Twenty personal highlights over the past four years in leading up to the Look Up Tour in Idaho Falls

1. It all began on Friday, September 6, 2019, at the Lewis & Clark County Fairgrounds in Helena, Montana. I first saw Will Graham in the fantastic movie, Unbroken: Path To Redemption (2018). So, I took the opportunity to drive up north from Idaho Falls to Helena for the Big Sky Celebration to hear him preach in person the good news. I sat on a back-row bleacher in between two grandmothers in the indoor fairgrounds. We all rejoiced. I loved hearing the simple message of faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone.
2. In March 2020, Covid burst on to the scene as the consuming concern within the United States of America, but we enjoyed Billy Graham Evangelistic Association director, Junior Castillo, fly to Idaho Falls for an introductory meeting over breakfast with twelve pastors on Tuesday morning, July 21, 2020.  I loved the fellowship with local pastors.
3. We (41 people representing 28 churches and 11 parachurch ministries) met together at Calvary Baptist Church in Idaho Falls with BGEA directors, Junior Castillo and Rod Barnett, for an exploratory meeting on Thursday morning, March 18, 2021. I loved seeing ministry leaders’ passion for the spread of the gospel. Pastor Kent Burchyett was our host that morning. Since then, this faithful brother died and is now in heaven’s glory with the Father.
4. On Saturday, September 18, 2021, BGEA director, Junior Castillo, joined us for a Saturday morning prayer meeting at Eagle Rock Baptist Church in Idaho Falls. Brothers and sisters from 14 churches came to pray. I loved seeing and hearing the hearts of Christians interceding to God.
5. Six BGEA directors flew into Idaho Falls. Over one hundred people gathered at Watersprings Church for a presentation meeting on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. Around 40 of them were Christian pastors. I loved seeing the unity of the body of Christ in our intermountain region.
6. Enjoying some coffee and sandwiches at Greenhouse Coffee on Thursday, April 7, 2022, a local steering committee met to nominate and approve the local members for the Look Up leadership team. I loved seeing the providence of God on display in this meeting.
7. On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, we held our first, local Look Up leadership team meeting at The Nice Spot on the west side of the downtown river banks. I loved seeing our various personalities, backgrounds, spiritual gifts and talents complementing each other.
8. We were blessed to have the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association move into a downtown Look Up office, Saturday, September 10, 2022, on 490 Memorial Drive for a base of gospel operations.
9. During the early fall of 2022, we enjoyed meetings with pastors north in St. Anthony, east in Jackson, south in Pocatello, and west in Arco.  Also, it was a joy to have Roy Graham spend some time with us for good fellowship.
10. On Tuesday, November 8, 2022, we started meeting weekly at the Look Up office for noon hour prayer meetings. Incidentally, a core group had already been meeting on Tuesdays during the noon hour throughout eleven years.  We just temporarily moved locations. We were humbled, honored, strengthened, and empowered to come into the presence of God with our petitions. That night at River of Life Church in Idaho Falls, we gathered for a regional Look Up prayer meeting with 150+ people in attendance to pray.
11. On a wintery, foggy evening, Thursday night, January 26, 2023 at The Waterfront, we had our Look Up Launch with Will Graham.  The Eastern Idaho Worship Collective led us in worship. We sang “In Christ Alone.” To God alone be the glory. We packed the place—303 people from 66 churches.  I counted around 55 pastors. We rejoiced among the household of faith!  A Look Up students’ launch at the Brickyard Events Center and a Look Up children’s launch at The Residence Inn Marriott followed in February.
12. We were edified by the instruction from Gary Cobb on Church evangelism and discipleship preparation. This took place in Arco, Pocatello, and Idaho Falls during the first week of March 2023.
13. We had regional prayer gatherings at Faith Lutheran Church (Pocatello), First Evangelical Lutheran Church (Idaho Falls), Gate City Christian Church (Pocatello), Victory Assembly of God (Idaho Falls), Calvary Chapel (Pocatello), Emmanuel Bible Church (Star Valley), Christ Cowboy Country Church (Blackfoot), and 24-Hour Prayer-a-thons. We will aways cherish the time spent in worshiping and praying together as Christian brothers and sisters.
14. We sang with Aaron Shust, listened to various speakers, and enjoyed Q&A time with Will Graham during the LIFT UP Conference on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at Christ Community Church.
15. Thirteen hundred people immersed themselves in discipleship training all throughout the region, May 1-20, 2023, for the BGEA Christian Life & Witness Course and Student PURSUIT classes.  With the make-up classes offered later, I counted a total of fifteen host churches in the region. This sparked all kinds of gospel conversations with others.
16. On Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Watersprings Church, BGEA Rapid Response Team Chaplains encouraged, equipped, and trained 240 people through the Sharing Hope in Crisis Seminar.
17. We had an excellent church follow up and discipleship breakfast on Saturday, September 9, 2023, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls. The training challenged our hearts over the importance of every individual and personal one-on-one discipleship.
18. We had a final time of worship and then a prayer walk from The Waterfront to the Mountain America Event Center on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Banding together in prayer bound our hearts in faith and trust toward God. In God’s sovereignty, he works mightily through the prayers of his people.
19. We laughed, fellowshipped, and learned together during the final Look Up volunteer training on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at Watersprings Church.
20. In conclusion, we thoroughly enjoyed the gospel celebration of the Look Up Tour at the Mountain America Center on September 23-24, 2023 that included an afternoon KidzFest, Student Night with Rend Collective, and Family Night with Christine D’Clario and Crowder.  Will Graham preached the gospel in all three events. Many people of all ages throughout our region in the Mountain America Center were exhorted and encouraged to draw near to the Lord Jesus Christ and look to him in faith for salvation. We want to thank BGEA Executive Director, Allen Scroggs, and BGEA Idaho Falls Director, John Brandenburg, and all of their team for the extensive partnering ministry with us in this region.