Healing

The past couple of days have been emotional whirlwinds for us since hearing my biopsy was melanoma.

Friday afternoon on the way back from Boulder area my Dr. called and told me he had great news. The skin cancer experts in Denver said that my biopsy wasn't cancer. My Dr. was excited and so was I. I didn't know what was the deal between the first pathology report that stated I had malignant melanoma and this secondary lab other than to say that Jesus healed me.

I was told that I had severely dysplastic nevus - pre melanoma. It was a-typical melanocytic poliferation. Yes, there might be spelling mistakes, but it wouldn't matter anyway. I don't know what those words mean except I don't have cancer. I don't need further test. I have a clean bill of health.

The Lord has taught us a ton this past week and year. He heals, He restores, He makes new all things. We fell deeper in love and trust of Jesus this week.

Thank for praying. I believe God performed a supernatural miracle.

Categories: Family, Prayer

Malignant Melanoma

Last night my Dr. called Christine and told her that my biopsy from a mole this previous week came back positive for malignant melanoma. As you can imagine I have been in shock all day long. The pathology reported at first said that the surrounding tissue was clear and that the cancer hasn't entered the dermis tissue. That is good. My biopsy was sent today to the leading skin cancer Dr. who happens to be in Denver. The next stage is to follow his advice. If the cancer cells have entered deeper tissue then we'll cut out more skin. At that point we'll go through CT scans, bone scans, etc. The best case is that it was localized and we caught it early.

It has been an up and down emotional day and week. Rich Lotterhos a fellow member, director of Global Service Associates and dear friend called just to see how I was doing. I shared all of it. The hope for the future, tension and anxiety of transitioning to a new ministry and now this news of cancer. Immediately he reminded me that Satan wants to take Christine and I out. I know and believe God has a plan but I am sure tired of Satan's attacks.

We know God has been with us all along. If we were still living in Mexico City I would have not had a physical. And because of our leaving Campus Crusade I wanted to use our remaining health care wellness before Dec 31st, therefore my physical.

Pray for us. Pray for complete healing and that the biopsy this past week cut away all the cancer cells. Pray for us emotionally and physically. We are spent. Pray for us spiritually. We are crying out to the Lord for help. He is the only place we can go.

Thanks!!

Steve
Categories: Family, Prayer

Fall Photos are amazing

I just spent today watching the Broncos win. Amazing! But not as amazing as these family shots at VanDiestClan

Categories: Family, Photos

A New Beginning

We believe God is stirring a new movement of His Spirit that will provide a church in every community that transforms people, relationships and neighborhoods with the love and grace of God.

Wow! It has almost been one year since we came home from Mexico City. We are so grateful to God, our leadership and you for giving us this past year to rest, restore, recover, wait on the Lord and now hear from God as He is calling us forward, a new beginning.


After much prayer, counseling, meeting and processing with our leaders, pastors and good friends we have decided to transition off Campus Crusade for Christ staff and join full-time with another ministry called Global Service Associates (GSA). GSA’s purpose is to help launch us as leaders, care for us as followers of Jesus and encourage us to fulfill our mission and calling.


For 18 years (including our student years in college) we have seen God move, grow and challenge us and have enjoyed serving with Campus Crusade for Christ.


In this period of waiting and listening which has been so refreshing and also difficult we sense God leading us to help the local church impact our culture.


Imagine walking down your street and finding a church that felt more like an old friend than an old building. It is alive. It is real. The life of Jesus is bursting out beyond the church doors and into your community. The authenticity and love draws people to want to know this Jesus who changes lives.


A Christ-centered community that touches personally every home in Colorado, the U.S. and around the world.
Recently we began a home church and invited soccer friends and our neighbors. One neighbor, Rochelle shared her heart for her non-Christian coworkers. She wants to take them to church, yet they have no desire to go. After our time together sharing and praying she asked if this concept of home church was a safe place to invite her coworkers to hear about Jesus; a place where the life, love, and mercy of Jesus is felt.


