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

Friday Night

I was impacted at Angels on Wheels where I was able to spend some time with a 5 year old who is living at the Lydia House. When asked about her favorite subject, she told me her favorite thing to learn was how to pray.

-Manda

Saturday Afternoon

My life was impacted after I met a man at Mission for All Nations and got the privelage to pray for him and his severe leg injury right there in the open, and busy area.

-Christian

At Abide Network they talked about the cycle of hopelessness in this city, which I feel is really true. I was inspired to just continue to pray and declare the Lord’s hope over Omaha because I know he has great things in store.

-Alyssa

Saturday Afternoon

I really enjoyed the prayer walk through a broken neighborhood in Omaha. I saw the faces of children that did not have a choice to live in those circumstances. It just made me realize the power of prayer and how God could transform that community trough prayer.

-Jay

Saturday Evening

When we were on the prayer walk, God really broke my heart over all the people in the neighborhood lost in the hopelessness of poverty, drugs, prostitution, etc. From this and visiting Abide Network, my passion to help these kind of people grew. I don’t know what God wants me to do with this passion right now, especially because I live in a very affluent town. For now, I know I need to be praying for God to show me opportunities.

-Laurel

Friday Evening

When we were at Angels on Wheels, praying at the very end, I felt that when we prayed we were praying to someone next to us and very close and not far away. That’s only happened once before in my life.

-Lena

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