When I get to work for friends and people I respect, it is a boost and a bonus. I had such a chance in Baton Rouge.

Cooper Ray (newlywed)

and Peggy LeBlanc have been colleagues in youth ministry for awhile. I respect them a lot for the work they do in their diocese. Baton Rouge has long been one of my favorite places to “work” for a few reasons:

+ Charles Jumonville and Cooper had me there about 5 or 6 times in the 90s which was amazing to me.

+ Those conferences do a good job about being explicit about FAITH in Jesus; they don’t shy away from making sure the “connections” are made.

+ With the help of “media director” (my title for him) Fr. Trey Nelson, they have come up with some of the most creative openings and ways of introducing me I’ve ever seen (Rocky Balboa; a Mardi Gras King; an astronaut in a space ship; the Tom Cruise character in Mission Impossible; and my—and Megan’s favorite—a super hero named Screen Saver.

So the deck was stacked already for me to have a good time.

Though when Megan beat me at inflatable jousting, I was crushed!

Add to that I got to see Steve Angrisano again.

He is so good at what he does and makes such a good “heart connection” with the teens.

The other thing I enjoyed about this weekend was the FAMILY environment. My family came with me which is a RARE Thing but a real joy and blessing. We got to visit with our dear friends, the Jumonvilles (who have their own Katrina story to tell!). I got to see Cooper and Peggy’s family working on the conference. I got to see familiar faces of people like Missy and Bill, Harold M., Ronnie LaGrange, Dino and Brigitte B., Mickey and Mary G. (and the list could go on)…

Plus the Spirit seemed to be at work. I am always taken aback when I see young people eager to receive the challenges of Jesus’ gospel and living as disciples today. I enjoy sharing the humorous pieces of the message I am asked to convey. I always wonder what will happen when I begin to make the challenges. Their reaction was very good and I pray that the teens in Baton Rouge will “let Him in” AND “let him out”.

I was tired when it was over, but very grateful for this chance to witness to, and receive witness from, so many in the diocese of Baton Rouge.