July 10, 2016

Now and Forever

Eternity hangs in the balance for students in a classroom on a daily basis.  Their open hearts are closed a day at a time by a system that can harden them with a demeaning word, treating an opinion like dogma or any other slight of God.  The hope we have is that God is bigger than the ploys the enemy may use to undermine God’s authority.  The cross is proof of God’s love for us.  His Emanuel work – God with us, demonstrates His willingness that none perish and reminds us that all we do in His power under His reign accomplishes His purposes.

God has given us the incredible privilege of taking the good news of the gospel to students throughout the country and the world (Acts 1:8).  That is exactly why we spend so much time and effort preparing each summer to train and encourage college education majors to live on mission with Him in their future classroom.  This summer was another example of why we invest such time and energy.  Before you read on, would you take a minute to pray for the students who attend the school closest to you, that God would raise up Godly teachers who would appropriately love the students of their school and shine brightly the light of the gospel in their role as an educator?  Would you also pray for these future teachers as they: prepare to lead a classroom well, grow in depth of their love for Christ and His work, and as they become a fragrant aroma for Christ in all they do?

Education Major Summer Mission 

Fifteen ladies came looking for answers.  Only one of them had experienced the Education Majors Summer Mission before.  They knew that they wanted to serve Jesus in their career as a teacher, but had no idea what it might look like or what it might mean.  After some time preparing to engage folks in town in spiritual conversations, we shifted to life after graduation and being in a school.  

Each student was given a school near where they attend college.  Each was to do some research to see what it might look like to launch an outreach of evangelism and discipleship at that school. Once they got a look at their school, the team decided which school would be the best for their presentation.  We had three groups (elementary, middle and high school groups) creating a movement to launch and three presentations to share what they learned.  Each group met with five “experts” who teach in the grade level they aspire to teach.  This is both helpful, encouraging and practical.  Our students learn a great deal and thoroughly enjoy these phone calls.

After the presentations we turned our attention for another strategic role the education majors will play – leading at the Rocky Mountain Getaway (our summer training conference for high school students).  College students serve as chaperones, small group leaders and training seminar instructors.  Our role was to set up the education majors to be able to succeed at serving and leading the high school students.  We offered some tips for leading a small group and gave them some tools to guide their discussion.  Most of our time was spent putting together two different seminars that would each meet three times for seventy minutes.  One group taught high school students to prepare and present their faith story, the other group taught a seminar on our identity in Christ and how that motivates us to reach out to those around us.  It was fun to see the students take on the challenge!

The feedback from our college students was very encouraging.   Some might change their career path as they consider joining us on staff to work full time investing in high school students, which is never our goal, but is often an idea that we see our mission participants consider.

Carmel - RMGA  

Jonathan was part of the Indianapolis contingent that flew to Colorado for the summer training conference – the Rocky Mountain Getaway.   250 students from across the country joined us for the 2016 version.   Students were called to begin a relationship with Christ, surrender fully to Him and then be Christ’s ambassador to their schoolmates and friends.  The setting is spectacular and the opportunity to meet with and experience God’s work in their life is just as amazing.  Several of the students in the Carmel group were wrestling with what it meant to be a Christ follower, whether that is giving their life to Christ or walking in obedience to the truths they have already confessed to believe.  The small groups served as a perfect environment for the high school students to open up about their need for Christ as well as talk through how to apply the things that God had taught them through the day.

One of the students moved from professing to be an atheist to not sure what she believed as God seemed to be doing business with her all week.  Another student went from resistance to surrendering her life to Christ to understanding her need for Christ.  She trusted Christ as her Savior by the end of the conference!

Melissa's Home!

Our daughter, Melissa, arrived home recently from her 10 month stint in East Asia.  Besides being tired and experiencing some physical discomfort from a stomach virus, she is very glad to be home. She rejoices at the opportunity to have gone and served a very special people, but is saddened by her not returning to the friendships she has made.

She celebrates all that God did – students placing their faith in Christ, others stepping out in faith to engage with their peers about the faith that they recently embraced themselves.  Melissa rejoices in the knowledge that God did so much more than she could hope or imagine.  Pray for her as she acclimates to being home, as well as her preparation for future ministry.