During our normal hangout times, discipleship happens, but now I'm seeing groups form within the groups that are in the same place in life. This will accelerate deeper growth because they will have more focused, intimate time with each other. There will be more trust and higher accountability within the group. The students can then report and share testimonies with larger group when we meet regularly or when we just hangout. Non-traditional small groups are what we we are going for. The major difference is—they will naturally form rather than be forced/assumed (like your normal "small group" when you join the church).

What’s cool is a good majority of my students don't need me as much anymore. They are meeting with both—their saved and unsaved friends and they share the resources from what they learned the last few years from me.

They are sharing through Facebook, phone conversations, at school lunch, and face-to-face outside school too. But not only is it good for challenging them to live THE Cause but also they find a verse to encourage each other to go on and win the race! They are getting beat up out there--yet winning (Heb 12).

There seems to be a greater hunger for God when they send verses they get when spending time with God. It inspires people to live it in this dark world.

Inspire people to live the cause........in this FAMILY of God.......through facebook, text, blog, face-to-face etc......you dont think people are reading or looking at this....but they are "watching" & "listening"......they need it. Be obedient to share it.....

Every outreach is a good outreach because we are being obedient to THE Cause (Matt 28:19-20). Most nights we get Acts 17 responses (YES, MAYBE, NO). On this night, we had many conversations with people on the streets, but we didn’t get anyone to place their faith and trust in Jesus. The students were a bit frustrated but it drove them to rely on the Holy Spirit more and pray. Their hearts were broken more for the lost because of so many rejections.

Our job is to share our faith. We are to sow randomly. Share the Gospel relationally & relentlessly in a clear & compelling way. Leave the results to Him. Plant the seeds, let them fly, and pray that their eyes will be open to receive the truth.

PS: One cool story: 3 weeks ago we did an outreach (Hunt), and met 2 teenagers that were pretty much not interested in the Gospel. But 3 weeks later we see them with another student. The students were bold to approach them again. Surprisingly 1 out of the 2 students from the previous outreach was interested. He actually said I have been thinking more about what you had said last time we came out. He is talking to his grandma more about Jesus and asking questions.

The 3rd student was really open to the Gospel and may come to youth group to check it out more.

In that summer I met Greg Stier and he introduced me to Dare2share Ministries and THE Cause over dinner at an elder‘s house that he knew while Greg was on vacation in Florida. He saw I was a frustrated youth leader. He encouraged me to share the gospel but also to make student disciples who will make student disciples–the way Jesus modeled it. He gave me 3 books to read: Venti Jesus, Ministry Mutiny, and D2S Handbook.

I went home and changed our youth group name from MissionC29 to The Mission 28 Youth Group. I was sold on the radically new, yet old model of Jesus’ way of doing ministry. I felt that THE Cause: making disciples who make disciples” needed to be central to everything we do as a youth group. That everything else would come out of that: relationships, fellowship, small groups, events, Bible reading, etc….

I began to see how Jesus acted as a “Coach” rather than just the “Quarterback”. The goal of THE Cause (Matt 28:19-20) was to see new conversion growth and see them multiply. I shared the gospel and modeled it week after week at YG and saw our first believers that year. I implemented the deep & wide strategy where we train the teens to go deeper but wide at the same time–learn as you go share. Over the next year we saw one by one get saved and they developed a new hunger for God and a genuine love for others.

Practically this looked like Jesus’ youth group (Matt. 17, Ex 33). We would spend time together in relationships and teach the things of God as you live life together. I would train them as you “go” how to share their faith with their friends (Matt 28:19-20). On Tuesdays I would bring the students lunch and we would talk about who they can reach as we talked about many other things. I would challenge and encourage them throughout the day by texting them and FaceBook. We would do regular outreaches where we would share our faith and pray for people on the streets. We would almost meet everyday to get to know each other better and learn what it means to follow Jesus daily.

