Peace.
People protest for it. It has it’s own symbol. There are songs written about it.
But why is peace so elusive? Why has generation after generation been seeking peace, but war and violence ruled the day?
I believe that peace cannot be forced. It cannot be legislated. There is no treaty that guarantees peace.
I believe that true peace only comes when we are transformed by the world to God’s way of looking at things. Consider what Paul writes…
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:9-21)
Real peace comes from an army of Christ-followers seeking to live the kind of lives that live at peace with others. When we show true love, compassion, and kindness to those we encounter, we can change the world. In the words of Jesus, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
shine!
Jason
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
What's the point?
We pursue so many things to find purpose in life. In the words of Solomon, “Everything is meaningless, completely meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) We chase after so many things that are unimportant in the grand scheme of life. We go after success and satisfaction, money and materials, and popularity and power. We invest so much of our time in gathering things that are only temporary.
No wonder so many people wrestle with the question that has consumed mankind for generations. It may appear in a variety of forms, but the basic question is, “What’s the point of this life?”
Solomon wrestled with this question and wrote his thoughts down to be shared for thousands of years with billions of people. At the end of his thoughts, he states the following…
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
We are created to be God’s children. In the words of the prophet Micah, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
In a world full of people seeking purpose and wholeness, the answer is simple, although not necessarily easy. God created us in His image and without Him we are incomplete. In order to find true purpose, we must seek to live as people with God-shaped lives.
Fearing God is not cowering in a corner. It is a healthy respect for the One who made us. Obeying God’s commands is not intended to be a burden. Rather, it frees us to live outside the constraints and poison of sin.
So often, people pursue substitutes for the only thing that brings wholeness. Instead of using their abilities and talents to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, they use them to do what is pleasing, love themselves, and walk proudly among men. We will find our true identity when we pursue the purposes God intends.
shine!
Jason
No wonder so many people wrestle with the question that has consumed mankind for generations. It may appear in a variety of forms, but the basic question is, “What’s the point of this life?”
Solomon wrestled with this question and wrote his thoughts down to be shared for thousands of years with billions of people. At the end of his thoughts, he states the following…
That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
We are created to be God’s children. In the words of the prophet Micah, “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)
In a world full of people seeking purpose and wholeness, the answer is simple, although not necessarily easy. God created us in His image and without Him we are incomplete. In order to find true purpose, we must seek to live as people with God-shaped lives.
Fearing God is not cowering in a corner. It is a healthy respect for the One who made us. Obeying God’s commands is not intended to be a burden. Rather, it frees us to live outside the constraints and poison of sin.
So often, people pursue substitutes for the only thing that brings wholeness. Instead of using their abilities and talents to do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God, they use them to do what is pleasing, love themselves, and walk proudly among men. We will find our true identity when we pursue the purposes God intends.
shine!
Jason
Monday, May 25, 2009
Burger, Dogs, and Sabbath
Yesterday we held our fourth annual Backyard BBQ. (We have hosted 3 of the 4 BBQs. The second year it rained and we were relegated to the youth room.) This has become one of my favorite family events of the year. We invite all of the families in our LifeStage to our house for an afternoon of food and hanging out.
Around 1:30pm, approximately 130 people invaded our backyard with lawn chairs and side dishes in tow. By then the burgers and hot dogs were already on the grills and the aroma was filling the air. (Thanks, Brenden for being the grillmaster.)
It seemed like in a matter of minutes everyone had staked out their spot under the famous shade tree and they were ready for an afternoon of good eating and visiting. The next three hours were filled with laughter, games of volleyball, conversations, and fun. It was a great afternoon!
I wondered why over 100 people would hang out in our backyard for over three hours on a Sunday afternoon, and then it dawned on me...
Most of us are too busy and very seldom do we have three hours to just sit and talk to other people. We run from activity to activity, event to event, with little time to just sit and visit. This event is more than a BBQ. It is almost a mini-Sabbath in the midst of scores of crazy lives. For a few hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon, people can take a break from their hectic lives and build relationships.
Yesterday in the high school class we were talking about our purpose in life. In the midst of a discussion about the 10 Commandments, one of my students asked about Sabbath. We talked about creating space in our lives for God and other people. Sabbath is something we struggle with as extremely busy people. We have a hard time slowing down long enough to rest or reflect.
