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David Perkins

by Matt from Riley

David Perkins
David Perkins

When I think of something that inspires me, there are many thoughts that come racing through my mind. Thoughts of people, memories, and characteristics. When I think of these characteristics one leads the rest, and that would happen to be leadership. Being the one to do things no one else will... Also, when i think specifically of someone who inspires me, I think of David Perkins.

So I know you're probably thinking "Who is this guy?", "Why is he so great?", or maybe "What did he do?" And the answer is he is pretty awesome! David is the youth pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO, and he is also the leader/founder of Desperation Conference. Desperation is a Christian conference that thousands of teenagers from all over the country come to (Mostly with different youth groups), and they are challenge to live in desperate pursuit of God. One of the ways David describes the conference is "Desperation is not a conference for the fainthearted, but for those who are passionate about God's heart and His purposes in this generation." David challenges teens to get out of their comfort zones and pursue God with everything they are. Believing that if we just take that step of asking God to move in our hearts that he will, and God calls us to so much more than just "youth group" or "church"! Not merely calling ourselves "Christians" but, genuinely being followers of Jesus.

David's faith in God (Faith in God is believing who he says he is, and believing he will do what he says he will) has inspired thousands of teens to get out of their comfort zones and trust God to direct the path of their lives. On the old website design for the Desperation Conference, they had a blog where people who attended the conference could share what God has done in their lives during and after the conference. I remember scrolling through the stories and just being blown away by the way God was changing people's lives! The story of the sixteen year old boy who had been addicted to pornography for the last four years, who decided to change his life by stepping out in faith and saying "God I want to live for you". It sounds easy to those of us who have never worked through a real addiction, but I can imagine that he was reminded by his memories of David, that God could carry him through t if he pursued him and had faith. And the list goes on and on stories of teens stuck in depression with heartbreaking home lives, to kids who never felt like they had been loved, the one thing they have in common is they attended Desperation, and decided to live for God.

I am also someone who has been inspired by David Perkins; I remember my first year at Desperation the summer after sixth grade. I was the youngest one going to the conference from my group and I had no idea what was going to happen! I remember being blown away by the way David challenged me when he spoke, and the shear confidence in whom God is. He was also someone who would constantly give the glory to God, saying things while sharing some life experiences like "It was awesome but I didn't do it God did it through me, and he will you use you to if you just let him." I remember making a decision that his impacted my life A LOT, the decision to serve God with my life.

Worship at Desperation (http://mzbeggs.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/desperatio (Chris Mueller))
Worship at Desperation (http://mzbeggs.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/desperatio (Chris Mueller))

The reason David Perkins is inspiring to me isn't because he single-handedly changed all those people's lives. God did that but David dared to do something no one else was doing! A leader is someone who will do things no one else will, and David Perkins is someone who challenges others to do that, but also lives it out.

Page created on 2/4/2014 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 2/4/2014 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Related Links

Desperation Podcasts - David Perkins at Desperation Conference 2013
Desperation promo video 2013 - Shows what Desperation is like