Freedom is Real

It's been way too long... and so much has happened since I last wrote.  IMPACT 360 ended on May 13th, and this summer I worked with "Propel My Life", a group made up of IMPACT 360 alumni with a desire to share what they learned at the gap-year program with highschoolers at camps across the country.  My team had the privilage of teaching in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas, sharing worldview and leadership with both Student Life and Camp Chaparral students. 

Having never taught a class before, this was a new adventure, and one that I absolutely loved.  The students engaged well with the material, and I was able to build relationships with so many young Christians.  Their heart for God, and love for eachother inspired and challenged me.  I'm so glad God gave me this opportunity... I could sense His hand on this program.

This summer, I participated in four different camp sessions, all the while hearing about the mission trips of many of my friends, as well as my own brothers... and it has me thinking... 

Camp.  Mission trips.  It's what Christian youth do these days.  When many of these students come home from their trips, they are on fire for God.  They've spent a week, or maybe a few weeks, learning about God and His Word... and worshipping Him.  They make big decisions and turn back to God.  Then they go home and, a week later, become the exact same person they were before.  Why?  Was their decision real?  I used to think it wasn't... that kids just got caught up in the hype of a good worship song... but now I'm beginning to wonder.

One night, Camp Chaparral held a prayer meeting.  They asked students who had certain sin struggles or problems to walk to the front of the room to pray.  After only about 45 minutes, there were kids kneeling at the front of the room sobbing.  This had happened the week before as well.  That's when I realized that many of these students have deeper needs and hurts than I could ever imagine.  After getting to know some of the students, this was confirmed  I talked to two teens who had tried to commit suicide, one who had been addicted to drugs, and multiple students with broken families.  What if camp is the only chance that these students get to admit that they need something?  What if camp is the only place where they can talk to people about struggles at home?  What if camp is where they feel God's love for the first time?  What if camp is their only glimpse of they way Christian community is supposed to be? 

They go home, and Satan begins to lie to them.  He tells them that the freedom they glimpsed was not true freedom.  That life will never get better... that no one really loves them.  They doubt that their experience at camp can ever come true in their life, and believe the lies.  I used to think that students who lived one way at camp and another way at home didn't care about their faith.  That they weren't "really" commmitted to God.  Well, God is beginning to show me that reality is deeper than that.  As I have begun to see this struggle in individuals close to me, I realize there is more to the story.

God wants to use me to draw the hurting towards Him.  I can be that person outside of camp who shows them love.  Their reminder that freedom is possible... and real.  God calls me to minister to widows and orphans... A kid with abusive parents is an orphan.  A student who can only find escape and love at camp is an orphan.  And God has put people in my life that I can lead towards the freedom and protection of Christ.  What an opportunity!

"...He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.  The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous  The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow... The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.  Praise the Lord."  Ps. 146:7-10

I Heard the Voice of One Man Crying

A poem I wrote during solitude time at Callaway Gardens… during the New Testament class.  

I heard the Voice of One Man Crying

I heard the voice of one man crying

And in that voice the agony and screams of a multitude

Without number, black, white, yellow

Crying under the weight of oppression

An unseen groan, bending the ground beneath them,

And the wood behind him.

Such pain

All attention was fixed on him

All history

Past

Present

Future

Focused on one hope, one chance

The only chance

And suddenly the cry ceased.

In that one silence, the silence of a multitude

The pain of thousands

Cold encircled him, and fear them.

His hand releasing, receiving

His pain outpouring

His blood flowed over the multitude

They partook of his pain

And became whole in Him

I saw light emanating from that darkness

From one man, touching every feature of the multitude

No longer trapped in pain

No longer flooded with dispair

No longer covered in blood

As beautiful and white as snow.

I heard the voice of one man crying

Yet in that cry the songs and joy of a multitude

Without number, black, white, yellow

Singing the songs of freedom

An unseen hope lighting the ground beneath them

And the sky behind him

Such love

All attention was fixed on him

All history

Past

Present

Future

Focused on one hope, one chance
Taken

Given

I heard a voice of one man singing

And in that joy, the songs of a multitude.

Brazil

  

Our group’s trip to Brazil was an unforgettable experience in which I grew closer to Christ, was able to watch Him work, and saw many lives touched through His power. 

I could give story after story of all that our team saw God do, but one highlight will have to suffice:

            At the beginning of our trip, we were introduced to our bus driver, Paulo.  During the first week, one of the missionaries with us was able to share the gospel with him, and came home telling us the story, saying, “That was the closest I’ve ever seen someone come to accepting Christ, and decide not to.”  From that night on, we prayed earnestly for this man… that he would come to know the freedom and joy that can be found in a relationship with Christ.  Because he was our driver every day, we were able to spend time with him, and began to develop a relationship with him.  He began coming out of his bus to watch us work, and eventually even helped us!  One day he brought his daughter along so that we could meet her.  We loved watching his heart for people, and love for his daughter. (The picture is of the two of them)

            On our last day in Brazil, as we drove to the airport, the bus pulled over on the side of the road.  One of our leaders was in the front talking to Paulo through a translator, and we watched as tears streamed down his face.  When we arrived at the airport, Paulo came to the back of the bus, and was introduced as, “Your new brother in Christ.”

            Through Paulo, we were able to see God work even after our last “church service” was over.  He will continue to move powerfully in Brazil through the missionaries there, as well as the country’s newest Christians.  Thank you so much for your prayers, and please keep these believers in them as well!