The End Of An Era

A few years ago I came back to Lake Grove Presbyterian on a whim. A random invite from a volunteer with the youth. Now, I had been a volunteer from '92-'99, but had quit to spend time on a failed marriage. So I come in back in '03 and run into Ryan Caldwell. Ryan had been in Jr. High when I was last there, and was now leading music for the groups! I was invited to bring my guitar and plug back in to the worship scene. Ryan introduced me as so old that I had been doing this when he was in Fish Co. I could feel the love...actually, I could. Just as with the countless students who attend Fish Co and Entheos over the years, Ryan made me feel welcome, and helped me to re-engage in worship music, something I hadn't done in 3 years. This post is a tribute to his work in students and leaders lives.

Ryan is wacky. He's always been a little off the beaten track, and being a Christian did little to stray that. But with his new Goal, he embraced our Lord and His work. And it shows to those who meet him. We heard testimonies to how Ryan worked His Love and Gifts into our lives. We also had the "last" Ryan-led worship time, with Jim on bass, and myself on drums. It was great. We three had not ever had time to do it before...I love playing the Lord's Truth!

Ryan is in Joplin, Missouri where he is now a Youth Director himself, under the pastorship of my old youth director, Cliff Mansley, Jr. The church has about 400 members, and a youth group of a dozen. With Ryan's exhuberance, and the Lord's will, great things will happen there. Especially if Tricia is also involved. Her down to earth realism will be an asset to the church there as it was here.

I wish them both well, and God's blessing on their lives. Pray for His work in their wake, and keep in touch at rtcaldwell@gmail.com.