Today, we had the awesome opportunity to go into a local school and speak about Jesus! Yep. You heard me right... Jesus. We were able to tell almost 800 elementary aged children about the Gospel and pray with them. We held 6 sessions before lunch and 6 sessions after lunch. It was amazing to be able to go into a public school and not only speak openly about our Savior but we started out by singing worship with them! You know, in the States we can hold assemblies every once and a while but we can only speak about avoiding drugs and alcohol or some other message that promotes a positive lifestlye... but we can't mention christianity, Jesus or even the Bible much less start out by singing worship with them. So it was awesome! We also gave all the kids salvation bracelets so they could remember what we had just spoken to them about.
One of the things I want to metion is the students we are here ministering with. In case you didn't know, we are here in Brazil with a friend of mine who pastor's a church in Monroe. He brings his youth group here every year (if you remember our blog last year, they were the church that was here at the same time as us). So, the entire team consists of 7 adults and the rest of the team are high school students. From the first day we arrived I've been so impressed with their zeal for souls, their compassion for the people of this country and their focus. It's contagious. We've been 100mph the whole time we've been here and they've been great. There is one guy in particular that God has really moved on since we've been here. When I first met him, he seemed a little rowdy and a little on the edge... but I just knew that God was going to meet him here in Brazil. This young man is a new person. His heart has been broken for the things that are important to God. If you are reading this right now and you have a teenager and they've never been on a mission trip you need to send them. And as far as that goes... if you've never been on one, you need to go! Our veiw of life is so distorted because of living in the U.S. and we need to have a clearer view of the world. You might say, "I can't afford a mission trip." Why is it that we can afford XBOX's and Flat Panel TV's and new cars every 2 years, but when it comes to being able to bring change to someone's life and to have a REAL encounter with God... we can't afford it? We need to change our thinking. OK, maybe you "really" can't afford a mission trip. That's cool. Then try to get involved in a ministry at your church or with another organization that minister's to the poor and needy. Volunteer with your family at a soup kitchen or reach out to some of the addicted or homeless in your city. There's plenty of places to try and reach the lost and hurting. Because when we reach out to lost like this, we're fulfilling what God has called us to do. And be sure to let your kids 'do ministry' with you. My parents never did anything that even remotely resembled reaching out to the needy. I don't even think it was a thought. But I believe God is raising up a different kind of parent that wants to not just raise their children but also train them. And I don't mean just telling them what their not suppose to do, but ones that will show them what to do... like reaching out to people where there's no ulterior motive other than wanting to minister the love of Jesus to them. We just need to start thinking outside of the 4 walls of our own homes. If you are one of my children and you're reading this... get ready because Daddy has some cool ideas of stuff we can do to reach out to people as a family!
So seeing Jesus ministered through a bunch of students to a bunch of students in a public school was awesome... I wish you could have seen it.
One of the things I want to metion is the students we are here ministering with. In case you didn't know, we are here in Brazil with a friend of mine who pastor's a church in Monroe. He brings his youth group here every year (if you remember our blog last year, they were the church that was here at the same time as us). So, the entire team consists of 7 adults and the rest of the team are high school students. From the first day we arrived I've been so impressed with their zeal for souls, their compassion for the people of this country and their focus. It's contagious. We've been 100mph the whole time we've been here and they've been great. There is one guy in particular that God has really moved on since we've been here. When I first met him, he seemed a little rowdy and a little on the edge... but I just knew that God was going to meet him here in Brazil. This young man is a new person. His heart has been broken for the things that are important to God. If you are reading this right now and you have a teenager and they've never been on a mission trip you need to send them. And as far as that goes... if you've never been on one, you need to go! Our veiw of life is so distorted because of living in the U.S. and we need to have a clearer view of the world. You might say, "I can't afford a mission trip." Why is it that we can afford XBOX's and Flat Panel TV's and new cars every 2 years, but when it comes to being able to bring change to someone's life and to have a REAL encounter with God... we can't afford it? We need to change our thinking. OK, maybe you "really" can't afford a mission trip. That's cool. Then try to get involved in a ministry at your church or with another organization that minister's to the poor and needy. Volunteer with your family at a soup kitchen or reach out to some of the addicted or homeless in your city. There's plenty of places to try and reach the lost and hurting. Because when we reach out to lost like this, we're fulfilling what God has called us to do. And be sure to let your kids 'do ministry' with you. My parents never did anything that even remotely resembled reaching out to the needy. I don't even think it was a thought. But I believe God is raising up a different kind of parent that wants to not just raise their children but also train them. And I don't mean just telling them what their not suppose to do, but ones that will show them what to do... like reaching out to people where there's no ulterior motive other than wanting to minister the love of Jesus to them. We just need to start thinking outside of the 4 walls of our own homes. If you are one of my children and you're reading this... get ready because Daddy has some cool ideas of stuff we can do to reach out to people as a family!
So seeing Jesus ministered through a bunch of students to a bunch of students in a public school was awesome... I wish you could have seen it.
Love you guys!
Jim
Jim
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