My head is down on workshop stuff.
Things are on schedule, but there is still plenty to do.
Prayers are needed and appreciated.
If you’re coming to the workshop, please leave a comment and let me know where you’re coming from.
Also, please consider leaving a comment telling your favorite workshop story or how the workshop has impacted you. I find these stories fascinating and incredibly encouraging.
I don’t think I would be a preacher today if it weren’t for a trip to the workshop while I was in college.
Rock on.
Telling Stories, Asking Questions, Learning Lessons
Prayers offered.
There’s a lot of stories like that. You go somewhere and get inspired. There is that blessing from these gatherings along with many others.
Peace of Christ to you.
“Blue Jean Baby Queen”
Wade,
My family of six will be coming from Idabel, OK.
My favorite workshop story was when Marvin Phillips was doing a class in the pavilion, something about raising up young preachers or something. It was 7 or 8 years ago. Marvin had come to the church in Kansas where I preached and did a praise and worship seminar. Anyway, he kind of took me under his wing and gave me a lot of encouragement. During his class at the workshop, he went through a list of “young preachers” that he wanted everyone to pray for, preachers that were up and coming, doing a great job, etc. Well, I’m a nobody preacher, and here is how Marvin phrased it – “I want you to remember these up and coming preachers (he mentioned a few, then) …. Jeff Walling, Randy Moody, BRAD GIDDENS! Brad, where are you?” The whole pavilion started looking around, and the only thing I could think of to say while raising my hand was “Yo” like Rocky Balboa.
Marvin just has encouragement oozing out of him, and mentioning me in the same breath as Walling, I was beaming.
My first Tulsa Workshop was actually the year you started at Garnett. You inspire me Wade with your heart, desire and example. People gravitate to you because you are the real deal. I saw it when you stepped up and were introduced as the new minister at the Workshop. I saw it the next year when I sat and listened to a presentation you gave and see it whenever you are in a room.
You are respected because you truly care. You care for Christ and what fascinates me is you really care about the Church of Christ. Many may not get that but I see it very clearly. You are doing a great job, keep up the good work. You touch many lives in ways you may never know. Stay the course brother, stay the course. You are doing good things. My greatest memory was meeting someone of your caliber at the workshop.
I am coming from Searcy, Arkansas. Even though I have been blessed by listening to workshop tapes for YEARS, this will be my first time to attend. I can’t WAIT! 🙂
DU
There will be quite a few coming from Searcy. I know of 2 couples (including myself) and another guy going and that’s just from Highway coC.
This will also be the first time I’ve gotten to go.
Wade,
We are coming from Oak Harbor, WA. Do you want me to bring some rain or evergreens?
Wade,
I remember that college trip to the workshop. Who knew at the time that a couple of ministry careers would be launched as a result of that trip. Now more than a decade later it’s great to see you directy invloved with the workshop. Thank you for your leadership.
I’ll be coming from Bowling Green, KY. I’ve been the past two or three years. It is great! Keep up the great work.
Like Daniel (above) I’ve never been to the workshop but I’m excited about going this year. Friends have told me great things about it in the past. We’re coming from Dallas.
Being a Northwesterner for my adult life, I have only been a couple of times…when I worked as a youth minister in Texas.
Of those times, the Acappella reunion was my favorite. I also got to see my good friend Steve Maxwell sing on that stage with Acappella. It was awesome!
We’re coming from Ponca City, OK.
My first Workshop was a few years ago when I got to hear Randy Harris and Monte Cox. I was hooked immediately and wanted to buy ALL the CDs!! I’ve been back to listen to Mr. Harris every year.
Thanks for all the effort you put into the Workshop. You encourage lots of people!
I’ll be there from Atlanta, GA.
I remember a few years ago going to Tulsa at the last minute. Our family was experiencing something very heartbreaking at the time, and my dad was going to be in Tulsa so my wife and I loaded up our girls and drove all night to be there with him.
I guess the best part of Tulsa that year was seeing his face when the girls ran through Expo Hall to him. And all the support we received from folks we hadn’t seen in a very long time. No matter how far afield I go, the Church of Christ is family, and Tulsa is our family reunion.