Even though we had all the “ingredients” and “principles” on how to live THE Cause–we still didn’t see significant growth. We lacked power. In the summer of 2010, I felt like the Lord say PRAY so every Thursday I would pray for these students by name with note cards. We started to notice a significant change. We saw more students come in the late summer months early fall. Then He gave me an even greater hunger to pray everyday for 1 to 2 hours on a prayer walk. I got addicted to His presence. He was beginning to change me and mold me into what He wanted me to be like as a leader of teenagers. He said what makes you great is your intimacy with Jesus in the secret place relying on him (Matt 6:6).

In that room of the Secret Place is where we get His heart, where motivations are checked, where strength is drawn from Him, strategies are made, and where power is given to carry it out. Where we get love for the un-loveable and where we are able to pick up our courage and go on when we feel like quitting.

As a result of prayer I began to get to know my students better because I had a new love for them and desire to spend time with them more. They began coming over everyday after school and we had weekend bonfires and regular outreaches. Ministry was happening everyday with them. And as I spent time with them I got more insight on where they are spiritually and their teenage culture which helped me teach more relevantly. I also earned their respect, trust, and ears. This in turn gave me an opportunity to train them and multiply myself into new leaders.

Prayer is central to this youth ministry now because I know who I am and I know I now “need” God. Its not “priciple-driven” but “prayer-driven”. I had to rely on Him for things I couldn’t possibly do myself….like reach all these students and their needs. To see students come to Christ and multiply themselves is something only God can do. I need His power to accomplish this calling. It was overwhelming.

Since August 15, 2010, God has consistently brought 1 to 5 students faithfully to the youth group by the students living the cause. Which amounts to well over a 100 people. Most are new conversion growth with the students sharing their faith and bringing them to YG. There are also people from other YG coming because they see the significant change in their friends and also are attracted by the clear vision of THE Cause.

This was not easy getting to this place. It all came at a great cost. There is a significant amount of Spiritual warfare. I had 2 demonic night attacks, I was sick for 8 months and didn’t know what was wrong with me while we were just starting to grow. Some of our “stronger” students were picked off by the enemy and they ended up leaving because the opposite sex wooed them away. But through some of these losses, God made us stronger.

Went to Ohio to the Dare2share conference with a team of 14 and 2 students got saved. They came back with a hunger to live THE Cause and multiply. We have done so many outreaches and have seen these new students really grow deeper. They realize that when they focus on God-it gets the focus off drama and self-which produces more fruit and power in their life to live THE Cause. We tell them to fight sin with hunger for God and fight drama and boredom with evangelism and THE Cause. We motivate the students to live THE Cause by having the students share testimonies and by challenging them to be a part of something greater than ourselves a Cause that started 2000 years ago that won‘t end until Jesus comes back.

I continually go back to the vision God has called us to live. I believe He wants to bring revival to this broken and lost area of Central Florida. I saw the same vision of Ezekiel 47: The River of God. That the presence of God which carries salvation, healing, and purpose and power to the city would flow from the youth house. I would also be reminded of Hab 2:1-3–where it says keep vision before you and though it may seem like it won’t happen in time it will.

In Isaiah 54 it talks about the tent stretching and talks about the need for the tent pegs to go deeper in the ground to support the stretch. We saw an increase in numerical growth, but in order for them to stick and multiply–they must go deeper in God too. Otherwise the tent pegs would snap and the people would scatter and leave. We noticed that more needy and lost people came in and more drama was created and we needed to deal with it. So we challenged our regulars to go deeper in Christ by practicing the Spiritual disciplines so that they would be able to disciple the lost.

What a journey it has been! I felt like I needed an outlet to write what God has been doing over the last 2 years and what He has been speaking to me about……

http://themission28.wordpress.com/

March 2011
I wanted to share some pretty cool stories/testimonies about our week of outreaches…..

BACKGROUND:
Over the last year I have been really trying (through prayer & modeling it) to get the students to really get the fact that youth group is not a Wed night deal. Neither is it only when we "plan" outreaches. Life on life discipleship happened everyday for Jesus and thats the way I want it for our group. When we go out as a group (no matter what we decide to do, whether it be just hanging out, going to see a movie, beach, walking around, etc....)---we try to live intentional. So discipleship is always happening between students.

Over the last few weeks we have been intentional about praying for 5 minutes or so before we go out as a group (no matter what we do). We usually hang out 5 to 6 times a week. Here is what happens when God leads us.....

