As I look back over this month I am very encouraged. Our school year is coming to a close, as next week is exam week for our students, but it has been neat to reflect over the last nine months and see the growth that has occurred. On the girl's side of the ministry seven out of our eight student leaders were brand new to this role. As an eighteen or nineteen year old, and really your first time regardless of your age, trying to lead people to Jesus is intimidating and scary to say the least. All of those girls, despite their fears, have jumped in and let God use them this year. They've reached out and befriended new students, they've studied scripture with people one on one, and they've planned and lead a small group! I am super proud of them. They've taken all my challenges for them very well, while challenging me at the same time. I'm most proud of how they've chosen to make their lives about other people. They work hard, they put in a lot of hours, and a lot of emotional as well as physical energy; and it has not gone without impact. They have risen up new leaders for next year, and continue to teach and move others along. Four of our girls are going to be sticking around for next year, and we're taking four more to leadership training this summer, so it's looking like we'll have another awesome set of leaders, and another great year of growth!
We had another girl get baptized
this month! It was soooo neat. Nicole, a girl new to our ministry this year was
baptized by Cierra, one of our student leaders who has spent time a lot of time
studying the bible with her and really teaching her the cost of discipleship.
Cierra cried through most of it, and it was so touching to me. It was clear
that she had a deep love for this girl, and that she was overflowing with joy
that she was making Jesus Lord of her life. That's what it's all about! Nicole
recently started studying with her mom, teaching her the same things Cierra has
taught her. That's our vision, that those who have been taught go back out to
teach! I hope you're as encouraged by that as I am.
Nicole's Baptism
Another thing from this month was
our annual event Help Us Help the Homeless. Every year we build a box house and
man it for 24 hours, trying to raise money and supplies for the Samaritan Inn.
We also do this to have a presence on campus and give us an opportunity to meet
new students and possibly strike meaningful conversation. I thought it was our
best year yet!
Our box house this year, and the famous Ally :) I'm studying the bible with her right now.
Intern class has been great this
last month as well. One of my assignments was to write a sermon over
the book of Philippians. I was supposed to pick out three important
points that encompass most of the book. It was really cool to me to see what
I've learned thus far in class come into practice. It was clear to me that not
only have I learned a lot of scripture and its meaning but I've also learned a
lot about how to read scripture and connect it with other scriptures to find
the real meaning. I've always loved Philippians, and read the book and pieces
of the book a lot through the years; but I have never understood it as much as
I do now, and I love it even more! The Word is so neat, guys. It is truly
amazing and something to be loved and cherished. I pray that you will grow in
your love and desire for it, and in turn, your understanding and love for
Jesus. The pursuit of scriptural knowledge should always be to understand Jesus
better. If it doesn't lead you to Jesus then you've missed it. Jesus says in
John 5:39-40, "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that
by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about
me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." As we've heard over and
over in our class, "Continue to exact your view of Jesus." For out of
Jesus should all of our beliefs flow; beliefs about life, ourselves, others,
God, scripture, all should be constructed out of our understanding of Jesus.
Please continue to pray for our
ministry. Pray for the studies that are still going on and that will continue
through the summer. I have two that I am doing right now, one that I am close
to finishing and one I am just beginning. Pray for those, pray that summer will
be a time of great growth for our students and not a time of regression, and
pray for our summer Focus meetings. All of our campuses will be meeting
together over the summer rather than separately like during the school year;
it's gonna be awesome!
God bless, much thanks, and much
love!
Bri