We are burdened to follow God’s call on our hearts. We want to reach out to those hurting. Encourage those who have lost hope. Inspire Christians to follow Jesus and to be His hands and feet to our neighborhoods. Pray with us that God’s Spirit will move powerfully.
Categories: SimpleChurch, Family, Newsletters, Prayer, GSA, God

What does all this look like?

We are transitioning off staff with Campus Crusade for Christ to GSA at the end of the month. You might have questions about our financial support, how you can stop your auto-payments (if applicable) and where to send your new financial support in December. Within two weeks you’ll be receiving a detailed letter explaining our monthly and end of year financial needs and the process on how to continue to partner with us. We will still be fully funded and paid for through monthly individual financial support. Therefore we still need your partnership of prayer, financial support and encouragement as we continue on in full-time ministry.

GSA is a non-profit religious order with a 501-3c status and will be processing all our administration, support, and your tax-deductions.

We plan on calling you if you are a financial partner after Thanksgiving to share in more depth about our new ministry. We look forward to connecting with you.

We cherish your prayers in this time of transition. Our hearts are full of gratitude for your partnership. Thank you for continuing to labor with us in giving every person an opportunity to be part of a life breathing Christ-centered community.



Categories: Prayer, Newsletters, Family, Ministry, God, GSA

Please Pray

Please Pray:

• That God will be our guide in each step in the weeks to come. That we will trust Him and not our own efforts.
• That God will protect us from the evil one that will be on the attack in our transition.
• For our kids, time as a family and marital relationship.
• That we will be sensitive to God’s work in our lives.
• For our home church; its authenticity, love and mission to reach out to the lost.

Categories: God, Family, Prayer, Newsletters

Take a Look at this!

I just posted on our other site: VanDiestClan a whole bunch of cute shots of our family.

Enjoy

Categories: Family, Photos

Following the Person of Christ

“Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me.”
Isaiah 30:15 (Message)

These past months have been so refreshing and enlightening in our own personal walks with Jesus. We have been reminded of the simplicity and power of just following Jesus; it is easy and light. In this past year we have seen God’s mercy and grace surface our own issues of performance and self worship. God showed us that often we seek strength in ourselves and efforts. We’re finding that as God’s power is made evident in our weakness we are experiencing a whole new intimacy with Jesus. We are seeing strength come from depending only on Him and being faithful to Him only.

“God does not demand that I be successful. God demands that I be
faithful. When facing God, results are not important. Faithfulness
is what is important.” Mother Theresa

We have been praying daily that God will lead us into deeper intimacy in following Jesus. Around every corner of following Him we are seeing new fruit produced in our lives and a passion to help others follow Him in this manner.

We are also seeing God use our greatest weaknesses and failures to be our greatest strengths to others. As we have shared our story of marriage struggles, moving home from our initiative in Mexico City and the realness of Jesus’ love and forgiveness we have seen others open up to us and God.

Three weeks ago a CU football player, Pat Deveny, who Steve had the opportunity to lead to Christ 2 years ago called and wanted to talk. Over lunch Steve shared our story of this past year. Pat began to share openly his struggles and a deeper desire to know Jesus. It is amazing to see God at work when we allow Him. Steve hasn’t seen Pat in about 1 1/2 years yet the Spirit of God does the work that we can’t even imagine to do.

Thank you for walking with us in this journey of following Jesus. We know that there are many great stories yet to be told. We are grateful that you are partnering with us in seeing God’s power unfold. Thank you for loving us!

