Why We're Hoping to Open Our Home This Summer

I was 22-years-old. I had accomplished everything on my life's to-do list. 

Play college basketball. Check! Graduate college. Check! Get a job revolving around sports. Check! Get a car. Check! Get an apartment. Check! Get every color of retro Bo Jackson Nike Cross Trainers. Check! 

 And I knew there had to be more than life. I felt empty. 

Thankfully, I had a cousin Pede. He and his wife April  opened their home to me and others. For me, the timing of that group could haven't been better! It came during a season of my life when I was really trying to figure out the meaning of life. I wasn't ready to head back into the church - I hadn't been connected to one for the four years I was in college - but I wanted to talk about spiritual stuff. 

So, week after week, I was in my cousin Pede's home. With a great group of people. I laughed - and got laughed at - and I learned. God really used my time in my cousin's living room to help me understand who Jesus was and what He was all about. 

It changed my life. 

For July and August, my wife and I have prayed and dreamed about doing the same thing: opening our home for people who would be interested in having similar conversations in a home among friends. 

We were thinking about Sunday nights at 8 p.m. We want to hear from anyone who would be interested in coming, and we also need to know any needs you would have. For instance, if you'd like to come but you need babysitting, let us know. 

We'd love to hear from anyone interested in coming. 

Chris Lassiter is a Christ-follower, a husband to Emily (read her blog here), a father to five crazy kids and an author of the book You're Grounded, which you can read about here. 

Bahamas Update: The 12-Day Countdown

Our kids working on homemade thank you cards !!!! 

Just 12 days out, here are 10 facts about our Bahamas trip. 

10. Our youngest kids' passport came in the mail yesterday! That was (almost) the last big barrier to being fully ready to go. 

9. This is actually my second trip to the Bahamas. I went in 1996 as member of the Shenandoah University men's basketball team. (For those of you that know Jeremy Hartman or Mandrel Stuart, can you find them in this picture collage?) 

8. Waynesboro Chick Fil-A helped us with a big fundraiser. Our five kids were also unofficial  Chick Fil-A workers for the day. It was cool to see them putting in effort toward their trip. 

7. THIS IS NOT A LASSITER FAMILY VACATION!  We're actually going to serve with the ministry of Young Life in the Bahamas.  Lee Corder, who heads up Young Life mission work on the Western Hemisphere, sent me this encouraging e-mail as we prepared for our trip! 

"This often comes up around our Caribbean work. Just remind people that we don't drive from airport to resort, we stop before the resort in small towns and villages with all the same issues of poor nations everywhere.

Where you're going is poverty, despair & hopelessness all covered by a sunny climate. The descendants of West Indies slaves live in a world of licentiousness, religious bondage and superstition where the good news of Jesus' deliverance and freedom are desperately needed. Your willingness to serve is profound and crucial for our dear kids there."

6. I will be the camp speaker. I know from a distance most people only see the Photoshopped, cleaned-up verison of me, but I know I'm a mess. (I've got hang-ups like dial tones!) I'm thankful that God uses crooked sticks to draw straight lines, and that He specializes in accomplishing His purposes through broken people.  P.S. Here's one of my favorite sermons on that very topic. 

5.  Father's Day really made me think long and hard about the legacy I want to leave my kids. I'm so glad they are coming with us this year. 

4. In the past few years, I've been to Uganda, Bermuda and Hawaii as well. The truth is, however, I don't really need to travel. I'm pretty much like Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit. 

3. I'm a big picture person, but horrible with details. This trip would never happen without my wife! 

2. So many family members, friends, churches and ministries have come together to make this trip a reality for us financially. We could never say thanks enough! 

1. We still have a ways to go financially and 12 days to get there.  You can make a tax-deductible donation by clicking on this link:  Thanks everyone. Every penny helps!