My Eras Tour: Serving Eagle
Eagle Church is where I came to Christ.
This is where I participated and served in youth group for 25+ years. This is where I made my best friends. This is where I met my wife. This is where my daughter was dedicated to Jesus. This is where my faith grew and my life was challenged.
After 20+ years serving the Eagle Church middle school / high school youth group (Eagle Students) - which includes 20 years of Summer Camp, my services were no longer needed.
I began at Eagle through an invite from a family friend in 1997. I was 14 going on 15. As that Sunday morning participation grew, I naturally got invited and involved in youth group (Eagle Students) - something that forever changed my life.
From there, I graduated high school in 2001 and took on a youth leader role. Over the years, that role solidified itself as the youth group “Tech Guy”, Mr. “Visually Stunning”, the “Video Guy”, and more roles than I can remember.
In my years at Eagle I’ve participated in mission trips, lock-ins, out reaches, capital campaigns, countless planning meetings, moves, summer camps, staff transitions and more. I kept serving in these capacities and roles faithfully for years.
In 2020, a lot came to a head and shifted. This included dynamic shifts and changes in priorities. Watching church from home. Life with a toddler. Being pushed through all the things the world was going through. My wife and I took the opportunity to step back and try to get replenished, this led to a change in scenery where we decided to try a new church.
My usefulness in youth group felt like it had been dwindling for a few years, but also, time with family on Sunday nights was more and more important. So I phased out of Sunday youth service with no pomp and circumstance, reserving my service for youth camp (Ignite Camp) only.
That lasted through 2024, when something I had actually been debating for a few years was decided for me, I was no longer needed in my role at Ignite Camp going forward. It was a simple, unceremonious meeting, amicable for both parties. But I’ve discovered it’s just the icing on the cake for my specific type of “church hurt”.
I owe so much to Eagle Church. I wish it had been easier to go through these changes.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Thank you Eagle and the slew of youth pastors, staff members, church members and youth I have worked with along the way. Each and every one of them helped shape me.
I especially want to thank Jennifer A, Ian S, Liz L and Ian B for their encouragement and willingness to trust me over the years.
I’m excited for what the future holds.
In true Media Buff fashion, I wanted to curate a folder of some images of me involved with Eagle throughout the years (above). I also included some of my favorite videos I filmed and edited (below).
- The Media Buff