Categories: God, Newsletters, family, spirituality, Newsletters, Movements, Kingdom

Needs all around us

Living in Greeley, CO we have seen a whole different way of living. We are in a much smaller community than Mexico City (28 million) and Boulder/Denver (2 million) as Greeley has about 100,000 people, half of which are Hispanic. We have enjoyed the smell of cows, the open space and the lack of cars piling up in intersections.
Steve has been coaching the boys’ soccer and football teams and has been spending time at our local rec center getting to know the people of Greeley. They are no different from anyone else. They too have marriage problems. They also struggle in finding meaning in life. They too are busy hustling kids to and from school and practice.
Yet what we observed is that there are few ministries that are serving outside the walls of the Church. Boulder and Denver are such popular places to live that many ministries call these places home. Our hearts are broken for the families, youth and neighborhoods that are not targeted specifically to hear the message of Jesus.
We feel God is calling us to start some fresh ways of expressing the grace, mercy and love of God to our community. As we walk forward in this we ask that you pray for us, support us and challenge us to follow Christ more intimately. Join with us in praying that we can be a loving presence in Greeley.

Categories: God, Prayer, Newsletters, Family, Movements, Ministry, YouthSports, Community, Kingdom

Van Diest Happenings

We’re still committed to the work of bringing Spiritual Movements everywhere yet we are confident God is calling us to bring them to everyone, not just college students. We’re hearing the call of God on our hearts and minds to venture out and bring the Gospel to our community. Many of you have been asking, what is next? Where will you serve? The answers to these questions and more are the being revealed to us every day and we’re leaning on God to make those things very clear. You can keep us in your prayers so that we will not move unless God calls, nudges and moves mightily.

We know that Kingdom work is not a solitary, individual act. We need each other, you, the body of Christ to walk with us in this journey. That has been very clear these past 10 months as you have stayed with us, gave us tons of time to process, restore, rest, hear from the Lord and move ahead by faith. We are so grateful for you. This past year has been difficult and trying in our lives yet we know the greatest days of serving God together are before us because of what God has done in our hearts through brokenness and falling on our faces before Him. We also know that these letters every month can’t explain all that is happening in our lives and ministry so we encourage you to visit our website: (New Address):www.stevevandiest.com which tracks almost daily as to what God is teaching us. Thank you for your love and encouragement!

You are a blessing to us.

Categories: God, Family, Newsletters

Spiritual Movements Everywhere

For many years we have felt the call of God in our hearts and minds to launch, coach and train young, ordinary college students into starting and leading spiritual movements. We believe that is exactly what happened when Jesus sent off the 12 apostles after he ascended into heaven. They started a spiritual movement that was crazy for and crazy about Jesus Christ that penetrated every nook and cranny of the Middle East.

Today is no different. It was no different in Boulder, Mexico City and now in Greeley. God has taken us on an internal journey to grab our hearts, deal with our issues and restore our relationship. He cares more about what is going on inside of us than what we do for Him. We are so grateful for the grace God has given us these past 10 months in our lives and marriage.

God’s transformational work is so evident in our lives and in the community around us. We’ve seen God move in the soccer families we’ve met, the people at the gym, our neighbors and in our own hearts. We are trying to listen, walk by faith and respond to God’s Spirit.

Two weeks ago, Christine joined our good friend Emily on a local community college to see what God is already doing. They walked around the campus, sought God’s face and then just waited. It was powerful to see God use Jacob, our 4 month old, attracting others. While Christine was in the bathroom Jacob was doing the work of the Kingdom. People were being drawn to his cute smile. It is amazing when we allow God to work, He does. Christine and Emily met two women who were interested in starting a spiritual movement on their campus to reach other students. One was a mom of 2 kids who came to Christ 3 years ago and has a heart to reach others. The other gal was a young freshman. Amazing! God is already at work around us. He cares that we are experiencing Him and He will do the work of spiritual movements everywhere.

Categories: God, Family, Newsletters, Movements

Rattles and Horsetooth Falls

Today was a super fun day with the kids. We woke up this morning we woke up and made cinnamon rolls the kids love and then spent some time reading some prayers, talking, reading and sharing. It is exactly what our family needed; together time, centering time on Christ and then off to go hiking near Fort Collins. At times I think we're crazy for even attempting to go hiking with 4 kids yet the older boys do great. Isa walks maybe a total of 40 yards of the total 3 miles. She has me worked and rides on my shoulders singing the whole way.