However, yesterday afternoon, over 100 people had a chance to slow down, sit down, and remember what it means to be human.
shine!
Jason
Around 1:30pm, approximately 130 people invaded our backyard with lawn chairs and side dishes in tow. By then the burgers and hot dogs were already on the grills and the aroma was filling the air. (Thanks, Brenden for being the grillmaster.)
It seemed like in a matter of minutes everyone had staked out their spot under the famous shade tree and they were ready for an afternoon of good eating and visiting. The next three hours were filled with laughter, games of volleyball, conversations, and fun. It was a great afternoon!
I wondered why over 100 people would hang out in our backyard for over three hours on a Sunday afternoon, and then it dawned on me...
Most of us are too busy and very seldom do we have three hours to just sit and talk to other people. We run from activity to activity, event to event, with little time to just sit and visit. This event is more than a BBQ. It is almost a mini-Sabbath in the midst of scores of crazy lives. For a few hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon, people can take a break from their hectic lives and build relationships.
Yesterday in the high school class we were talking about our purpose in life. In the midst of a discussion about the 10 Commandments, one of my students asked about Sabbath. We talked about creating space in our lives for God and other people. Sabbath is something we struggle with as extremely busy people. We have a hard time slowing down long enough to rest or reflect.
However, yesterday afternoon, over 100 people had a chance to slow down, sit down, and remember what it means to be human.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Amy is here!
Yesterday afternoon, my intern for the summer arrived here. Amy McLaughlin, a student at Lipscomb University, will be working with me this summer in our ministry.
After she arrived, she jumped in the car with our family, we drove around the area a bit, gave her a quick tour of the church building, grabbed a bite to eat, and went shopping for groceries. I thought I would let her rest on her first day here. ;-)
Well, after that all that craziness, we picked up a few students and headed over to Friday Night Live at the home of one of our ministry's families. I was impressed as I watched Amy interact with all of the students. She obviously has a passion for people and a heart for ministry. After last night, I am even more convinced that she will do a great job this summer.
Tomorrow we are hosting the third annual Backyard BBQ at our house for ARISE families. We are expecting over 100 people here for food, fun, and fellowship. (I know, it's a cheesy alliteration.) Anyway, the weather forecast looks great and I am looking forward to an afternoon with over 100 of my good friends from the Rochester Church.
shine!
Jason
After she arrived, she jumped in the car with our family, we drove around the area a bit, gave her a quick tour of the church building, grabbed a bite to eat, and went shopping for groceries. I thought I would let her rest on her first day here. ;-)
Well, after that all that craziness, we picked up a few students and headed over to Friday Night Live at the home of one of our ministry's families. I was impressed as I watched Amy interact with all of the students. She obviously has a passion for people and a heart for ministry. After last night, I am even more convinced that she will do a great job this summer.
Tomorrow we are hosting the third annual Backyard BBQ at our house for ARISE families. We are expecting over 100 people here for food, fun, and fellowship. (I know, it's a cheesy alliteration.) Anyway, the weather forecast looks great and I am looking forward to an afternoon with over 100 of my good friends from the Rochester Church.
shine!
Jason
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Forgiveness sets us free
Why do we often have a hard time accepting forgiveness? Is it because we have a hard time forgiving others? Is it because we can’t imagine that we could be forgiven?
I believe that forgiveness is at the core of faith in Jesus. Unless we can really accept the fact that we are forgiven, we can get trapped in slavery to our sin. Consider what Paul wrote to the church in Rome…
Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:15-23)
Forgiveness sets us free! Free from condemnation. Free from sin. Free from death. This is the secret of following Jesus, that when we make ourselves a slave to God, we are set free from the things that hold us down. It is through this forgiveness – this gift of God – that we can live the joy-filled life that He created us to enjoy.
shine!
Jason
I believe that forgiveness is at the core of faith in Jesus. Unless we can really accept the fact that we are forgiven, we can get trapped in slavery to our sin. Consider what Paul wrote to the church in Rome…
Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right. And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom. But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:15-23)
Forgiveness sets us free! Free from condemnation. Free from sin. Free from death. This is the secret of following Jesus, that when we make ourselves a slave to God, we are set free from the things that hold us down. It is through this forgiveness – this gift of God – that we can live the joy-filled life that He created us to enjoy.
shine!