Friday March 11th
--We all went to Flagler by the beach and hungout and talked. A few of the students said hey lets go talk to some people about Jesus. So they initiated it, went and talked to lots of different people. Its become part of their DNA. We had Acts 17 responses: rejections, maybes, and salvations. It was awesome to watch how it has become natural thing we do. Matthew 28 calls us to "Sow randomly" everywhere we go and "invest strategically" in the hungry. The other "new" students are watching and seeing the power of God and they are joining in and asking questions.

Highlight: 2 students we met on the street trusted in Christ. These 2 boys said they felt so different. Also we saw some students that used to come to YG and are now struggling. This gave us an opportunity to encourage them to come back and love on them. We also prayed for many people and their problems and struggles they had (all age groups). Also we shared our faith with anyone we saw.

These kids are really living THE Cause (Matthew 28:19-20--make disciples who make disciples). It would take hours for the teenagers to sit down and tell all the stories they have of them engaging their friends for Christ throughout the week in and out of school.

Later we go back (like in Matt 10-11), and even as we go--and talk about the responses and how we can better share the Gospel and engage with people.

Sunday--March 13
--We all decided to just hangout as a group in the afternoon. I had a few ministry conversations with some students and then went to dinner. On the way dinner, one of my students asked if we could invite Dillon. He is unsaved and they wanted to reach out to him. After dinner we all went to a student’s house for a movie. Some wanted to watch a scary movie (which divided the group). I hate scary movies but this one was a "true story one" that had clear "good and evil". Like that makes a difference!

So I took some of the students that didn’t care to watch the movie outside to talk and walk around the block. When the movie was done, they wanted us to come back and drive some people home. So I got into the car that had Dillon in it and he was freaked out. Now this kid actually likes scary movies and watches them often. The kids put on worship music and told me that after the movie was done, the students were trying to reach out to Dillon by telling him that when we die they go to heaven or hell. And hell is a horrible place (as depicted in the movie) and you can’t get out. He said how that he needed that movie because it woke him up with the reality of hell and that God was real. The students boldly shared with them about Jesus and his plan for salvation. This is when Dillon began to pour out his heart…..

Dillon said that he lives in a black box--meaning- he lives in a small room that is a part of a very small trailer home. He doesn’t live with his family and he pays 175 dollars a month to stay in. He says he is into satanic stuff. He had a skate board that had a painted upside-down cross on it. He was dressed in all black, shirt with demon symbol, shoes, black hat and a wallet with 666 on it. Inside his room he has no windows, it is pitch black at night--where you cant even see your own hand at night. He has demonic signs in his room, along with more upside-down crosses. What was more disturbing was what he showed us on his arms. On both his upper arms were shredded flesh all scarred up and down the shoulder and arm. He had cut himself with a razor real bad on purpose because he had no access to weed to comfort himself (which his uncle said to smoke, but didn’t have any at the time).

After we heard this, the students wanted to find a place to meet and pray for Dillon. When we all got to a student‘s house, we all sat on the floor and put Dillon in the center, put worship music on, laid hands on him, and prayed. All the students let out some real sincere heart-felt prayer and it was awesome! We did this for about 1 hour. After we prayed, we shared what we felt like the Lord put on our hearts to encourage Dillon. Then one student said, lets all go to Walmart and buy him a Night-Light for the night so at least he has some light in to remind him of Jesus. We also had him speak out lies that the devil tormented him with and then we just laughed at how stupid they sounded. We came up with a plan to get him out of that dark room. He revealed that he only has 2 or 3 pairs of clothing, so the student’s may take him shopping this week to get him more clothes!  The students also made him a wallet because he burned his 666 one.  They made it out of ductape--which seems to be pretty popular.  He also recently said that he has never been this happen since meeting up with us these last 2 weeks!

The students are following up with him everyday since.....

------------
Monday--March 14th
. We had our 3rd FCA meeting on Monday night at the beach. Along with The Mission 28 Youth Group, we had another youth group and their youth pastor/ & assistant with us and we had the opportunity to model and train them on THE Cause. We decided to not only tell them about it and share testimonies, but also model and lead the outreach. We had 4 teenagers share some testimonies on sharing their faith using GOSPEL acronym. Then we split up into groups, prayed, and sent out to reach the lost on the streets.

