Urban Plunge

Gabriel Rademacher died Tuesday when he drowned approximately 70 feet from the shore of a Fremont-area lake. He was 18 years old, celebrating his high school graduation with more than a dozen other members of Concordia High School’s senior class.

Gabe went on the Urban Plunge last year. He wrote on his application that he wanted to build on and deepen his relationship with Christ by continuing to serve Him as well as praising and worshipping Him. We have confidence that Gabe is absent from his body and present with the Lord, right now, as you read this, worshiping and praising Him in person.

On the Plunge Gabe hung out with several hundred homeless people. He told us that “one of the things that surprised him was that there was so many problems and things going on just blocks away from the glitzy old market. But not only bad things, it was also great to see how God is bringing together His people in the midst of the pain to further His kingdom.”

Gabe started a blog… in his only post he writes about the solar system and the sun, which he spells “Son.” In a cleverly written metaphor… talking about both the universe and his relationship with “the Son” he ends his post with these words:

“And then there is the heat. In the farthest reaches of my orbit, icy particles of shame, doubt and fear quickly attach and weigh me down, until I can barely move. But even here, the Son’s heat blasts from out across the solar system, in rhythmic, pulsating waves, the very heartbeat of God. The ice of apathy and inadequacy melt quickly away and are replaced by glowing warmth. Though I am still bombarded by an endless storm of ice, it cannot overpower the warmth of God’s love that has penetrated to my core and now radiates from me as well.” http://greeneurosunglasses.wordpress.com

Gabe carrying a box of food at Mission For All National

Gabe with Angels on Wheels, hanging out with the homeless

Gabe getting ready for a prayer walk on Park Avenue

Gabe with youth leader, Adam, and a buddy

All Nations Church's Youth Praying with the Homeless.

Have you prayed for the homeless in your city today?

Saturday Afternoon

At Mission For All Nations a young woman came up to me while volunteering, and asked if she could volunteer to help her family. Our conversation continued on to a discussion of her tragic situation. But the woman was hopeful and grateful for what she had been given; life, family, food, ect.

-Brian

Friday Evening

Seeing the homeless and talking to them about life really showed me how it can happen to anyone and they are just like us. It just showed me how much we take all the little things in life for granted.

- Trevor

Friday Evening

A little girl held my hand at Hope Skate until I got steady on the skates. Her kindness was overwhelming. Her love unconditional! What a testimony to the Lord and caring about others!

-Pat

Saturday Evening

God looks for people who would stand in the gap for Him not to destroy the city (Ezekiel 13:5). When we went on the prayer walk it impacted my life because I realized we were standing in the gap for the people who are off the track of God. Just as the walls of Jericho came down even when it seemed impossible to Joshua and the Jews, so are the spirits that hold people in wicked ways would come down when we stand in the gap.

-John

Saturday Afternoon

I met a lady at a nursing home that I was able to pray for and I could tell it really blessed her. I could see the love of Jesus all over the people we ministered to.

- Alyssa

Saturday Afternoon

Write down an encounter at a ministry that impacted your life….

When a man at the food pantry, Mission For All Nations, said that I helped him live for another week and all I did was put his food in a car.

-Justin

Saturday Evening

On the prayer walk by First Baptist Church I just realized how truely blessed I am. I had to thank God for all that He has done for me.

- Ryan

Saturday Afternoon

Seeing a line already formed before our group even arrived at Mission For All Nations (a food pantry) caused me to realize all over again that I wasn’t reading a story about people in need, but seeing it right in front of me. I couldn’t ignore reality.

- Kerry