Hey everyone time for a change of pace! This blog post is going to be written instead of a video
So this Monday is going to be an adventure us Lifeteamers, as we have our day on the streets! Here is what we have been told so far...
students will spend 8 hours on the streets (downtown East Hastings) with the focus of experiencing the the purposelessness and aimlessness of street involvement. Rather then being there to serve, you will spend your time simply finding ways to meet your own physical needs and "hanging out". In the eight hours you will be asked to participate in a feeding program as a street person (not a helper), find a safe place you could stay for the night, and spend 2 full hours just sitting outside watching people at a location of your choice
I Ryan will try to post an update about this experience as soon as I can! In the mean time I just ask that you being the person reading this would pray for all of us lifeteams that God would protect us and keep us safe. As for prayers for me I just ask that you pray that God would prepare my heart and mind for what I will see. That i would learn and gain a better understanding of just whats going on there, that I would see Jesus there. Because believe it or not Jesus is already there working in that place of brokenness, and that I might have the opportunity to show people the reason for the Hope I have in Jesus!
That aside I would like to tell you guys about my super awesome amazing Wednesday at Cyrus Center and what God was teaching me for day of silence!
Here goes! Drum roll please!
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I LEAD A YOUTH TO CHRIST! GIVE GOD THE GLORY!
AMEN!
So Wednesday night at Cyrus Center during a coffee date(yes I do those) God used me to lead a youth (cant say name) to Christ It really wasn't by my own words but by the Lord speaking to this youths heart. Part of the reason this happened was because I had asked this youth the hard questions, the ones that in my head was saying “don't go there lets just keep this conversation safe!” and the Lord had been really faithful toward that! There was so much more at work though! The bigger picture God was orchestrating, Oh what a worthy conductor we have! During my refection time for day of silence God brought this verse to my mind its in John 4:35-38
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike! You know the saying, ‘One plants and another harvests.’ And it’s true. I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.”
The verse that particularly sticks out to me in the passage Jesus spoke was in verse 38 it says "I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant; others had already dine the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest." this verse made me think of the verse God used to call me to full time ministry now if you were paying attention you might have noticed this on the side of my blog already! It goes like this
For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. - Corinthians 9:10
In the first part of what what Paul writes it says "For God is the one who provides seed." Provides seed that goes into I sent you to harvest where you didn't plant. See Wednesday was a perfect example of this. I feel that people had already poured in to this youth's life, as some of the things that he told me about how he went to Catholic school, He had heard about God but had no true interest at the time as he saw the instructors as paid help rather then the true Good Shepard. He gone to church, and prayed to God but never truly experienced God's Love and Hope for him.
Even something that God had woven in, to make our story's intertwine. Oh how it makes me laugh now! This youth had done Nightshift before this was the ministry God had put on my heart to bring back to Calgary God. These were seeds that I didn't plant. God promises to me in doing my ministry this very thing! That He will bring along people. People who others have poured into; God gives me this promise “now you will get to gather the harvest!” now what an honor that the Lord of all would use me for His Glory! Now make no mistake I will not take all the quote on quote “credit” For Jesus say's what joy awaits both planter and harvesters alike. For both are needed in order for people to be brought to eternal life. Its not important who does the planting or who harvests what matters is that God uses us both and causes the fruit to grow!
This is all ultimately ties into why I am here at Lifeteams... well one of the many reasons I was brought here to Lifeteams one was to lead this Youth to Christ and I mean sure God could have used someone else but though the very surreal Wednesday night he used me! I believe I am also here to learn things I wouldn't learn on my own, to grow in faith and wisdom. To do the things that God has called me to do;the ministry God has given me! This is all but the beginning of what I am discovering here at Lifeteams
As for this youth I am excited to start discipleing him. I ask that you keep this youth in your prayers! it is important for us to pray for new believers, trusting God to work in their lives. Pray that He will have a daily quiet time in order to know the Word of God. Pray that He will be able to resist the enemy and overcome sin when it and arises in His life. Pray that He will be bold in His witness to unbelievers, having courage to share His testimony.
Anyways that's it for now thanks for taking the time to read this and I look foreword to telling you about my day on the streets!
students will spend 8 hours on the streets (downtown East Hastings) with the focus of experiencing the the purposelessness and aimlessness of street involvement. Rather then being there to serve, you will spend your time simply finding ways to meet your own physical needs and "hanging out". In the eight hours you will be asked to participate in a feeding program as a street person (not a helper), find a safe place you could stay for the night, and spend 2 full hours just sitting outside watching people at a location of your choice
So Wednesday night at Cyrus Center during a coffee date(yes I do those) God used me to lead a youth (cant say name) to Christ It really wasn't by my own words but by the Lord speaking to this youths heart. Part of the reason this happened was because I had asked this youth the hard questions, the ones that in my head was saying “don't go there lets just keep this conversation safe!” and the Lord had been really faithful toward that! There was so much more at work though! The bigger picture God was orchestrating, Oh what a worthy conductor we have! During my refection time for day of silence God brought this verse to my mind its in John 4:35-38
