Since my job responsibilities
had changed significantly and were now limited to specific hours, I had to find
other ways to filmy time. I became even more
active in serving with our church. Our
oldest daughter Mackenzie was a teenager.
Kenzie love the youth group and the things they did together. One thing that really influenced her life was
the youth mission trip, MFUGE. MFUGE is
a youth focused mission trip, through Lifeway. MFUGE is best described as a youth church
camp, mission trip and revival on steroids.
Carri and I have
always been very active in our children's lives and their friend's lives. MFUGE was a great opportunity for me to do
something special with Kenzie in serving the Lord and building her faith. I signed up as a chaperon for my first MFUGE
mission trip; the location was Saint Louis Missouri.
This story is not
about what happened between Kenzie and I.
It is about what I saw God do. He
began to open my eyes to what happens when we truly submit to Him. When we surrender our all, He directs us in
ways we could not imagine and He uses us in ways we believed.
My first
opportunity was at a children's and youth center. God brought to my attention a kid who called himself
"Beware." Beware was a gang
member, and he was about to be kicked out of the youth program. After talking to one of the adult leaders, I
was told that Beware would not be coming back, today was his last day. Beware had been enlisting other kids to the
local gang along with pushing drugs.
I asked the
director if Beware could stay until the end of the week. At first, I was told "no." I went on to say, "God had put him on my
heart, and I believed that God was going to use me to make a difference in his
life. Could he please be given until the
end of this week? If nothing changed,
then by all means let him go." Shockingly,
I was told "yes."
Boldly I began to build a relationship with
Beware. I say boldly, I promise I was
not comfortable at all. After a couple
of days, I just simply asked Beware if I could ask him some very serious
questions and if I could tell him my life story. It was divine, Beware said "sure."
I asked Beware
this question; "Are you satisfied with your life, or do you feel like
something is missing?" Beware did
not answer, but that was ok. No answer
meant he was thinking about it. I went
on to share my testimony with him. The
same testimony that I began on this blog on October 6, 2012. When I was
finished, Beware had tears in his eyes.
He mumbled, "I am not satisfied, my life is hopeless."
I asked Beware if
he wanted to receive the gift of life through Jesus Christ. He said yes!
It was right there in the middle of the youth center in front of all the
other children and youth that I led Beware in a prayer. Beware invited Jesus Christ into his life to
be his Lord and savior. When we were
finished praying Beware said to me, "my name is Brandon, call me Brandon.
I have a new life now"
Brandon returned
the next day with a rap song that he wrote proclaiming his new faith and new
life. He stood before the entire group
and sang his new song. Everyone was
cheering, even the programs director.
The following year
we returned to Saint Louis and one of our youth met Brandon at the same youth
center. Brandon was never turned away; instead,
he became a leader in the same place he was nearly kicked out of a year
before.
 |
| This Brandon rapping his new song about his new name and his new life of HOPE! |
Revelations 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I
will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a
white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him
who receives it.
May my life be the proof and evidence of His love!
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