Reflecting on this week, my heart was drawn to Paul’s thanks in Philippians 1:3-5: “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my
prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (ESV) After this week I understand Paul’s thankfulness. Paul is looking back on the work that he did with the church at Philippi and he is so thankful. I look back on my time this week with my students… your kids, your church’s kids… and I am grateful. I am thankful for each and every student in our student ministry and college ministry and especially for those on this trip.
They have served faithfully this week and done it in the fruit of the Spirit. The have exemplified love, joy, peace, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I am thankful for their attitude, their gifts, and their work. I am thankful for the unique individual God created in each of them.
I am also thankful for my staff. Our church has blessed me with the resources to hire an incredible team. I am thankful every day for the work that Wayne puts in with our students; for his wisdom and abilities. I am thankful that Dakota has both volunteered this year and served on staff this summer. He has been intentional in getting to know our students and been disciplined as he has prepared to teach. I am thankful for Malone’s faithfulness and passion. I am thankful that she loves our girls and is willing to spend a summer discipling them and traveling with us. I am thankful for Journey, for the time she has already given our girls and student ministry and for he willingness to dive into a new adventure with our student ministry as she pursues Christ’s will. I am thankful for her energy and willingness to connect with whomever God puts in front of her.
I am also thankful for the church and our church. I am thankful that I can go anywhere and still be a part of the body and bride of Christ. I am thankful that believers can enjoy the fellowship and cooperation of the church. I am so thankful for the local expression of the church that is FBC Midland and First Family Fellowship. I am thankful for the love of our people and the service of our members, especially those in the student ministry. I am thankful for the resources God has blessed us with and for the people God has sent us. I am thankful for my co-laborers, both volunteers and staff. I am so thankful to be working side by side to produce this kind of work.
I asked the students to share one sentence on what they learned or experienced, so I will end with what they wrote. I hope it blesses, encourages, and challenges everyone that reads what they have to say:
Being intentional is key when trying to share the gospel. (Madysyn Henderson)
I loved talking to Mo and having a way to connect with him through basketball. (Jeff Pond)
Sharing the Gospel can be done in many ways to different people when believers are bold. (Malone Graham)
Living life through a Jesus-colored lens requires relinquishing complete and total control of my comfort zone; God’s timing is the best timing. (Jaycee Dockrey)
God’s presence and His people are everywhere, we just have to be willing to try. (Ashlyn Jobe)
Where peace abounds love overflows, where love overflows eternity is found. (Journey Roddie)
There is a love for basketball and a search for Jesus everywhere. (Drew Pinson)
I learned that I can immediately have someone convert to Christianity, all I have to do is plant the seed so that they will want to learn more. (Keller Vourazeris)
You can connect with someone in less than one minute if you are intentional. (Elizabeth Jobe)
Loved seeing the gratitude our group had for one another, that stuff made my day. (Paul Vassar)
Seeing the Lord’s work from first hand experiences and the impact that love has on others has changed my mindset. (Kinlee Young)
We only need to be bold enough to try. (Ashley Ortiz)
Even the smallest amount of joy can make the biggest difference. (Cohen Hodges)
Converting Muslims to Christianity will never happen in a short period of time. (Steven Cooley)
Sharing the word of God to random strangers and talking to them made me feel a difference in the relationship between me and the Lord. (Jacob Vourazeris)
This week was eye-opening in the sense that I learned just how many unreached people and how much diversity there actually can be in one community. (Emmy Hodges)
My favorite thing that happened this week was how much I’ve learned about myself and others who are different then what we view as “normal”. (Emerson Vanderveer)
In Queens New York this week, I observed 7 women being led by the Holy Spirit show and share the love of my Jesus better and more boldly than I have ever witnessed in my lifetime; through their servant and submissive spirit, they taught me so much and made me a better minister and better leader and strengthened my relationship with Christ. (John Elliott)
Use the gifts God has given specifically to you for his glory and not your own. (Luke Elliott)
I learned about the passion and commitment that Muslims have in their faith and was convicted to show that same passion in my faith. (Dakota Meeks)
I need to slow down in my life, not worry so much about my “routine” or “schedule” and see people how Jesus did and be intentional on how I interact with them. (Amy Vanderveer)
The warm culture of Islamic countries makes Muslims ripe to hear the gospel and gives evidence to God’s work already within them. (Wayne Delso)
Sometimes the way that the Spirit leads you doesn’t look like the way you think the Spirit will lead you. (Sara Collie)
Diversity was huge this week, I learned that the Holy Spirit has a different way of moving in each person. (Noah Powell)