The students came back with many stories of them sharing their faith. Our teens lead 1 to Christ and shared with many others. We ended up sharing testimonies and worshipping around the fire on the beach until 11pm! The youth leader from the other yg was blown away by the passion from our group and couldn't believe the boldness they had. I told him about Dare2Share and we are getting together so he can hear more on THE Cause and D2S.....

Thursday--March 17th
--We also went out and shared our faith and prayed for people on Flagler on St. Patrick’s Day--March 17th. This is our 4th outreach in a week. They are getting so much practice sharing their faith and seeing the different responses of the people on the street. Tonight was a great example of the hardness of heart and the rejection of the Gospel. Apathy was very thick that night on the streets…..

Wed--March 16th
--The students brought Dillon to youth group for the first time last night. I hate to differentiate "official" yg night VS "unofficial nights" because we are always together. But this was the first "worship service" he came to. He heard worship and a message on the love of God and on the family of God. It provoked some discussion last night and he had some questions. I took 3 other students and had them share their personal testimonies along with GOSPEL and he totally opened up. I never saw him smile like that. He told us this "message and God stuff was so foreign to him that he needs more time, but loves it and wants more". He knows this new life is for him. He also said that he got rid of all the satanic stuff from his house. He feels so much better but even senses a fight from the enemy trying to pull him back. So thanks Greg for the book timing!!

A new student that is not saved saw and overheard the discussion and joined right in. He is warming up to the message and is getting a hunger (which is a miracle because Steven was so far from God, hooked on drugs and horrible anger problems). Steven is Danish's brother (she was in the baptism video). This is a family thing you see in Acts---because even their mom (which is an alcoholic and abuser) is open to the Gospel and is beginning to change and desires to get off the alcohol. She is overwhelmed by the power of God seeing her two kids wrapped up in drugs, now 1 saved and 1 almost there.....

Update on the kid from the Monday 14th outreach
....
A cool story. On Monday one of our teens led this 18 year old to Jesus on the beach. His name is Paul. On Wednesday March 16th, I told the story about this guy and said Paul "felt different and wanted this Gospel when Taylor & Ali shared it. This new girl Ashley (which didn’t attend the outreach) heard the name when I told the story and said "that’s so funny because I know Paul and Paul told me that a YG came up to him on the street and shared the Gospel with him. I didn’t know it was our YG!" She later called him and he is going to start coming to YG with her!

March 19-20

We had a lock-in/ sleepover with about 15 students that are hungry to live THE Cause. We worshipped, prayed, shared testimonies, and discussed things of God for 5 hours! From 11pm to 4am! It was awesome!

Ryan's teacher wanted to know what he was reading (Crazy Love by Francis Chan)....he told her about it and then she kicked him out of class.  She also wrote him and referral for being insubordinate.  Then he told her he would be rewarded greatly by God and she was yelling at him as he walked out the door.....

“November 8, 2010 Facebook conversation between Jason (one of my students that just got saved and is living the Cause & and his non-believing friend. Jason before coming to youth group used drugs 5 times a day and got around with girls. His life has transformed in the last 2 ½ months……

Zach: dude chill with all the god posts, every other post from you is god this, god that, relax bruh

Jason: Not every other one, but most are lol, There are so many people out there who need to know who God is and Jesus has told me to go out and “make disciple who make disciples” Matthew 28:19. Sometimes all it takes is someone posting something on facebook, that God has put on their heart to share, in order to change someones life.

Zach: thats weak, dude ur like 17 years old, u sound like a 40 year preacher, im sure ur parents push the god thing on you 24.7 but u need to find your own thing your interested in, live your live have fun dont get married to a fictional man in the sky just yet bro…. im just sayin

Jason: I am 17, and that the beauty of it, how God can work though such a young person, and no I am trying to change my parents, there against it, they dont believe in him and I am working on them with God in order to change them, also, my relationship with God is very intimate now. He given me faith to believe Him. Ever since I got saved 2 ½ months ago, my life has changed for the better. I was born with a hole or emptiness in my heart that only He can fill. I tried filling it with drugs, drinking and sex and everyday I would still wake up empty. Jesus died for my sins 2,000 years ago and filled my heart. I accepted the gospel message. Now I am fulfilled and living life and enjoying it.

