Gospel meetings are a thrill. I love the atmosphere, the energy, and the excitement. I love meeting new people, visiting with folks in the foyer, and getting attached to another group of God’s people. There’s only one thing I don’t like about going other places to preach. I miss home.

I always miss Melissa and the kids. Every six-year-old reminds me of Morgan. Every five- year-old makes me want to play cars with David. It’s never soon enough to finally walk in the house and have them tell me all that went on while I was away.

And I don’t like being away from my spiritual family either. Meetings make me miss Southside. I wonder about what’s happening here. I think about Doug Donahoe lining up all the men who serve the assembly on Sunday morning. I think about the classes, the singing, and the preaching. I even think about what Steve Bockmiller might be wearing. It’s just hard being away from home.

This weekend is different. I am away preaching in Blue Springs, Missouri, but I didn’t go by myself. I wasn’t able to bring my wife and children, but I did the next best thing. I took some of Southside with me.

We’ve done this kind of thing before. In August of 1999, five men from Southside—Giles Baker, Bubba Garner, Bill Lowe, Jason Moore, and Wilson Usrey went to Timmins, Ontario, Canada to encourage the young group of Christians there. Jason and I preached in the evenings and Giles, Bill, and Wilson helped us teach classes on leadership during the day. That’s where one of the sisters in the congregation made the statement, “Elders are like angels to us. We know the exist, but we’ve never seen one before.” It was a special moment on a special trip. Two young people were baptized during our time there.

The next year, eleven of us from Southside went back to the same church for a more extensive week of work. Jason and I took our wives who, along with Bunny Balmer, Denise Bowman, and Peggy Henson taught a class for the ladies. Justin Campbell, Teena Powell, Melanie Stansel, and Adam Wooster were teenagers at the time and they assisted with a class for the young people. Jason, then, took the men of the congregation and conducted a preacher- training seminar. In the evenings, he and I alternated preaching. Four people were baptized that week. On the morning we left, nearly the entire church came to the airport and waved goodbye as our plane took off. We all felt like we were bringing more home with us than we were leaving behind in Timmins.

I don’t know what kind of results to expect from this weekend’s trip to Blue Springs, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. But one thing is for sure: I have great confidence in the people who are going with me. The church there inquired about hosting a weekend series of classes for teenagers. I couldn’t think of a better way to ensure success than to bring some of the finest young people anywhere. In fact, our teenagers were the ones who first expressed their desire to be involved somehow in a work like this.

Tyler Baker possesses tremendous leadership skills and will be a help to us. Kent Ellis connects with all kinds of people. Brandon Garcia is a new Christian and will benefit from being around our kids and theirs. Cliff Gunn is hard worker and has grown mightily in his young faith. Taylor Henson has a sincerity and honesty about him that appeals to all ages.

As for the ladies, Christine Craig exhibits maturity and wisdom beyond her years. Bethany Ellis knows the Bible as well as anyone, young or old. Kelli Kirkwood has a dignity and genuineness over her that is most refreshing. And Paige White brings a sense of character and strength to an already impressive group.

Brendan Mangrum is also making the trip. He has a rapport and relationship with our young people and will have no trouble fitting in with the ones up there. He will also be leading the singing for the classes.

Your prayers are requested for our work this weekend. May all things be done to the glory of God. May we reach deep into the lives of young people and encourage them to be faithful to the Lord. May we lose ourselves in service and be found busy working for the Master.

I still miss home. But if I can’t be with my kids, I’m glad I got to spend the weekend with yours.