Where was the Lord?

This past week, my son, Jacob, launched The Emmaus Podcast, to offer encouragement and advice to young men like himself who are committed to living righteous lives. His show will feature interviews with friends and others he looks up to for the integrity of their walk with Christ.

In this first episode, Jacob tells a jarring tale of why he named his podcast after a time when Jesus’s disciples didn’t recognize His presence in their lives. You can hear Jacob’s story starting at the 4:30 mark, but I encourage you to listen to the entire episode. It’s such a rare experience to hear two young friends unabashedly share such Truth mixed in seamlessly with their painful trials and joyful laughter.

Watch as Jacob and Tyler talk about Luke 24:32, The Road to Emmaus, and about the times in their lives when the Lord was with them even when they didn’t feel it.

My heart aches for failing my son when I should have seen and heeded signs of trouble in the darkest hours of his life. Yet my soul sings and I shout praises to the Lord for saving him.

I know from reading the very personal connection reports about our IntSam scholars in developing nations, as well as the headlines about sports programs in the United States, that Jacob’s story is not unique. I’m sharing it here to encourage our scholars and travelers, as well as their parents and our team members across all eight nations, to ask the questions, have the conversations, and take the steps I wish I had.

Jacob and my wife, Maritza.
Maritza and I just celebrated 26 years of marriage.

Mike Tenbusch, IntSam President

Mike joined IntSam in 2018 after two decades of leading social change in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He’s a University of Michigan Law grad and author of The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty. He and his wife, Maritza, have three children who keep them young.