Guys Lock In

Saturday 29 September 2007 at 5:40 pm

It never ceases to amaze me how we just stumble across ideas that work in Mission Raleigh. Of course we know that God is leading but it still amazes me how it all happens.

When we originally planned this lock-in we decided to separate the guys and girl’s lock in because we wanted to focus on sexual purity with the lessons. Then we came to the realization that we worked with lost kids and trying to get them to apply Christian principles to their lives before salvation is not a really practical. So when the time came around to do the lock-in we decided to keep the separate. We praise the Lord for teaching us that keeping the guys and girls separate makes for a much more productive time. I would do a lock-in with both guys and girls from a single mission point but I believe that when you are mixing youth groups it is very beneficial to do a separate lock-in.

The three on three competitions went great once we figured out the brackets. Then we had an indoor soccer competition that was a lot of fun. The winning teams of both competitions played the “Old School Team”. We decided it would be best for the youth’s self-esteem to let them win. Primo and I were the iron-men and played both old school games.

George taught an amazing lesson and Amy and Jess were great on the soccer team and hanging out. Kristi shot video so hopefully I will figure out how to edit video and get something on the web page soon.

I praise the Lord for how he used the event. Please pray for next Friday when we have a lock-in for the girls.

ANSWERED PRAYER!

Tuesday 25 September 2007 at 06:50 am We have been praying that God would start to call more workers out of MVBC. Last Sunday we were able to have the whole service to point at what God was doing in Mission Raleigh. I was allowed to preach in the AM service and we showed the Multihousing Promotional video we had made, but the best was yet to come. Sunday night we mixed in kids, youth and adults from the apartments with videos and Lay- Mission Raleigh Missionaries. It was a wonderful night. Tracy from RN summed up the night and could not have closed it any better if I had written it for him myself. “You have no idea what a difference you can make in a kid’s or youth’s life with just 1 hour a week. We need you we need your help.” We had three adult volunteers and two youth I sent back to talk to their parents about helping.
We praise the Lord for His answer of prayer.

don't stop for nuthin..

Sunday 23 September 2007 at 08:32 am

On Thursdays I am usually at Valleybrook for weekly programs like kids club and youth nite. Since it was raining on Thurs night this week, and our mobile community center (Mission Raleigh Bus) was at the mechanics, I grabbed snacks and hit the road in the pouring rain. The rain didnt stop at all that night so while visiting and passing out snacks door to door, one of my younger youth said something to the effect, "George, you must really care about us 'cuz you don't stop for nuthin!" 

Not only was it a great opportunity to teach how Jesus "doesnt stop for nuthin" when it comes to loving and forgiving us our sins, it was a good reminder to me that my kids and youth watch my every action, and know if I really care.

 If you are reaching others for Christ, take it from my youth, don't stop for nuthin!

Search for Truth

Saturday 22 September 2007 at 06:08 am So on most Thursdays we can have Muslims and Jehovah Witnesses, not to mention the Hispanic Catholics, and just general lost youth gathering for youth group. It makes an interesting time in our “Search for Truth”.

Last week we covered in the beginning. As a group we agreed that since something had to be first it was logical that God would have been first. We looked at Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 and studied how God and Jesus was one but separate. This week we follow up on where everything else came from.

It was an interesting hang out time. Amy was helping one youth with a paper, I hung out with some as they were on line with their myspaces and oh yeah we had a mini urban dance recital. We looked up and the time had gotten away from us and we had to rush the lesson. We do not consider losing teaching time to hang out time as a bad thing. Over the years I have learned that real ministry happens in hang out time much more than teaching time.

I am thinking about doing a small session of the search format at both lock ins. To see how it works in other groups and to model it for other missionaries.

MISSING

Thursday 20 September 2007 at 9:36 pm I quick entry here because I am very tired and have miles to go before I sleep

My heart was broken today. The other day I was awaken at 3 am by God to pray for one of our youth. Later that day I asked a MR Missionary to go check on her. Today I find out that she has ran away again. My heart broke because God woke me up and instead of going myself I delegated a job that God had laid on my heart. I should have been at her door checking on her the next day.

I will write more later on today. Please remember to pray for this young lady through out the week.

wuts up with my personality..

Saturday 15 September 2007 at 10:47 pm

I was very tired, more then I usually, at VB this week. Thought I do back to back kids club and youth night that day, there was just something else making me tired. Regardless of what it was, as I was saying my goodbye's to the kids and youth and packing up to leave, my eyes caught a mother and children that I had not seen before. Though honestly, it would have been easier for me to leave and come back some other time, I started off towards the family. After hearing about how they got there, and what their dreams and their prayers were as they entered into this time in their life, I was able to share with them a little of what I have seen the Lord do in the community and what He desires to do in our lives as people. The mother shared her testimony and though she professed Jesus, I was still glad I that the Lord gave me the courage to walk over and introduce myself, minister and pray with her, and give glory to the Lord for what I have seen him do.

