Dear Team,
Random fact about me: I’m an HGTV junkie (that’s Home and Garden TV). I’m hooked on all the design shows with outrageous paint jobs and one of a kind furniture overhauls. I often catch myself doing mental renovations wherever I go.
I really like the trash to treasure, junky to funky type shows. The ones where designers snag bargain pieces at yard sales and thrift stores, add a little elbow grease and paint, and wa-la, they’ve got a fabulous like-new creation. I now find myself scanning craigslist, yard sales, Goodwills for random pieces with transformable potential. I’ve discovered that having this type of outlook makes 2nd hand shopping way more fun because it’s like an adventure to uncover the hidden potential buried deep within.
Isn’t it cool that we have a God who’s in the transformation business! When reading through the Scriptures, it doesn’t take us long to see that God has eyes for potential. Consider Moses the stutterer, David the little shepherd boy, Jonah the flee-er, Peter the denier, Thomas the doubter, Paul the persecutor, the list goes on... (and remember, we can add our names in there too.) Yet despite these things, God chooses to use people to accomplish great things for His glory.
For the military teen, picking up and moving or saying goodbye to friend who’s moving, is challenging. The turnover of people on bases can be a real emotional struggle for students. However, I think there’s hidden potential in the hardship of moving.
I think that God has big plans for military teens because of their distinctive attributes; their transient lifestyle and relational and cultural adaptability give them huge potential to impact the culture wherever they find themselves. As a Malachi youth leader, I’ll have the opportunity to disciple students to grow in their faith; equipping them for their walk with the Lord and empowering them to use their gifts to minister wherever they go in the future. What a privilege it will be to come alongside students and help them see the difficulties they face can become divine opportunities.
This week, when you see your key, would you pray for...
- Students to see their transient lifestyles as an opportunity to share Christ in a variety of places.
- Staff to disciple students well and to help teens discover their spiritual gifts.
- Please continue to pray for opportunities for me to share about military teen ministry - specifically with individuals and churches around northern WI.
Also, thank you for praying for me and the Awana group I spoke with last Wednesday. Teaching 50+ elementary kids isn’t really in my ideal comfort zone, but I thought it went fairly well. Knowing there were so many people praying gave me the confidence to get through it. :) They were a great group of kids who really love the Lord. I gave them each a penny to remind them that they are “one sent” by Lord to share the love of Christ with others.
Thanks for your partnership in this ministry!!
Because of Christ,
Beth
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