I have been to the workshop since its beginning minus my college years at OC and when my son Nick was born (several of us at Garnett have “workshop babies”. My friend Teresa’s water broke at the workshop the year her son was born. Anyway, every year the workshop impacts me in a different way depending on where I am in my journey. I’ve been as a teen, a single, an almost single mom with a struggling marriage, now a mom of four who is incredibly blessed and trying to stay on the journey (life can be distracting). I always look to the workshop for a spiritual boost. I hope Garnett gets a boost this year. I also love the rafter raising singing in the pavilion! Good ole gospel singing! Thanks for your hard work. I would like to hear the rest of that minister story sometime, Lynn W.
Wade,
My first trip ever and I’m a college student. I’ve saved my big road trips for ZOE, but this year I decided to take it upon myself to do myself a favor and go to both.
I know my favorite future workshop memory will be how God will work through His people to better His Kingdom!
Drew
Wade,
I will be coming from Houston, Texas. This is my first time to attend the Workshop. I cant wait. Thanks for all of your hard work you do for the Lord and His Kingdom.
I don’t know if it was “that” workshop or not but seems I saw you there just a few weeks after we won an intramural hoops championship at ACU. That was my first if I remember correctly and it connected us in a way other and better than me posting up inside and begging you to give me the stinkin’ ball!
I’ll be there from Atlanta by the way and expect to have LOTS of free time with you. Hee hee hee…
Hey wade,
Any chance of having some kind of “blogger get together” at the workshop this year? It would be neat to meet some of those who we correspond with through blogging with those that will be attending. I’m not sure how it would work or when, but it would be cool.
Wade, This will be my 20 or 21st time at workshop. I first went as a single youth minister with another youth minister friend. Now I am bringing my 16 year old … this will be his third time to Tulsa and he is so excited about it. He’s a great song leader and he loves all the singing.
Like all Workshop Junkies I have several memories that come to mind. The year that Randy Moody had us all light candles in the Pavilion (did the fire marshal know about that???!) is a special one. The night that Craig Hicks held up a brochure from his first workshop and told how he knew Christ because he rode the Joy Bus to church and sometimes only ate as a child because of food from the church …. and proclaimed that he loved the church of Christ. The night that Stanley Shipp preached for an hour and it seemed like five minutes. The afternoon that Terry Rush unvelied his High Hope for the Human Heart project. The only time I ever heard Mid McKnight preach. Richard Rogers, and how glad I am that I was in the overflow crowd that heard him speak the last time on the workshop. Buying cheap crap with Bible verses imprinted in the booth area. Singing while a tornado was on track to hit the pavilion, and praying it away. Meeting Marvin Phillips for the first time, and he gave this unknown nobody a hug. I could go on for an hour … but that’s enough. I hope to bump into you and say ‘howdy’ at workshop. Your classes last year were superb.
My wife and I will be coming from Joplin, Mo to stay for the workshop and then we are flipping a coin as to where to attend on Sunday morning.
I remember all the workshops that I was forced to stand around while my mom and dad talked on and on and on to all the people that we got to see there. Now I do the same to my kids, Love your spirit and we are praying for you.
Richard and Mary
Forgot to mention we are coming from Owasso, OK. Short trip. Was looking at the speakers and exhibitors last night and it looks great.
My family is coming from Waco,TX! We are really looking forward to it. Scott, my husband, has been more than me. I’ve only been once before and it was while as a student in college. I’m so grateful for the childcare that will be available!
We are also excited about being at Garnett again. We interviewed for the youth ministry position several years ago and left with so much love and respect for the kids and people there.
Hang in there! God is about to do some amazing things this week! I don’t have to travel far for Workshop anymore; I live in Broken Arrow and attend Memorial Drive. But man, I get excited every year! There are so many great memories for me. The first time I attended was in 1982; I was a senior in high school. That first night when we walked into the Pavilion and about 10,000 people were singing, blew me away! I thought I had died and gone to heaven! The year of the tornado was pretty memorable. I thought that guy would NEVER say AMEN as the tornado sirens were blaring! When we got to the place we were supposed to go, I ran into an old college friend that I hadn’t seen in probably 10+ years. That old college friend is now my husband! (OK, that’s my FAVORITE Workshop story!) And then last year, Terry asked me to help him coordinate the Workshop. What a blessing!
It all starts tomorrow! I can’t wait!
My wife and i will drive in from Little Rock Arkansas
Wade, I am coming to the workshop for the 15th year in a row and would not miss it for the world. I get just as excited over the workshop as a new comer.