Zach: wow another tragic youth lost the the big fake man in the sky, please if u have time take 10 min and watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk0K1zgCDtE&feature=related

Jason: You can believe what you want, and I will be praying for you, but can you please explain to me how the bible was written by about 40 people over a period of at least 1600 years and how all of them didn’t have any real connection with each (at least never saw or talked to each other). God is good. I challenge you to read the Bible for yourself. Don’t just take other people’s facts. Read Psalm 146:8 and 2 Chronicles 15:2 and I will be praying for you. ther, yet it all relates to the same exact thing, God is real and God is good, Also if God tells you to do something he is telling you to do it for a reason, and I will say Faith does have a big part in it, but I challenge you to read the Bible for your self and to not just take other peoples ideas and “facts”, but do figure it out for yourself, and like I said before I will be praying for you Zach. And I want you to read Psalm 146:8 and 2 Chronicles 15:2

Zach: lol PLEASE dont pray for me, please, dont put your witch craft on me, if you wana belive in the man in the sky (lol) have fun, ill be here in the real world, where gravity and science is king. i feel bad for you dude, u were a cool kid at camp and now I feel bad for you that you took this EXTREME route. Now here are a few of my favorite bible verses (the best fictional novel ever)….Ps 137:9; Deut 23:1; Ezk 9:5-6; Lev 25:44. And don’t just trust what your preacher says.

Jason: I will pray for you, and I am in the real world the same as you, just we are going to different places when we die and I hate to think that, so I will pray that God does wonders in your life, also I do this all between me and God, and I have, God has helped me with everything I need, trust me, all I can say is that you have a huge wall up and it will take time to knock down but it will be demolished, God Bless. God prevails and put your trust in God and you will prevail.

Zach: its not between you and god when every face book post is about him, and yes we will be going to different places when we die, you will be put in the ground and turned into compost and i will be put in the ground and turned into compost but we will be in different grave yards. Your god is a fool here is why….Matt 5:22; Lk 11:40; Matt 23:17; John 9:39; John 12:47…..oh, did Jesus just lie? I am not in the uneducated non-believers club like some, but I am in the educated non-believers club.

Jason: it is about me and him because he is talking to people like you through me, also you are very educated, this means that you are hungry for God you just need some help realizing, and i will admit I don’t know everything about God.one does, I am continuously learning everyday, you do put up some good points, I feel that John 9:39 is saying that he has come into this world for people to judge him and John 12:47 is saying that he will not judge people in the world but he will come and save it. Read both passages and think about them, “for judgment I have come into this world” judgment by the people, “For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it” as he doesn’t judge he only save I am learning everyday. You bring up some good points and here is what I think

Zach: Hopeless… I give up bro. Have a good life my friend

Jason: it’s not hopeless it’s joyless and that is what you are inside right now man, I love you bro and will be praying for you. God Bless!

…….Now as a COACH for THE Cause……. I will follow up with him today to go over all the points and encourage him to continue living THE Cause!
—

My students are going to bring this quote up in math class.....

Teens are sharing their faith more than ever.  They have a heart for the lost and for the presence of God. 

On Sunday we prayed 45 minutes for a student.  She got more boldness to pray out loud and has been doing it ever since....

One student wants to know how to talk to their friend that is lost.  She is planning on taking the advice and striking up a conversation to reach her friend. 

2 other students are trying to reach their parents by praying for them, talking to them and showing them videos that will bring up godly conversations.

Also one student put her faith and trust in Jesus for the forgiving her sin for the first time!

This isn't a cause story but this makes alot of sense:

"so many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when their busy doing things they think are important. This is because there chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning in your life is to devote yourself loving others, devote yourself to your community around you,devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning. devote yourself to God."

For the first time at youth group we worshipped 7 songs (they can't get enough of it).  And the music is starting to impact their lives!

take everything i am,
im clay within your hands♥   Starfield

Students are asking........"whats that song name?? i need new music on my ipod the stuff on theres trash" :/

"i cant stop listening to songs about God"!!!!!