Jason
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Reflections on (gasp!) 39
Well, I woke up this morning to the fact that I am only one year from 40. Yes, today I turn 39. Well, technically, I am not 39 years old until 5:22pm EST today.
So what does 39 mean? Not much really. I came to the conclusion long ago that I am going to live my life, not my age. There are times I feel like I am in my 40's and times I act like I am in my 20's.
I have to say that one of the things that makes me feel old and young - sometimes simultaneously - is working with teenagers. There are times when I am wrestling with one of the guys, playing basketball, or staying up until two or three in the morning talking that I remember I am not 21 anymore. There are also times when I feel invigorated by being in the presence of students who are energetic and passionate. It is a blessing to do what I do. Sometimes I am amazed that I get paid to do something I love so much. God has been way more faithful to me than I deserve.
The longer I live, the more I realize how insignificant and significant I truly am. While this statement seems like a paradox, don't a lot of things in the Kingdom of God? Jesus is wholly man and God. God is three and one. The first shall be last. Well, you get the idea.
So how can I be both insignificant and significant? I have discovered that in the grand scope of creation, I am but a vapor. I am a speck of dust. I came from dirt and to dirt I will return. I am one of billions of people in the world. I may gain the false illusion that having a lot of friends on Facebook means I am well known, but for every one friend I have on Facebook, there are over 4 million people who don't have a clue who Jason Steckel is. In 100 years, there's a good chance almost no one will know I ever lived. Feeling tiny yet? I do.
On the other hand, I am treasured by the Creator of the universe. The God that spoke "let there be light" and there was, formed me in my mother's womb. The One who placed the stars in the sky, the One who molded the mountains and dug out the seas, the One who designed this intricate, organic machine we call a body, He knows my name. He cherishes me. He knows me inside and out. When I awaken in the morning, He is there. When I lay down at night, I am in His presence. There is nowhere I can go where He is not. I am His son, His prized possession.
This is the mystery of life that I am still amazed by and the puzzle that I can never seem to find every piece for. It is what keeps me humble, but yet lifts me up. It is the wind that knocks me down and carries me forward.
While I am just one person among billions, God is inviting me to be a part of His dream for this world. While I may be just one drop in an ocean of people, I am a part of God's family. I am a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and an outpost of light. As imperfect and fallen as I am, God has entrusted me to be a husband, a father, a son, and a minister. He has created me with a unique set of abilities, talents, and passions.
As I turn 39, I realize that life is not about how many days I have lived. It's about how I am living my days. My prayer is that in my insignificance, I can bring glory and honor to the One in whose eyes I am significant.
shine!
Jason
So what does 39 mean? Not much really. I came to the conclusion long ago that I am going to live my life, not my age. There are times I feel like I am in my 40's and times I act like I am in my 20's.
I have to say that one of the things that makes me feel old and young - sometimes simultaneously - is working with teenagers. There are times when I am wrestling with one of the guys, playing basketball, or staying up until two or three in the morning talking that I remember I am not 21 anymore. There are also times when I feel invigorated by being in the presence of students who are energetic and passionate. It is a blessing to do what I do. Sometimes I am amazed that I get paid to do something I love so much. God has been way more faithful to me than I deserve.
The longer I live, the more I realize how insignificant and significant I truly am. While this statement seems like a paradox, don't a lot of things in the Kingdom of God? Jesus is wholly man and God. God is three and one. The first shall be last. Well, you get the idea.
So how can I be both insignificant and significant? I have discovered that in the grand scope of creation, I am but a vapor. I am a speck of dust. I came from dirt and to dirt I will return. I am one of billions of people in the world. I may gain the false illusion that having a lot of friends on Facebook means I am well known, but for every one friend I have on Facebook, there are over 4 million people who don't have a clue who Jason Steckel is. In 100 years, there's a good chance almost no one will know I ever lived. Feeling tiny yet? I do.
On the other hand, I am treasured by the Creator of the universe. The God that spoke "let there be light" and there was, formed me in my mother's womb. The One who placed the stars in the sky, the One who molded the mountains and dug out the seas, the One who designed this intricate, organic machine we call a body, He knows my name. He cherishes me. He knows me inside and out. When I awaken in the morning, He is there. When I lay down at night, I am in His presence. There is nowhere I can go where He is not. I am His son, His prized possession.
