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Vacation Bible School… definitely sounds like something for the kids, but let me tell you, I grow so much from my experiences with it every year I get to participate. The theme is Power Up: Raise Your Game. It’s cool that we get to tie God’s word to something most kids are seeing or doing every single day.

While video games are being played after VBS by these awesome kiddos we’ve had here, I am praying that they remember the spoken truths that we talked about with them.

I was blessed to get to be the storyteller this year at VBS. You know, get up, give the big picture, and hopefully make the kids laugh a bit in the process.

I love telling stories, so this was definitely up my alley; I’ve discovered over the years that I’m a bit of a perfectionist in certain areas and that perfectionist really came out in me yesterday. I had worked hard to memorize all the lines so I could fully engage the kids and not be distracted from reading off a paper.

I was nervous but was doing my best to remember that God was still in control and I couldn’t mess this up- not really, anyway. Well, I got up there, started telling the story…and totally messed it up. I skipped lines all over the place, had to get back on track multiple times, etc. By the time I stepped off stage, I was really disappointed in myself. I couldn’t believe that I had messed up after all that practice!

Did the kids even learn anything? Did any of it make sense? How could I have done this? I went back up to the office to get some work done and while I sat in the quiet, I started praying. Pretty sure it was mostly a pity party prayer, not gonna lie. But God was so gracious and He spoke to me in my frustration. Kind of felt like He was basically saying, “Sarah, you do remember what you just told the kids right? You just told them where our real power comes from. Yet here you are, trying to be powerful on your own without me.” Ouch. That hit hard, but it was a truth I needed to hear. I had gotten up to encourage those kids to turn to God for their power all while I was relying on my OWN strength to get me through the story telling.

It’s neat that we can take a week to really focus on God. We’re answering questions from the kids, making sure we’re giving an example, but we’re also trying to be really honest with these guys. They’re incredibly receptive and are eager to soak up whatever they can. So what is a better way to encourage them than to admit that we still mess up and still need God’s strength to get us through? I’ve gotten to see several adults doing that with the kids already and it encourages me to do the same.

To let go of the pride and let God be glorified through my mess.

Of course, since that’s the last thing the Enemy wants me to do, he is going to be trying his hardest to distract me from the truth, to tempt me to put my eyes back on myself instead of God, and get those seeds of doubt planted in my heart. The awesome thing, though, is that I know he’s going to be doing this. So now I know how to prepare myself for that battle: by stepping back and remembering where my true power comes and letting God be the strength inside me.

Definitely easier said than done, but, just as we’ve been teaching the kids here at VBS, “God’s power gives us everything we need to lead a Godly life.” 2 Peter 1:3a (NIRV)

Ah summer! Finally, a break from the responsibility and monotony of school and extracurriculars. A chance to hang out with your friends, relax, maybe go swimming… and read a book about the holocaust.

As odd as it sounds, I knew when thinking about books I would have every student read that this one is at the top of the list. The Hiding Place, by Corrie Ten Boom is the non-fiction story of Corrie and her family living in the Netherlands during World War 2. What starts out as a description of an idyllic childhood growing up in a dilapidated house where each day is bookended by scripture reading, quickly morphs into a spy novel as the Ten Booms and their home become the center for a major anti-Nazi operation, and then morphs again as horror comes to their doorstep and whisks them away.

My first experience with this book was when I was seven years old. My mom read it aloud to me before bed, and even then I recognized that this story showcased something special. It’s the story of a family whose dedication to God is completely unwavering through circumstances that are the stuff of nightmares. I knew I couldn’t live without that hope. 

It was after one of these nights of weeping with my mom about what God allowed to happen to Corrie and her sister and how faithful He was in all of it, that I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and become my savior. If there has been a book (besides the bible) that has been more influential on my Christian walk I don’t know what it is. I encourage you to add a level of gravity to your summer by taking on this book. Let God show you that He is everything. In Corrie’s words, “You can never learn that Christ is all you need, until Christ is all you have.”

Love,

Sami

“My brother, have you confessed your sins today?  Have you seen the cross of Christ today?”

These words are from Kefa Sempangi, a believer in Uganda.  He is quoted in C. John Miller’s small-but-powerful book Repentance: A Daring Call to Real Surrender.  It is a reminder of the refreshment that comes when we get to unburden ourselves before the Lord.  It is a reminder of the joy and richness that is mine when grace meets me in my specific and troubling sin.

In college, my life was changed when someone took the time to begin to teach me how to confess my sins specifically, and regularly ask for God’s help to walk in the Spirit.  Before that, repentance was just a heavy religious word; a nebulous concept of weight and guilt.  But after that, repentance came alive to me as a divine gift, an invitation to receive and experience God’s love in fresh and real ways.

I have been trying to practice and grow in the gift of repentance ever since!

Coming in at less than 100 pages, Repentance is the kind of book that can be read and re-read many times.  It has been a continual reminder for me of the life-renewing power of this practice.  When I bring my sin to the Cross, and agree with what God says, then I receive His mercy afresh each day.

Miller has helped to encourage me in this.  In fact, his biblical emphases - poured through the experiences of his own life and pain - have been a treasure store of God’s truth.  Miller helps us think through repentance vs. penance, the right role of conviction, and how we apply the finished work of Christ.  He walks us through biblical guilt and confession, to bring us out into freeing forgiveness and the Spirit’s power.