"i wanna download some on my ipod"

"i love worship music, thats all i listen to anymore"

Testimony from a parent that picked up her daughter and friends from our Treasure Hunt.......

When i picked up my daughter and the girls last night...all the talked about was how awesome an experience it was. they shared how they prayed over their friend and how there was a friend that they think is in deep depression and how they hope to reach out to him and how there are so many kids out there that are lost and have done bad things that they want to reach and share Christ with...i was shocked (in a good way) at how much they shared with me and how pumped up they were. God is certainly working in their lives. i have never seen a group of kids that continuously grow in their faith like this group...you are an awesome leader and we are blessed to have you.
-----Parent of the Mission 28 Youth Ministry

One student said....."i can't even put in words how amazing today was" :)

Another said......"today was amazing, made new friends talked to old ones cried and laughed. absolutely one of the bests."

Another student said......"Youth group was great, the presence of God was definitely with us:) Going to bed, good night"  :)

Student said......"Today hasnt been that bad had fun with everyone" (:

We went on a youth mission trip in Atlanta back in June! It was AWESOME & life changing for all of us! We saw and experienced the power of God! Witnessed salvations & healings in the streets & great unity within the group! Simply amazing!

All 8 students broke out of their shells and shared the Gospel and prayed for the sick and needy on the streets of Atlanta and at the rescue mission building as we handed out hot meals and ate with them!

The students got breakthrough in boldness and seeing God real at work which gave them motivation to bring that back here to FL (which they have all summer and starting off the school year)....

Our goal is to see THE Cause literally explode and salvations, healing, and freedom to the students at NSB high!   And that disciples are truly made by the teens and multiplied! 

I was thinking of taking my flip cam as well and posting "testimonies" of my students and putting them on Facebook..

1. Tuesday lunch with students........lot more students coming to the lunch table (craeting a buzz--kinda like "To Save a Life" movie). Students use this time to invite their friends to come and hear about what we are doing and invite them to youth group.

One student yesterday (Zac) went up to another student sitting by himself to engage him.

2. One of our shy girls (Samantha) is starting to crack the shell and she was telling me of all the stories this week on how she engaged her friends for THE Cause. She is of course a little discouraged--but doesnt care beacuse it is what she needed to carry on (persecution is good motivator believe it or not).

3. One of our students (Arthur) goes to a special program 15 miles away. He is launching THE Cause there with all his track buddies and inviting them to Gospel Journey: Maui and already engaging his friends by bringing up spiritual conversations in person and on Facebook.....

4. One girl, (Marti) started using Facebook for the first time posting "The Lost get Found" lyrics

5. Zac and Cameron are engaing people almost daily--having spiritual conversations (and even with their teachers).

6. Walter just gave a Bible to his mom because she is getting hungry and curious...

7. Yesterday I picked up 3 high school students because they missed the bus. As we were heading toward the main road they noticed that the middle school was getting out and they asked if I could stop so they jumped out of the car and handed out "To Save a Life" tickets to our free showing to the whole community on Sept 8. They want everyone to see it!

I send out a text throughout the week of the challenge.....
"Reach out to at least one person today for Jesus (3 p's)--and let me know how it goes!"

In Sept is my 10 year high school reunion.   That will also be my 10 year anniversary for when I put my faith and trust in Christ alone for the forgiveness of my sin (for the first time) and got saved!!!

Perfect timing.  What an opportunity to share my testimony!  There are about 300 of 800 students that I graduated with that are currently on facebook.  I have had the chance of personally witnessing to 2 people if not more when they visit my page. 

There have already been a few that have emailed me and said I can't believe you are so religious---didn't know you were like that!   Here has been my typical response (a short sensored testimony without the details.......

 I was never into religion! I actually hate religion. My parents made me go to church and I thought it was lame.....

I didn't know Jesus when I was in high school. I just lived for myself and "tried to do good" whenever I felt like it. But when I went to college (at 18—freshman yr)---God got a hold of my life and literally changed me from the inside out! Let me tell you---it has never been the same!