After hanging out at the trailhead while Jacob got some early lunch, we strapped Jacob in his Baby Bjorn and we headed up for an easy 1.5 mile hike to Horsetooth Falls. Jonathan became our saftey guide and was very concerned for Mountain Lion, Bear and Rattle snack attacks (He read all the warning signs at the trail head.) Often I would get rebuked for walking 10 feet in front of the rest of the group.

We made it to the falls in about 45 minutes but to our dismay it was September dry. Booh! But there was a cool rock the kids all climbed and we took a great picture. Right after the picture Benjamin asked me what that noise was in the bushes. I just told him it was the wind in the bushes. He said, "No! I see a snake." Yep, he was right. About 3 feet away from my foot lay a Rattle Snake. As boys, we started throwing rocks at it so we could hear the rattler. Stine, about 30 feet away told us to stop and then we headed off back for the van. We all need safety warnings.

Benjamin was proud of saving my life and we have committed to studying in science tomorrow the affects, dangers and ins and outs of Rattle Snakes.

That is what a great day is all about. Falling in love with Jesus, connecting as a family and enjoying God's killer creation. AMEN!

Categories: God, Family

A bit of Heaven

Yesterday was a great day in the Van Diest family. Saturday night we went out to dinner with our friends, Rietemas (11 year anniversary) and the Williams. Amy Yablonski, our good friend, came over to hang out with us and watch our kids. So on Sunday morning we headed to Fort Collins to grab a great breakfast at Lucilles. No luck, 1 hour wait and we were all dying of hunger. So we headed over to the Rainbow Cafe and had a wonderful time.

Amy came out to Boulder, CO about 2 years ago after she graduated from Baylor to work with us on campus at CU. She has been a great friend and it was awesome to hear about what journey God has her on right now. This past summer she ended her time with Campus Crusade and is now working for Amali as a consultant. They do pr consulting, event planning, fundraising, media relations and so much more. It is super fun to see how God is using Amy to bless so many others in the non-profit world with her gifts and talents.

After we got home, I needed some couch and Broncos time. God bless DVR's. I can watch a game in about 2 hours. What a huge family blessing. Not only was the game watched quick but the Broncos won in the last second with a rushed field goal. We're not the Patriots but we are 1-0. During the last few minutes of fast-forwarding, Billy, my neighbor called and said get over to Mitch and Ming's (other neighbors). They had dumplings, beer, and great Korean ribs. My mouth started watering immediately. One of my best friends in high school, Frank, was Korean and I still remember the taste bud singing of his moms Korean ribs. Mitch is from Texas and is far from Korean but Ming is Asian and I think in about an hour I must have eaten 10 ribs.

The afternoon continued on and on as the kids were running around the yard with about 12 other kids and a huge, strapping young man from Asia, Dragon Lo. Lo plays AA ball for the Colorado Rockies. He is a good friend of Mitch and Ming as both of them have worked for Charlie Monfort (owner of the Rockies) for some time. It was so fun to see Lo and kids from 2 years old to 15 years old throwing dodge balls at his each other. We laughed and relaxed all afternoon.

Fall is coming so I grabbed my fire pit and then we sat huddled around the blaze as the sun dipped behind the Rockies (mountains that is, no Lo) and tried all sorts of bottles Mitch brought out from the cellar. Thanks to some great gifts and not so great gifts from people around the world and Charlie Monfort we drank some great $200 port, $800 cognac and a frightening tasting white liquid (I think it was Ethanol 85). We're testing to see if that last one will kill the grass alongside the patio.

