Where in the world is Tyler Lister?

I am very sorry that this took so long to update. I am still getting used having a blog. Since the last time I updated this, I have arrived in Harrisburg. My parents and I made the 20-hour journey from Oklahoma City to Harrisburg from September 8th to September 10th.

Once we arrived, my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and I went to Gettysburg. The Monday before Discipleship Training School (DTS) started, my parents and I went to Washington D.C. DTS started on September 15th. We started off with some solid worship in the prayer room.
Week one, Andy Byrd spoke about Fire and Fragrance (F&F) and how it started; which was awesome. He was such a perfect person to start off our journey as F&F.

Week two, Sean Feucht spoke on Monday and Tuesday about F&F and what his role in starting it up was. Then, the rest of the week, we took part in the Father Speak conference that Life Center hosted. They brought in Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, Dave Hess, Larry Randolph, Kevin Prosch, and Leonard Jones. It's okay if those names don't sound familiar, they didn't to me either until the conference, but they were awesome.

Along with week two, we found out where we are going for our outreach. The options were the IVY Leagues, Washington D.C., Amsterdam, and England. The first month of outreach, everyone is going to be going to the IVY Leagues together, and then we are going to split up and go our separate ways for the other two months. During that whole week, we prayed about where we felt like God wants us to go. I have a major heart for England and so that is where I felt like God is leading me. I found out on Friday that I am going to………..…..drum role................

Week three, Ivan Roman spoke about our identity in God rather than our worldly identity. It was a very powerful week. He also spoke in Heirborne on Wednesday in the youth group at Life Center. Life Center’s ministry team, F&F, and Ivan all prayed over the kids. One girl who was flat footed grew arches in front of us. That was so powerful. The next day, we prayed for some people in our school to grow arches and one of our awesome staff members grew some. One girl in our school who didn’t grow arches later grew some. The testimonies were posted on facebook, some people read it, prayed for their friends, and they grew arches. The power of God is rad.

Week four, we had the Life Center staff speak. Wednesday night, our school had what was called a "Holy Spirit Party." I was unable to attend because I went to CHik-Fil-A then 3B ice cream because I was unaware that this party was going on. Once I got back and found out it was going on, I got a little bummed. Once it was finished, everyone went there separate ways to their rooms. In my friend’s room, the Holy Spirit showed up. A few other guys and I went in there and started praying and saw some really cool things happen. I saw two flashes of light in the corner where the lights weren't on (two angels). Two of my friends actually saw angels. We ended of getting so excited that we moved downstairs and started dancing and got hot, so we moved outside to cool down. When we were outside, I felt some demonic spirits beginning to surround the hotel we live at. At the same time that I felt that, two of my friends said they saw the demonic spirits in the woods behind the Howard Johnson. We began praying, giving authority back to God and God's army rushed in to shield our hotel from all evil spirits. How great is our God. On Thursday, September 15th, our school got knighted in the spirit. That was a pretty rad experience.

Week five, Corey Martin came and spoke about relationships with each other and with God. It was really cool and significant that Phase 2 from Kona arrived on October 17th, the Sunday before Corey Martin spoke. That was significant because Jeremy Bardwell, our school leader’s best friend is leading that group (that is one solid relationship). Also, my best friend from growing up is a part of phase 2, so we got reconnected. Those are two examples of the many reuniting moments that happened this week.

This weekend, we took part in a 24-hour burn. Burns typically range from 12 to 100 hours. My outreach group and I played during the 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. set. It was awesome. This weekend, I have been praying a lot about if I should do a Nazarite Vow or not. I am still praying about the guidelines for it. If you have questions about that, just email me with your questions and I would love to explain it in depth (tlister77@gmail.com).

This next week, week six, Todd McDowell is going to be in talking about the Holy Spirit/Hearing God’s voice. It is going to be intense. I can’t wait.

Oh yeah, I’M GOING TO ENGLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beginning

I have been thinking about creating a blog for some time now. The purpose for this blog is to inform my family and friends of what has been happening in my life recently, to invite them to participate in my new life journey, and to ask for you to support me as prayer partners as I move on from here.

I attended Southern Nazarene University (SNU) in Bethany, Oklahoma this last '09-'10 school year. I played soccer for the university and was very fortunate to establish many friendships there. I was planning on returning in the fall for my sophomore year, but was really only doing it because that is what kids my age do. Also, during this last year I was trying to avoid my relationship with God. However, God has remained faithful throughout and has recently retaken a hold of my heart and has called me back for a stronger longing for His presence. More about that in a moment!

I should explain how my freshman year went first. Well, I started the year feeling like I was on top of the world because I was a starter on the soccer team, had the best group of friends, and, no offense to my parents, was on my own; out of the house. It seemed like it was going to be a great year. First semester was not too bad, but second semester took a turn for the worse. I got pretty depressed and did not want to have any social interactions. I doubted my faith, ignored my friends and schoolwork. I was becoming a mess. Whenever I was around people talking about God, the church, or anything along the lines of Christianity, I would turn and begin another conversation with someone else so I did not have to partake in the conversation.

Sometime after school ended I had a conversation with my sister-in-law, resulting in my examination of why I was depressed. I wanted to know what caused it. I narrowed it down to the lack of faith. I had no room for God. How can a life be full of joy and happiness without Him? After thinking about that for a while, I prayed for the first time in who knows how long. I also went to church for the first time this year, 2010 that is. Because of my revelation, I have decided to not go back to SNU this fall; instead, I will be going to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to attend Youth With A Mission (YWAM). I will be in Harrisburg for five months involved in a Discipleship Training School (DTS) and then I will go out on an outreach for three months. I will either be staying here in America or going to Europe witnessing to Ivy League students and the community around them. I am very excited for this adventure. I recognize how big of a step towards a life fully submerged in the heart and will of God this will be. I cannot be more excited, but along with this excitement comes a great leap of faith, some fear, and nervousness. I humbly ask you to partner with me and support me with your prayers as I seek a deeper relationship with Him. "I (we) can do everything through Him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13)."

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."
~Matthew 10:39