I had a cousin that explained it to me this way……….And I never saw it this way or at least was never taught this and saw people live this out in grade school, church, or high school…….

See God created us for a purpose (you may already know this). But when he created us---He (Our Creator) naturally wanted a relationship with us (just as you would with your kid). But we messed this up because of our sin. Our sin literally messed up our lives and moves us farther and farther away from Him. That is why we have so much chaos in the world. That is why we feel empty inside even though we have “good things”. We are all created with a “hole” in our heart that can only be filled with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

If left in that condition we would all spend eternity away from Him. But it didn't end there. God didn't want to see His creation separated from Him for eternity. So He sent Jesus to die in our place on the cross. And 3 days later He rose from the dead! He was motivated by love to save us from Hell. This is grace--nothing we could ever do to earn heaven. Our good will never outweigh the bad. We deserve death and hell.

You too can have this relationship with God and spend eternity with him in heaven. All we have to do is just believe in what Jesus did for you on the cross 2000 years ago—that He died for your sins. It is faith alone that saves us. God will then change your life and give you the peace and purpose you have always longed for. It is free....because He loves us.
I know this may be weird for you to hear this…..but, I thought that I was going to heaven just because I went to Catholic school, or had parents that “believed” in God or even I “believed” in God, but it made no difference in my life other than me being a “good” person in public on occasion. But I still felt empty and lost, until God opened my eyes and supernaturally changed me. I felt so much peace and assurance. He then began to change me as I read His Word (the Bible) and got to know what He was like. I would never read the Bible, but at 18 (when I could have had so many other choices)—I choose to read the Bible and look for a church. That is a miracle...God gave me a new heart. Read John 3 (from the Bible).

Last night my wife and I went to the park with the kids and saw a new couple we have never met.  They live in the area and for the first time, we switched personalities.  My wife (the relational evangelist) was bold and asked the mom if she would come to church.  I was talking to the dad and I was just listening the whole time because I felt that the Lord told me to just listen.  I am usually the bold and relentless evangelist.  We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and be obedient to what He is saying when we are talking to people about Jesus.......

They said they may check out the church......

Student at the Mission 28 Youth Ministry after service at 9:30pm before I went to bed texted me......

"John, this has been on my mind for a long time......I want to be saved!"

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!    Later I talked with her and asked what had changed in her since she trusted Christ?  She feels different and can't explain it!   She trusted Christ and the simple message of the Gospel and we prayed! 

Pray that she will get to know God through His Word and talk to Him daily as she begins her new realationship with her Creator!  And that she lives THE Cause by making disciples with her friends and family!

Jehovah's Witnesses came to the door and we started talking.  At first I was listening and learning about who they were and what they believe.  This was good because I didn't know too much about what they believe. 

So I shared the Gospel with them!   But they believe that they can be saved by works + faith.......but we know as Christians that we are saved by Christ alone through faith alone (not by any works of our own)!

They also believe that there is no such thing as hell, no Trinity, and that we don't go to heaven to be with Jesus as soon as the believer dies, etc...... 

They are coming back...........and I will be ready for them!     To find out more on how to witness to Jehovah's Witness go to.....

http://www.dare2share.org/worldviews/jehovahswitness/

Cameron

Cameron lead one of his friends to Jesus last week and he gave his life to Christ!

John Curiale

This morning at 10:39 (youth group discussion), we talked about forgiveness.  We talked about how other religions don't offer this FREE gift. 

We have all done something that has caused us to carry shame and guilt.  We sometimes carry this with us and it causes a spiritual heart attack.  Good shame should drive us to the cross of Christ, while bad shame (self-condemnation)--drives us away from Christ.  The question I posed was........"Have you ever felt a deep need to be forgiven?"

The Buddhist in the circle opened up and said that he did some things that he later regretted.  He didn't think there was true real, longlasting forgiveness.  But I told him that there was forgiveness.  If I could tell him that he could be forgiven and set free from condemning thoughts--would he want that?  He said yes, so I shared the Gospel with him!  He wants to know more and discover Jesus. 

I told him to picture Jesus wiping away all the wrongdoing he committed off the dry erase board (as a picture of God erasing the sins away that we committed).