Scott Smith texted me on Tuesday asking me to play bass for the blitz on Friday night. I quickly agreed, however, later he asked me to play electric guitar instead. I told him that I had no experience but that I'd ask my buddy Ben if he was available to play. Both Ben and his brother Luke (who plays drums) ended up playing and I asked Scott if I could help in any other way. He said I'd be running sound. At first, my thoughts were, "uhh...I've never done that but I guess I'll do my best" However, throughout the rest of the week I was praying that God would use my weakness in this area to glorify Him. I slowly, through Him, became confident in my ability to do something that I had very little knowledge of.
So I arrived at Mt. Airy Presbyterian church a little before 5 on Friday and began to set up. Ben, Luke, and their dad showed up and helped me out in my little knowledge of sound systems. Once everything was set up, the band practiced, we prayed, and "club time" began. God used the words of both the songs and Scott's message to speak into my life. Scott spoke on the freedom that exists in giving your life to Christ.
This freedom, I've come to realize, is something that can't really be described; only experienced. I've experienced this freedom, but I've also experienced enslavement to sin and brokenness. In fact, that's the only way it's possible to experience Christ's freedom; to experience enslavement to something else first. Romans 6:16-18 says,
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness"
Paul goes on to explain how being slaves to God and to righteousness ultimately leads to eternal life; and how being slaves to sin leads to death, destruction, and a radical lack of benefits. It's really interesting.
Anyway, back on track. After club time, we went into small groups where Scott and I had the unique experience of being able to speak Jesus into the lives of the students from a leadership perspective. Hearing the things that some of these kids were struggling with was both humbling and heart-breaking. But then praying over them and seeing them love each other, come along side each other, offer to pray for their struggles, laugh with each other; and then later to go crazy in the gym laughing, getting competitive, all with such joy was so incredibly encouraging. It was something that I experienced last summer as a student, but it's a whole new experience as a leader. Although I was a leader on Friday, I was taught by the kids more than I taught them... I think.
This night was all just a small taste of what I'll be doing for the entire duration of the summer with The Philadelphia Project. God's doing some incredible things through this ministry and the people that support it and keep it running. I am more than excited to be a part of something so moving in God's kingdom. The joy that the thought of this summer provides me casts a large shadow over the nervousness that also exists. In fact, only by His grace can I say that, at this point, I'm almost completely void of nervousness.
I've never been so excited for anything in my life than to be a part of The Philadelphia Project this summer. Perhaps it's because I feel so close to God and I know that this experience will only allow me to know Him better. But part of it has to be that I feel so called to do this. Especially having experienced TPP from a student's perspective and now, though only for one night, as a leader, I feel that God will use me to bless this ministry. It's going to have its difficulties and setbacks, but I know that this summer will be one of the best of my life thus far.
Pray for me.
"Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness"
Paul goes on to explain how being slaves to God and to righteousness ultimately leads to eternal life; and how being slaves to sin leads to death, destruction, and a radical lack of benefits. It's really interesting.
Anyway, back on track. After club time, we went into small groups where Scott and I had the unique experience of being able to speak Jesus into the lives of the students from a leadership perspective. Hearing the things that some of these kids were struggling with was both humbling and heart-breaking. But then praying over them and seeing them love each other, come along side each other, offer to pray for their struggles, laugh with each other; and then later to go crazy in the gym laughing, getting competitive, all with such joy was so incredibly encouraging. It was something that I experienced last summer as a student, but it's a whole new experience as a leader. Although I was a leader on Friday, I was taught by the kids more than I taught them... I think.
This night was all just a small taste of what I'll be doing for the entire duration of the summer with The Philadelphia Project. God's doing some incredible things through this ministry and the people that support it and keep it running. I am more than excited to be a part of something so moving in God's kingdom. The joy that the thought of this summer provides me casts a large shadow over the nervousness that also exists. In fact, only by His grace can I say that, at this point, I'm almost completely void of nervousness.
I've never been so excited for anything in my life than to be a part of The Philadelphia Project this summer. Perhaps it's because I feel so close to God and I know that this experience will only allow me to know Him better. But part of it has to be that I feel so called to do this. Especially having experienced TPP from a student's perspective and now, though only for one night, as a leader, I feel that God will use me to bless this ministry. It's going to have its difficulties and setbacks, but I know that this summer will be one of the best of my life thus far.
Pray for me.
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