Discipleship and Evangelism

This summer our goal is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people, young and old, as possible. There is a huge need for the gospel here in Northern Ireland and Scotland because it is very post-Christian here. There is such a rich history of Christianity here, but many people have said no thanks to Christianity. It is something that is often viewed as old and dated. This past week, we have had some amazing gospel conversations. The majority of the kids that come to the afternoon kids clubs, and the evening youth nights, are not from church homes. In fact, only about 20 percent attend any church. As a result, there have been many occasions to share the Gospel of Jesus. God has opened doors for some wonderful conversations.

On top of the focus on evangelism during the summers, we also focus on the discipleship of the studens on our teams. Throughout the summer, students will memorize about 25 verses, have daily quiet times in the Word, daily discussions about what they are learning, and specific teachings once overseas. Some of the teachings they will receive are: How do I know the Bible is true, is Jesus really God, the Church, how to forgive others, and much more. These talks are meant to help continue to lay the foundation for their faith.

As leaders, we always find it interesting how God's timing works during the summer.  At training camp, the students had heard a talk on how to seek forgiveness. Just yesterday, we had a lesson on how to forgive others. God's timing was once again perfect. When students live with each other 24/7, there can be some conflict that may arise. The talk seemed to strike a chord, and just after they were dismissed from the teaching, I noticed 2 students chatting out in the church entryway. What I would come to find out later, is that they had both felt they needed to have a talk, seek forgiveness, and offer forgiveness. It was such a wonderful thing to witness. Seeing God move in the hearts of students and watching them grow in their faith is a beautiful thing.

As we continue to move through the summer of ministry, please continue to pray for the evangelism that will happen. Pray for soft hearts and that people will respond to the gospel. A second prayer request is the continued growth of the students this summer. Pray that God would continue to meet them where they are and teach and challenge them in certain areas of their lives. Thank you for your continued prayers.

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