My studies this past week brought me back to Matt 6:33. As I minister in the apartments throughout the week, I am reminded to apply His word here in view of how I act or react to any given situation, such as one above. My point is, when circumstances arise or life progresses as it does, do I seek first the kingdom of God? Do I realize more and more where my emotions go, my own biased ideas, my own schedule, my own priorities? Everything else is second place, if not just totally dropped at times. How am I seeking to glorify Him in my daily routine or job or even in my relationships or in my marriage? Do I actually seek God's kingdom first or is my first reaction in any and every circumstance to complain or give up or shake my fist at God as if seeking first His kingdom was easy in the first place? Do I seek God's kingdom where I live? Do I do so when I am in apartments, and willing to see beyond my planned program when I am there? Does God's word change me.. does it change my personality when God wants it to??

Please Explain to Me

Friday 14 September 2007 at 08:31 am Last night I sat in a room full of youth. Most of them years behind where they should be in school. Their teachers are afraid of them, frustrated by them, oblivious about them, and don't realize their potential. By the end of youth night they understood the philosophical concept of a presupposition. They understood the political hierarchy of the Roman Empire. 17 out of the 18 there stated that they wanted to find an answer to Pilate’s flippant question, “What is truth?” I would have never thought that 18 youth would participate in a setting like this. We found a couple things that help. Amy had played a couple games that forced the youth to continually switch seats. At the end of game time she told them that they had to stay in their current seats. This resulted in friends not setting beside each other which really cut down on the chatter. If you have ever seen me teach youth you may realize that I tend to be a bit High Energy. We got loud and laughed and yelled out answers. But every time I stopped and said everyone look at me. It calmed down and we moved to the next question. It ended with Amy passing out a piece of paper where people could write down prayer request. A surprising amount was passed in. The lesson turned when I got a question from an unexpected youth. Channel who usually wields one of the worse attitudes asked who Pilate was. It may have been the first lesson that she didn’t look like she was waiting for a dental appointment.

I live my life looking forward to Searching for Truth with the youth of Cedar Point.

Turning Toward Home

Sunday 09 September 2007 at 10:11 pm Vacations and Mission Trips always hold one thing in common with me. Toward the end of each of them God starts to turn my head and heart back toward home. As I look out my 12 floor hotel window at the lit up Parthenon here in Nashville my mind and heart are both yearning for home. Things are just bouncing around in my head. Things like how did the Gathering go at RN, will we need to divide our kids at Search on Thursday, I can’t wait to meet with Edgar and how is Marilela doing? Not to mention things like I need to get my budget done and my 501-c proposal.

It also makes me think as I get older how my head and heart are getting turned to my home in heaven. As I get anxious for that day I also get focused on reaching as many as I can so that they to can go to that rent one day.

Ah well I believe that sleep is required and I shall meet that need right now.

Faith like a child...

Sunday 09 September 2007 at 9:16 pm

Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and ^(A)become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven..."

An illustration of sorts...

I've watched Jaylen grow up from a baby, and just now attending his first kids club. His family is very precious to me. This past week, before Kids Club, Jaylen, sat down by the dirt and placed his feet right smack dab in the middle of a red ant farm. Soon after, he jumped up confused and dazed as to what was happening down short ways to his ankles as tiny red ants marched off their sand hills onto his little toes and up his tiny feet to prepare for an all out attack. As he began to feel the pain of th army of ants pinching him, he moaned and ran around in circles for a short moment making just enough noise to catch my attention. A few other kids and teenagers noticed and began to mock, point, and laugh at his situation, with no immediate desire to help him. But as I walked quickly towards Jaylen to investigate, he turned, saw me, and ran as fast as humanly possible at his age towards me and said in his desperate little voice, "Mr. George, help me, help me , I'm hurting!" With tears rolling down his eyes, he stared directly into my eyes somehow as if to say, "You know you. I know you can help!"

Understanding the situation at hand, and counting the seconds the ants would realize their reign was at an end, I began firmly patting Jaylens pant legs, lifting them and brushing the ants off, had him out of his sandles in a jiffy, all in a matter of seconds. But in that moment, as Jaylen jumped up and down, with real ants in his pants, the world seemed to slow down, and my heart melted with desire to help this young child rid his world of army ants. At that moment, they were my sole enemies as well as his. Needless to say, the ants didnt know what hit them, and before he could say ouch again, Jaylen was just about ant free, in my arms, at his own doorstep, with his dad ready to give him a quick shower to rinse himself off. 

Since going home that evening and comtemplating all that happened. I cant help but ponder this verse of scripture again. Having lived 27 yrs on by the grace of God thusfar, I can't help but wonder and ask myself again.. do I have faith like a child? Jaylan ran to me for help as if I was the only person he trusted to help him. Do I run to Jesus whole-heartedly and fully rely on Him to guard me, defend me, and wage war against my would be enemies each day of my life? And with my circumstances? Or... do I simply jump up and down, moan and groan, and complain when reality bites me hard again and again?

May I have childlike faith in every area of my life.

VACATION

Thursday 06 September 2007 at 07:48 am I am off on vacation this week. People expect me to forget MR during that time, but that's not how it works for me. I love what I do & don't feel the nees to escape it. Now what happens is the daily details clears my mind, the constant crises are removed and my mind is open to developing vision. When you live your call people often don't understand, even solid Christians don't understand. Living a call will remove you from the carnality of the world. It can be hard to live a life that friends & family don't understand. REMEMBER THE CALL. If obedience is more important than sacrifice then it is much more important than acceptance. By the way I love my treo. There is nothing quite like blogging at 70 mph.