This is the mystery of life that I am still amazed by and the puzzle that I can never seem to find every piece for. It is what keeps me humble, but yet lifts me up. It is the wind that knocks me down and carries me forward.
While I am just one person among billions, God is inviting me to be a part of His dream for this world. While I may be just one drop in an ocean of people, I am a part of God's family. I am a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit and an outpost of light. As imperfect and fallen as I am, God has entrusted me to be a husband, a father, a son, and a minister. He has created me with a unique set of abilities, talents, and passions.
As I turn 39, I realize that life is not about how many days I have lived. It's about how I am living my days. My prayer is that in my insignificance, I can bring glory and honor to the One in whose eyes I am significant.
shine!
Jason
Saturday, May 09, 2009
(Un)conditional love
For many, the concept of unconditional love is hard to imagine. In a world where many adults place such a high value on grades, athletic feats, and other performance-based measurements, it can be hard for some teens to feel loved without conditions.
For many adults, we allow what we have done to define us, whether it’s good or bad. We let a job title, a talent, or a sin or addiction determine who we are.
God looks at us from a different point of view. God loves us as His creation. We are His children. He loves us unconditionally, even when we might not deserve it. The apostle Paul wrote, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:6-11)
God was willing to love us, even when we were unlovable. Jesus lived that out during his time on the earth. He met a Samaritan woman who had gone from relationship to relationship and showed her truth. He encountered a woman caught in adultery, showed her mercy, and told her to “go and sin no more.” He hung on a cross as people mocked Him and said, “Father, forgive them.”
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. (1 John 4:16-17)
Look to the One who is Love and learn what it means to receive and give unconditional love.
shine!
Jason
For many adults, we allow what we have done to define us, whether it’s good or bad. We let a job title, a talent, or a sin or addiction determine who we are.
God looks at us from a different point of view. God loves us as His creation. We are His children. He loves us unconditionally, even when we might not deserve it. The apostle Paul wrote, “When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” (Romans 5:6-11)
God was willing to love us, even when we were unlovable. Jesus lived that out during his time on the earth. He met a Samaritan woman who had gone from relationship to relationship and showed her truth. He encountered a woman caught in adultery, showed her mercy, and told her to “go and sin no more.” He hung on a cross as people mocked Him and said, “Father, forgive them.”
God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. (1 John 4:16-17)
Look to the One who is Love and learn what it means to receive and give unconditional love.
shine!
Jason
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
30 Hour Famine
The weekend of May 1-2, twenty-six of our students and several adults participated in the 30 Hour Famine. This is an event created by World Vision to raise awareness and funds to battle world hunger.
Starting after lunch on Friday, May 1, these students dedicated themselves to go without food until 6:00pm on Saturday. Around 6:30pm on Friday, we gathered at the home of Dave and Karen Benedict. Friday evening we spent time hanging out, studying God’s word, worshiping, praying, and played a game of hide-n-seek with a unique angle. Students were also divided into “tribes” that represented nations in South America where hunger is a major issue.
Our Bible study that evening focused on Jesus’ preparation for ministry through fasting. We looked at Matthew 4, and discussed how fasting was central to Jesus’ ability to resist Satan’s three temptations as well as prepared Him for the start of His ministry. We also looked at Acts 13 and 14, where we see fasting as a crucial component for selecting leaders or preparing for ministry.
We played a game called “Hide” where most of the students hid in the house while five “guerilla soldier” searched for them. This game brought to life for our students the reality that many in some countries deal with every day where gangs hunt down their rivals.
We woke up the next morning and began a day that was focused on serving others. After our morning juice break, we loaded up and headed out to Michigan Christian Youth Camp, where we spent a few hours helping prepare the camp for the summer. Several of the students commented about the challenge to work while not having eaten for almost twenty-four hours. It gave them a new appreciation for those who often go without food for that period of time.
After returning to our “home base” (the Benedicts), we went out into Clarkston for a canned food drive for God’s Helping Hands. In the course of a little under an hour, our students gathered 345 food items and $39 for GHH. We were all amazed at how much God provided in that short time period. The people in the community were so generous.