“In the great invitational passages of Scripture, the exhortation is not to thirst, i.e., to acquire a conviction of sin.  Instead, the command is for sinners to drink of Christ (Jn. 7:37, Is. 55:1-2).  Scripture does not say that the way of salvation is to make yourself heavy with your sins.  Instead, the invitation from the Lord is, ‘Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden’ (Mt. 11:38).”

If you are ready to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” (2 Ptr. 3:18), and in the timeless practice of preaching the Cross to yourself regularly, than this book will be rich for you.

And if you pick up a copy, and start reading, I would love to hear about it.  You can expect that I will be reading it, too!

For His glory in us,

Frank

I want to offer a well-deserved congratulations to our graduating seniors! You have achieved an important milestone in your life. Because this is such an important juncture in your life, you have probably been receiving much uninvited advice. And, I am no different, I must add my two cents. My advice is simple, pick your superhero carefully.

Why is this so important? No matter what you are about to do (school, job, the military) you won’t be able to do it on your own. In fact, your friends and family won’t be enough. Life demands a superhero.

Fortunately, today we have many superheroes to choose from. Just a few weeks ago American’s spent a record $2.6B to see the Avengers, making it the second largest grossing movie of all time. And that is only the tip of the iceberg, as there are literally hundreds of comic book superheroes. Each have their unique super-ability to help them fight crime or intergalactic aliens. How is one to choose?

As you have probably already guessed, these are not the type of superhero that I have in mind. Obviously, my suggestion would be that you make Jesus Christ your superhero. What are his credentials? He can speak things into being; He can heal with the sound of a prayer; He knows everything, even the number of hairs on our head; He can be anywhere all at the same time; and, there is no end to his existence. If that’s not enough, he defeated our arch-nemesis on a simple cross. But maybe most amazingly, He loves each of us no matter what we do.

But wait, there is more. If we make him our superhero, He will endow us with superhuman ability. This is better known as the Holy Spirit. He makes us unstoppable—I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me (Phl 4:13). He places a force field of sorts around us—The Lord will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one (II Th 3:3). We become his personal Padawan—He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phl 1:6). We become indestructible—For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ro 6:23). And, these are only a few of the promises. These promises will come in handy in the future as they are the very answers to the challenging life that each of us have in front of us.

I realize that I am not saying anything that you don’t already know. The problem is that you know it too well and has become common-place. It is easy to fail to see the wonder, the “super hero-ness” that is our Lord Jesus Christ. My prayer for you is that you will see Jesus for who He really is, the only true answer to the questions you will face in your life. But like all good superheroes even Jesus has his “kryptonite”. You may be thinking Satan, but Jesus defeated him thousands of years ago. And it is not Jesus that has a kryptonite but our relationship with him. That is, distraction! When He truly is our superhero we will feel the need to spend time with Him. We will want to share our lives with Him through prayer and seek His plan for our lives through Bible study. So, make quiet time and protect it with all your might!

Soon, you will be on your own and be faced with who your superhero will be. It will no longer be your parent’s decision. Will you choose to serve yourself, your career, a friend, spouse, money or a million other things? Or, will you choose to serve Jesus? The decision you will make over the next few years will shape the course for the rest of your life.

Youth and High School Ministries are full of exciting opportunities, endless possibilities, and some amazing students. As a Youth Ministry leader, I am excited because I feel confident in the work God is going to do through this ministry. I know that He has a purpose and a plan in all of it and I am ready to get to work.

High school is a transformative time in student’s lives and our goal is to serve these students as they are transformed through God in a loving community.

A few years ago, I helped run The Hang Out, MCC’s old high school youth group. Being involved in that ministry was a learning experience. I grew from leading that group to currently leading in the middle schooler ministry I love so much. While I’ve enjoyed working with ALL of the mid-school students, I have really connected with the 8th graders. I knew after hanging out with them, talking with them and even discipling two, that we have a really cool opportunity.

Having grown up at Mountain Christian, with lifelong friends and people I’ve known my whole life at this church, I can say that this particular group of 8^th grade students is really something special. They are passionate, engaged, and each equipped with servant’s hearts. These kids are a large part of why we are so excited about launching our High School Ministry in July!

These eight students, and our leadership team, are providing the ministry with a solid foundation that we believe can grow into something powerful.

While the Hang Out was focused largely on outreach, we quickly found out that we didn’t have a solid enough foundation to run that type of ministry. What these older middle schoolers have taught me is that if we work inward, the outreach will come. It’s not about how many kids we can get into youth group, instead it's about how we build up the kids we already have!

Ultimately, we know that our students have the biggest impact on their peers and we are excited to see how they will reach out in God’s love to their friends and fellow students.

We are praying that the 8th graders, and whoever comes to the High School Ministry, are going to create change in the church and the community. We pray daily for these kids and know that God is going to do some powerful things in and through them. I am so grateful and blessed to get to work with them.

Will you join us in praying for these kids, that their hearts would be open and ready to be changed. Pray that they would be encouraged and have safe travels at the Christ in Youth Conference June 30-July 5. Also, would you pray for Sami, Canyon, Micaiah, and myself, that God would use us for his glory, and finally that as July 12th rolls around and we launch that God would bring who He wants there!

Please contact me at with any questions.