Last weekend, Deborah and I (Sara) headed down to Missouri for a conference for young adults called Vessels of Honor.  It was an amazing weekend of excellent teaching, like-minded fellowship, and a whole lot of fun.

It was definitely a new experience for us to take a trip away from home without the rest of the family.

The conference was held on the beautiful campus of Park University in Parksville, Missouri.

There were several general teaching sessions each day.  The theme of the conference was prayer, and we were challenged and convicted by the messages given by Joe Reese and Scott DeGroff.

There were also a number of different seminar sessions.  These were taught by Joe and Ann Reese, Scott DeGroff, Lee Weber, and Lori Kratzer on a variety of topics.

On Saturday afternoon, the conference attendees were given the opportunity to participate in one of three different evangelism outreaches in Kansas City – a kid’s program at a park, door-to-door, and street preaching.  It was so encouraging to be serving the Lord together with other young adults.

The mealtimes were always full of great fellowship…

During one of the breaks we enjoyed a rousing game of Round Robin

…and the break times also provided the same, as well as fun activities like Apples to Apples, Round Robin, and volleyball.

Since we were sitting a lot during the conference, it was a good thing that we had to take this huge staircase 4 or 5 times a day (or more!). 🙂

Hosanna, Rachel, Deborah, Aidan, Sara, & Annie from UT, MN, & IA!

Deborah and I enjoyed spending time with our room mates, Aidan and Annie, as well as with the many other young people that we met.  The fellowship was such a blessing!

We have returned home so blessed by the entire conference.  It was wonderful to meet young people from all over the country, and to sit under the teaching of godly men and women.  We would both love to attend next year if the Lord would allow.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”      –2 Timothy 2:20-21

(Note: If you’re interested in listening to the excellent messages that we heard, check out the Vessels conference website when you get a chance – they plan to make the messages from this year’s conference available for download.)