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God worked powerfully in our "DiscipleNow weekend"

Discussion in 'Prayer Requests & Praise' started by rbell, Jan 31, 2011.

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  1. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    ...held this past weekend.

    Some praises:
    • I'm not a numbers guy...but we had the most we've ever had (that means the most folks ever sat under good teaching, participated in worship, did ministry, and enjoyed good biblical fellowship).
    • One of the guys I've been investing in for the past year accepted Christ this weekend (!!!). You wanna know if it's genuine? A hint: He wrote me a thank-you letter this weekend. (What 9th-grade guys do THAT without pressure from mom?) Pending follow-up this evening, I think the number of salvations will double. (!!!)
    • Several "re-commitments." A quick explanation: WHen someone tells me, "I want to be a better Christian," I like it. But when someone tells me, "there are five people I'm supposed to witness to this next week...here are there names:" or something like that--a specific commitment--that fires me up big-time. Several of those type of commitments were made--and we can follow up on these and really hold the person accountable.
    • On the Saturday afternoon of D'Now, we do ministry work. Among our projects this weekend:
      • Gathered over 1,500 cans of food for local food pantry. Delivered, stocked, and cleaned at that facility.
      • Painted a youth crisis center for a local ministry in inner-city Montgomery.
      • Raked the yards of four of our widows. The pile of leaves was 5 feet high, and 30 feet long.
      • Cleaned and prepped buildings that a local ministry uses to house Ukranian orphans.
      • Cleaned up at a local ministry that houses kids whose parents are incarcerated. Also, got to play/spend time/minister to those kids. (Yes, those are a lot--but we had about 120 folks available to work...so we needed all those spots!)
    • Had an answered prayer of another sort: The week of D'Now, I lost homes, leaders, and students, because of a flu outbreak around. God saw to it that we had enough replacements...and a couple of kids that we didn't expect to recover in time broke their fevers, and made it for much of the weekend.
    The difference? A couple of years back, I realized the stupidity of my approach: recruit helpers/hosts/leaders...and then, almost with an audible sigh, saying, "We'll, if you can't do anything else, you can pray." Dumb approach.

    Now, that's the first thing we get done. I think God is honored by that. Thanks to all of you who prayed! Please keep praying for those who made commitments--that they will make this relationship a priority, and act accordingly--Rbell
     
    #1 rbell, Jan 31, 2011
  2. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    I've had youth weekends where similar moves of God were evident.

    One, in particular, was after a rough week of Centrifuge camp, where the enemy was having his way. I spent most of my time chasing down youth who were pairing off in the woods...

    The leaders began praying in earnest for a move of God and it showed up in His timing after it seemed like the entire week would be a bust. And when He did show up, all I can say is WOW! God be glorified, sins were confessed, souls were saved, and a good many youth felt a divine call to enter some form of ministry as a life vocation.

    Fruits? Almost every one of the ones called into vocational ministry are now serving! Those who were saved are still walking with God (the ones I can track), and others who got a taste of ministering to their peers are involved in doing likewise now. That was almost 15 years ago, and the fruits are still evident, even in me...
     
    #2 glfredrick, Jan 31, 2011
  3. FriendofSpurgeon

    FriendofSpurgeon Well-Known Member
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    Really cool. Thanks for sharing. I think it's great how the end of the week is used for "hands on" ministry -- both for those within and without the church. Times like this are invaluable for teens.
     
    #3 FriendofSpurgeon, Jan 31, 2011
  4. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    People ask me, "What's the most fulfilling thing you exprience in student ministry?"

    You just described it...seeing kids lving out the commitments they make--years down the road.

    Don't get me wrong: This weekend was great. But to watch the kids down the road live it out, and be faithful in the long haul? SO much more so.
     
    #4 rbell, Jan 31, 2011
  5. glfredrick

    glfredrick New Member

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    Amen and Amen!

    True godly transformation always includes works of the gospel that are lasting!
     
    #5 glfredrick, Jan 31, 2011
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