We talked economics, politics, war, family, culture, spirituality, church, religion, and listened to U2, Garth Brooks and some others I didn't recognize. Seeing the neighborhood come together, eating, drinking, laughing, kids playing, and talking about the Kingdom was a small taste of Heaven for Christine and I. We thanked God for the 6 hours spent on the patio. We prayed that God would come, bless each person there and that they would experience His love and mercy.

This is a bit of what we want to see God do through us. We want to have the time, space and heart to listen, relate and be with people who live in Greeley. We keep coming back to the prayer to God, "Can we do this full time and trust God to birth missional, apostolic Christ-centered communities all over Weld County?" "Can we see God's Kingdom come here in our own neighborhood."

It was an encouraging afternoon and a bit of the vision God is giving us.

Categories: God, Family, Kingdom

Opening Game Day Weekend - Fun - No Wins

Saturday was the beginning of Saturday Game Days for the Van Diest Family. Thankfully Isa and Jacob are not in sports yet. Jonathan opened up with his first football game. He plays Defensive End and Tight End for the Buffalo Bills. But he has been working out with LT and he really looks good (Picture on Right).

He did great but his team lost, I think like 45-0. We played a great team from Eaton. Jonathan is number 27 and is having a ton of fun. I'm proud of his hard work and heart for the game and his teammates.

Benjamin's team had their first game too. He's playing 6-7 year old soccer and I think we have one 7 year old, one 5 year old and the rest are 6 year olds. We also got beat 9-0. It must have been the coaches fault (I am that coach). Much better than last season as we lost our opener 10-0. Benjamin is a great player and goalie. He saved a strong shot off his forehead.

It is fun hanging out in the park all day Saturday and just seeing these little rug rats run around.

Categories: YouthSports, Family

We made it by God's grace

Today Christine and I celebrate 14 years of marriage. After this year and hitting some potholes and speed bumps in our marriage I can now honestly say, "It is by God's grace we have made it thus far."

I would say we're crazier about each other now more than ever; raw, real, honest, growing and loving, no strings and only by God's mercy.

Categories: Marriage, Family

New Photos coming your way

Hey all I have to make a public confession. I am totally smitten by my kids and my wife. Wow. Check out Summer is Coming to an End - Booh.

Categories: Family, Photos

Broncos - Here He Comes

Most of you have celebrated and will be celebrating the start of college football and the NFL. I smell it in the air in early August and it keeps me awake at night. I also know my addictions are pretty severe so I didn't sign up for the fantasy football leagues my friends have been begging me to be part of.

We here in the Van Diest family are celebrating the start of Young American Football Jonathan style. Jonathan put on him body armor, boiled his mouth piece and banged heads with other 9 year old boys about 2 weeks ago. What a great rite of passage for all young boys. I still remember those days clearly. They were ingrained into my head a bit later as I was 15 years old. I have been helping coach his team and it has been sheer joy to watch him catch on quickly and love the game I so love. He'll be playing tight end and defensive end. His first game is Sept 8 at 11am if you want to drive up to Greeley to catch some real head pounding action.

If I knew how to insert some audio it would be the Monday Night Football song. So just hum it to yourself.

Categories: Family

End of Summer.....Kingdom Projects

The end of summer always brings about a mixed bag of emotions. On one level we are excited as I'm (Steve) coaching Jonathan's tackle football and Benjamin's soccer team. The boys love this time running around and getting to know the other kids. Christine and I love this time because it gives us such a great time to interact with the parents of these kids. We try to host 2 parties during the season to honor the kids as well as love the parents. We believe this is such a great opportunity to share the love of God through healthy community.

On the other side of our emotional bag is sadness because summer is soon ending. This summer is one of our first summers in 13 years of ministry where our ministry was to fall in love with Jesus, each other and the kids. After years of serving in Boulder, Chile, Spain, and Mexico we have been long overdue for a time of rest and restoration. You have made that possible. Thanks!!

