches that could be a bit boring and safe. His rants often gave us the nad to go back to our churches and challenge some of the stupid status quo issues (Jones Memorial Carpet motivated me for years!!!)
Thanks to Yac I still enjoy sticking the occasional stick in the spokes of church. Did it this last Sunday. It was great!
Thanks Mike and Karla…
5 Grant // Jan 25, 2008 at 9:38 am
You know what would be cool? If we could get a ton of youthworkers who have similar stories and post them up.
Then send it to Karla.
And we’ll even let Packer fans participate.
6 kris // Jan 26, 2008 at 1:28 pm
wow … this is a great tribute to an awesome individual ….
7 jlo // Jan 26, 2008 at 1:32 pm
You had shared his book “Dangerous Wonder” with us at Little Rock. It was awesome. I wish I could have heard him at on of his conferences.
8 MikeS // Jan 28, 2008 at 9:18 am
One of my all time faves is Messy Spirituality. For the first time someone put my spiritual journey into words. And it was a youth guy who recommended it to me.
Thanks, Grant, for the reminder.
9 My Favorite 10 Books | the G sides // Feb 6, 2008 at 1:37 pm
[...] Yaconelli. You can’t go wrong by reading Yaconelli but this is my favorite one. You can check this out to see what I mean. Messy Spiritually was probably the single most influential book on my life. [...]
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