After returning to the Benedicts we held a few more competitions between our “tribes” that taught our students more about the plight of those in countries challenged by extreme poverty and starvation. I enjoyed watching students, some of whom barely knew each other at the start of the weekend, working together in teams.
Shortly before 6:00pm, we all gathered in the living room for a time of sharing. Students shared how God had been speaking to them throughout the weekend. It was incredibly encouraging for me to hear how so many of them had been touched in a variety of ways. I can’t begin to express how impressed I was with their insight and how proud I am of the ways they allowed God to work in their lives over the weekend.
We broke our fast together by sharing communion, praying together, and heading out to the kitchen for our first meal in 30 hours. Many students expressed how much they now appreciated the food they usually take for granted and how good it was to eat. Thank you to Bob and Susie Wilson, Dave and Carolyn Palmer, and Barb Huey for preparing our food. They were a huge part of this weekend – just ask the students!
Through 30 Hour Famine, our students raised over $1000 to battle world hunger (and some of them are still collecting funds), collected 345 food items and $39 for God’s Helping Hands, collectively served over 50 hours at MCYC, and were shaped by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives through fasting, prayer, and service. It was a great weekend where God came to life in a powerful way for many of our students. Thank you to those who donated, those who prayed for us, those who served, and the parents who are the primary ministers for their children. You are all a part of a community that is working together to develop our teenagers into followers of Christ.
shine!
Jason
Starting after lunch on Friday, May 1, these students dedicated themselves to go without food until 6:00pm on Saturday. Around 6:30pm on Friday, we gathered at the home of Dave and Karen Benedict. Friday evening we spent time hanging out, studying God’s word, worshiping, praying, and played a game of hide-n-seek with a unique angle. Students were also divided into “tribes” that represented nations in South America where hunger is a major issue.
Our Bible study that evening focused on Jesus’ preparation for ministry through fasting. We looked at Matthew 4, and discussed how fasting was central to Jesus’ ability to resist Satan’s three temptations as well as prepared Him for the start of His ministry. We also looked at Acts 13 and 14, where we see fasting as a crucial component for selecting leaders or preparing for ministry.
We played a game called “Hide” where most of the students hid in the house while five “guerilla soldier” searched for them. This game brought to life for our students the reality that many in some countries deal with every day where gangs hunt down their rivals.
We woke up the next morning and began a day that was focused on serving others. After our morning juice break, we loaded up and headed out to Michigan Christian Youth Camp, where we spent a few hours helping prepare the camp for the summer. Several of the students commented about the challenge to work while not having eaten for almost twenty-four hours. It gave them a new appreciation for those who often go without food for that period of time.
After returning to our “home base” (the Benedicts), we went out into Clarkston for a canned food drive for God’s Helping Hands. In the course of a little under an hour, our students gathered 345 food items and $39 for GHH. We were all amazed at how much God provided in that short time period. The people in the community were so generous.
After returning to the Benedicts we held a few more competitions between our “tribes” that taught our students more about the plight of those in countries challenged by extreme poverty and starvation. I enjoyed watching students, some of whom barely knew each other at the start of the weekend, working together in teams.
Shortly before 6:00pm, we all gathered in the living room for a time of sharing. Students shared how God had been speaking to them throughout the weekend. It was incredibly encouraging for me to hear how so many of them had been touched in a variety of ways. I can’t begin to express how impressed I was with their insight and how proud I am of the ways they allowed God to work in their lives over the weekend.
We broke our fast together by sharing communion, praying together, and heading out to the kitchen for our first meal in 30 hours. Many students expressed how much they now appreciated the food they usually take for granted and how good it was to eat. Thank you to Bob and Susie Wilson, Dave and Carolyn Palmer, and Barb Huey for preparing our food. They were a huge part of this weekend – just ask the students!
Through 30 Hour Famine, our students raised over $1000 to battle world hunger (and some of them are still collecting funds), collected 345 food items and $39 for God’s Helping Hands, collectively served over 50 hours at MCYC, and were shaped by the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives through fasting, prayer, and service. It was a great weekend where God came to life in a powerful way for many of our students. Thank you to those who donated, those who prayed for us, those who served, and the parents who are the primary ministers for their children. You are all a part of a community that is working together to develop our teenagers into followers of Christ.
shine!
Jason
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)