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Archive for Youth

CZ Pardubice Update 4 & 5

Posted by Shane 
· Friday, July 5th, 2019 

CZR 2019 Update # 4 – Hike Day, Gospel Night and the Fourth of July

Our English Camp, partnering with Archa Church in Pardubice, continues to be a huge success.  The excitement level is high and we are very encouraged by everything we see happening.  Archa’s new Youth Pastor, Honza Macek, is doing a fantastic job leading his team and negotiating with the staff at Chata Juraska.  By the way, the weather has taken a dramatic turn and our highs are in the 60’s and as we went to bed last night we were approach a low in the mid 40s.  The cooler weather and blue skies were a perfect setting for Hike Day along the Polish Border.  

As I have mentioned before, our theme this week has been “Home” and the evening talks have been from Luke 15 about the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Sons.  Last night was what we like to call “gospel night”.   We have laid a foundation that God loves us and is seeking for us like a good shepherd, good woman, and good father but our sin separates us from Him.  Whether you are the younger rebellious son or the older rule keeping son of the story, you are outside of God’s Home until the Good Father finds you and you receive His gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ.  Last night I shared the “Bridge Illustration”  of the Gospel with the Father on one side of a chasm and two sons, one rebellious and one rule keeping, on the other.  We shared clearly how Jesus, through his perfect life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection, is the “bridge” that brings us back “home” to God.  Our response is simply to turn from our own rebellious or rule keeping ways and receive the gift of God’s salvation through faith in Christ.

We appreciate you praying for us and would ask that you keep praying.  This morning in our morning devotions we shared many stories of how students are taking steps closer to God.  Some of them are naturally taking these steps and some are really struggling with it all.  We will reiterate the gospel clearly again tonight and have an evening Cajovna (chai-ovna = Tea Room) where the entire night is dedicated to having conversations with the students and answering their questions about God, the Bible, Jesus, and salvation.  This is why we came, so continue to pray for us.

On a lighter side, today is the fourth of July and we started the morning singing the National Anthem.  Our entire team and many Czechs are decked out in the Red, White, and Blue (Interestingly these are also the colors on the Czech Flag).  We are happy to be Americans but more importantly we rejoice that we are members of God’s family and we want to represent him well.  Please keep us in your prayers.

CZR 2019 Update # 5 – Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; 

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 

and in all Judea and Samaria, 

and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8

This verse has become very familiar to us over the past number of months and we are privileged to be able to be part of the application of this verse for Fellowship over the past few weeks.  As our camp in nearing an end and we anticipate our stay in Pardubice for follow-up and Church Services on Sunday, the magnitude of our work here is very real to us.  We have build some very special relationships while at camp and presented the gospel with both our lives and the evening talks and discussions groups.  The Czech People tend to be very slow and deliberate processors and we have seen that this week.  We are praying that the small steps we see here at camp will continue throughout the year as students plug into the Youth Group in Pardubice.

One of the themes I am hearing consistently this year is that for many students it is easy to think about God and Christianity and “feel” drawn toward God while at camp but as soon as they return to the “real world” they literally have no positive Christian influences in their life, not parents, friends or teachers.  All of their influences have a negative opinion of what it means to be a Christian.  Please be prayerful that the students will connect with the Youth Group and that Youth Group Leaders will reach out to stay connected to the students who came to camp.  That connection is essential for the students to continue to take steps closer to God. 

Pray as well for our stay in Pardubice and Church Services at Archa.  I will be preaching on Sunday and hope to be both an encouragement to the church as well as taking one last opportunity to make the gospel clear to any of the campers who join us at church for follow up. They often come for one last chance to spend time with the American Team.

After church we will head to Prague for a free day sight-seeing in an amazing city with a wonderful history and stunning architecture.  Our team has been fantastic and I have be amazed at their energy and ability to stay on task.  Pray that we finish strong.

GO: Mission Arlington | Summer 2017 | Day Two

Posted by Eric Barnes 
· Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 
Mission Arlington had a different feel yesterday (Tuesday) than a day earlier on Monday.  Yesterday was much harder to do ministry due to the opposition our groups faced at the various apartment complexes.  When the Mission Arlington leaders said that sometimes God calls us into impossible circumstances, we should have all said “Amen!” – not knowing that it would be true for many of our groups yesterday.  The weather, coupled with local kids who have not been as welcoming as we hoped, has opened our eyes to the types of people Jesus calls us to serve and love  — regardless of their reaction to us.  That’s tough when you actually have to do it.  But man – what an opportunity to learn some difficult lessons about what it means to follow Jesus even when life gets hard.
God is working in our group right now.  It’s evident from some of the spiritual fruit our leaders are seeing in their desire to see  the kids come to know Jesus.  Please, please pray for us and for them!  We need it.  This has not been an easy trip.  It’s not easy to face opposition, but I look at it as a sign that God is at work in places people don’t normally go.  I want our student ministry to be where God is working – and I am reminded this week that it is not always in the places that are comfortable or easy.
I am really proud of this group.  We have several middle school students who are experiencing a mission trip for the first time.  In particular, I got the chance to see Jameson Watkins and Josiah Falkner do a great job of presenting biblical truth through interacting with the kids through puppets yesterday.  During our group de-brief time, several students commented on how Jordan Pate did a great job of connecting with students.  The encouraging statements that students made about one another last night are too many to mention.  The most important thing is: God is being glorified through students using their gifts and their lives to serve Him.
Pray for us as we face the heat on Wednesday and share the Gospel with each and every Rainbow Express group.  We have a Gospel craft that walks students through what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and we are praying for this time.  More updates after to follow!

GO: Mission Arlington | Summer 2017 | Day One

Posted by Eric Barnes 
· Wednesday, June 7th, 2017 

We have been in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since Saturday afternoon, and from the moment we arrived, we have been in ‘Go mode’, as our team had the opportunity to experience something outside the normal attractions that students tend to see. On Sunday, we had the chance to serve and worship with two different congregations in the city. While some got to worship, others actually served in the children’s ministry.

Mission trips tend to be unpredictable, and this year’s Mission Arlington experience is no exception. One thing that has become clear is that God truly put these teams together with a purpose in mind.

On our team, for instance, one of the adults we have is a perfect example. God has gifted Tina Falkner with a unique international experience as a missionary that immediately made her an important asset. A family walked up to the group and each of them knew little English, but what they did know was Arabic. Let’s be honest: there isn’t a great backup plan to communicate with someone who speaks Arabic. God knew who needed to be where, and having Tina around was a great example. Another great adult example of leading well is Lea Ann Norton, who spent an entire session talking to a teenage girl about her doubts of God and life.

A beautiful sight to see on these types of trips are the mentor relationships that high school students have on middle school students. In particular, our high school junior girls group of: Caitlin Boles, Abby McClellan, Abby Batterson, and Sydney Steiner have been outstanding in not only including younger students, but also guiding them throughout each day. Each girl has been willing to do whatever is needed and is best for their team. On the guys side, perhaps we have no greater example of God gifting a student in a more intentional way than Phoenix Hylton. While Phoenix has never been on a mission trip before, he has looked and acted like a mature veteran leader as he has used his athletic ability and joyful personality to engage a lot of younger guys.

Our apartment complex assignments this year have been harder than a year ago. God is doing a work in some very difficult environments and we really need prayer on how to navigate them. Please pray for us as we deal with heat and constantly changing circumstances to who visits our team and how to adapt.

More updates to follow as God guides us through this great ministry opportunity.

~ Alan Greenwood

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