july update

life these days is good.  and i mean that.  not just in the, "how's your day?"..."good" sorta way.  i mean it, it's good.  that doesn't mean it's easy...but it is indeed good.

and this is an update for all you who have journeyed along with me over the last few years...either through email, blogs, monthly updates, whatever...this is for you.  thanks for checkin in!   

me, bro, mom and hudson!

family
my family is doing really well.  as you most certainly know, life in the snyder family proudly revolves around our newest addition, my nephew hudson!  i say this a lot, and i know i'm biased, but he's adorable.  i absolutely love to see him, hold him, play with him and my heart melts every time i think of him.  he turns 14 months old in a few days...time flies!  his parent's...my brother, steve and his wife rachael...are wonderful!  i love watching them raise hudson, it's really special.  with the amount of wildfires (and fires in englewood), my brother's been busy, busy (thanks to all you who have been praying for him)!  speaking of special: it's so neat to watch my parents with hudson.  i've always heard being a grandparent is special and from the looks of it...it sure seems that way!  

work
work keeps me busy!  i'm still working at new denver church and absolutely love it.  i've been given some really cool opportunities and have felt myself grow in so many ways over the last couple of years.  here are my main areas of work: young adults, discipleship, and outreach (and a whole buncha other things, haha).  if you didn't hear, i was given the privilege of preaching a couple of weeks ago.  it went really well and i loved teaching.  which, if i'm honest, was odd because i'm not a big fan of public speaking!  but i loved it and hope to do it more in the future!

me helping facilitate a FAQ night at NDC
photo via

i feel incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with such a great team at ndc.  seriously, the pastors are amazing men who i really look up to.  they're great and really believe in me.  it's an honor.  but even outside of the pastoral staff, the others i work with are amazing.  both the other "staff" folk and the volunteers who make ndc run.  it's an incredible team...i don't say that lightly, they're incredible.  i really sense that big things are happening at ndc...so. thank you for all of your prayers for our church.

if you didn't hear, i actually took an additional job a few months ago.  i was hired to manage an apartment complex in denver.  it's been an interesting transition...the apartment is interesting to say the least.  it's not the "nicest" apartment in denver but i've really grown to appreciate my neighbors and see it as a huge blessing!  so, obviously i moved out of steve and rachael's house in littleton and moved closer to downtown denver.  it's a much more central location and very close to most of my meeting locations and the church.  overall, it's great!

school

photo via

seminary is rapidly coming to an end!  wow, it's hard to believe it's almost been two years!  if all goes as planned, which it should, i'll be graduating in december!  because so many of you ask: i'll be graduating with a masters degree in pastoral counseling.  but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves...i'm still finishing up a big internship this summer (through seminary/ndc) and have 12 hours and a final comprehensive exam to tackle in the fall.  graduation will be bittersweet: i'm ready to be done with school but i really do love school!  can someone say phd??

future
what will i be doing in january, 2013??  that's the million dollar question...or the one i get asked a lot these days!  over the last couple of years, it's been my hope, prayer, and dream to continue my ministry here in denver.  the "perfect" scenario has me continuing my role at new denver church...in a more full-time capacity.  but honestly, as ministry (and life) goes, all of that is up in the air...nothing is set in stone.  so, if you don't mind...please shoot a prayer or two up for my future!  

i think that's it...thank you so much for reading through this update.  if you're ever traveling through denver...or if you live here...please call me or email me if you'd like to get together!

i'll end with a blessing from the bible (paul's letter to the thessalonians).  i prayed this for each of you reading:

"may the god of peace make you whole and holy, may you be kept safe in body, heart, and mind, and thus ready for the presence.  god has called you and will not fail you." 

much love.