We will miss hanging out at the the neighborhood pool and time up in the mountains. Just two weeks ago we, with our neighbors and their 7 kids, did our first camping trip. I think all four kids did better than Christine and I but we're in for it again next summer. It was so fun seeing them all asleep in their sleeping bags in the tent, running around with dirt all over their faces and the cheeks pasted with marshmallow stickiness of smores. (More pictures at Family Camping)

Through this time of rest and reflection we have learned a ton about the heart of God and the Gospel. We are constantly reminded that the "Gospel is not for the able." We are resting in the complete work of Jesus and that is sparking a flame in our hearts to fall deeper in love with Him and His work around us. A common theme we are learning is solitude, silence, and waiting on Him.

In these times of reading, talking, praying, sharing, crying and laughing we are trusting God to use our day job to bless Him and others. We believe that out of our brokenness and humility God will use us to bless those around us and around the world.

This past week Steve started in his work in the Great Plains Regional office of Campus Crusade to give service to 'special projects.' Lately these special projects have been fleshed out to be leading the 1,500 students who come to Denver over January to bless the city, serve the city and bring “The Kingdom of God” to Denverites. We’re trusting God that our "Day of Faith" on Jan 5th will challenge students to Good Deeds and share Good News to those hurting, lost and lonely.

A good friend of mine, Ethan, has recently taken a national director job with Campus Crusade and is responsible for bringing the Kingdom of God to every student and campus in 6 major cities of the U.S. Because of our experience, although short, and leadership in Mexico City he has asked me help coach, advise and network these city leaders with proper resources.

Thank you for allowing us to grow, allowing God to perk new interests and horizons in our hearts and waiting with us for God to bring about His Kingdom. We look forward to the months and years serving together. Thank you for your generous, faithful and encouraging partnership.

Categories: Family,, Newsletters,, God,, Kingdom,, Prayers

Family Camping

To end the summer we joined our neighbors, Billy and Ali and their 7 kids plus two other friends they adopted for the summer, for a small camping trip up to Vail. Eli their 8-9 year old was in a statewide 3 v 3 soccer tournament up there so we decided to join them. Billy owns an RV company so his family was decked out with a great rig. We on the other hand don't own one but own a cool 3 bedroom tent. So what does a crazy family of 4 kids do if they don't have a trailer? We head up with the truck filled with gear and rough it.

We got up at 4:30am to head to Vail and aim for the first come first serve camp site. We lucked out because we pulled in there at 7:30am and grabbed the last site. The kids were in their glory; running around, finding sticks and firewood, dirt all over and visions of smores cooking in the fire that night.

We pitched the tent and gave it the good ole college try. Isa was all smiles, ear to ear, to know that she was sleeping in the tent next to me. Throughout the night she would just lean over, tap me and smile. Jacob was 10 short weeks at the time but did great. He slept great, stayed warm and Christine would just nurse right there in the tent. We survived a big rain storm the first night about midnight with little water finding its way into the corners of our tent.

The first night was a night of 'hobos.' We taught our friends and their kids how to make a tin foil filled with meat, cheeses, veggies, and sauces pocket of joy. It was a crazy adventure of kids screaming, "mine's done," and "which one is mine." Ultimately they loved it and we ended the night with smores.

This was our first time in Vail and we just loved it. We have driven through hundreds of times but found no reason to stop. The village, the mountain, shops and clean air is now calling us back. The village is filled with great shops and play grounds the kids just loved. Sunday afternoon after some soccer games we took the gondola up to the top of Vail Mountain. It was just shear beauty filled with volleyball, a good beer, a cup of cafe and good views.

All in all the kids, friends, smell of the mountains gave us a vision to make getting out and away from home and the city part of our regular summer lives. We'll have to wait until next year as school has started and the nights are getting colder. Maybe we'll find ourselves a little trailer to tow and to make the nights a bit more warm and dry.

Categories: Family, Photos

Photo Page updated

Just posted our Family Photos today. I think you'll enjoy the shots. I know I do.

BLINK! There went July!





Categories: Family, Photos