Everyone loves a good rescue story. Meet Margarita, who started attending our church back in February. She’s in her mid-twenties and faithfully shows up on Sundays and to a few of our Bible studies. We met last Spring over coffee after she told me she wanted to hear more about Christianity and wondered how to become a follower of Jesus. I have never seen anyone so eager to “get it”. She liked the ethics and community of our faith, but didn’t see her need for a savior. She didn’t have eyes of faith to see the Son of God defying physics, becoming small, growing tall, and dying for her, rising for her, ascending for her, and wooing her. And then she did.
“Andrew, I’ve been doing my homework”, which was to read parts of the Bible, John Stott’s Basic Christianity, Tim Keller’s Reason for God and attend the accompanying book club led by our teammate, Joanne. “Can we have lunch together? I’ve got something to tell you”. “Could it be?”, I thought. It was. “It all makes sense to me now! I now realize that I am a sinner and that I need a savior. And I want to let you know that I’ve asked Jesus to save me from my sins. So when can I get baptized?” It’s not cool to weep in restaurants where grilled meat is being served, but I had to fight it. God rescuing one sinner at a time, right in front of our eyes.
Our eyes? Yes, yours and mine. Those books - I didn’t buy them for her. You did. That initial coffee - you helped make it happen. Her changed heart - many of you prayed for Margarita by name. God heard and he answered. He came to the rescue! Thank you for allowing me to purchase books for another seeking young person. Thank you for praying that God would give us courageous collisions with young people. Thank you for sitting with me in the restaurant as I see God do it again.
When I asked Margarita for permission to share her story, she said, “Nothing about my newfound faith in Jesus could possibly embarrass me”. God has us on a rescue mission together as he grows his family and as he strengthens the saints. Are you having fun yet? We are. Thank you so much for the ways you care for us and support our work to reach the nations and the next generation!
Merry Christmas,
Andrew w/Laura Kate, Fox, Evie Jude, & Lucy
Year-end Giving
For those of you who prefer to give in December, we depend on your year-end generosity. Please follow this link to make your tax-deductible donation to support our work in the gospel and further this ministry to the nations and the next generation.
Every Friday night we have between 20-30 high school students join us for youth group. We have noticed that some of our unchurched students are inviting their unchurched friends. One even said, "I'm here looking for answers". Please pray for us, especially Laura Kate and our interns, as we answer difficult questions and point these students to Jesus.
We had over 300 folks from the community show up for our annual Thanksgiving feast! We were even scrambling to set up tables in the courtyard. Much turkey was consumed and Andrew gave a Thanksgiving-themed gospel presentation. We are praying that God would expand our impact in the community through outreach events like this one.
Global Youth & Family Ministries (GYFM) is about to
celebrate 10 years on mission! Over the past decade, our ministry has developed into an international team of cross-cultural MTW missionaries called to
serve the Church...an extensive network of pastors, teachers, families, churches, and
advocates for the next generation...and a growing, worldwide movement centered on engaging young people
for the sake of the Gospel. In light of this growth & change within GYFM, we have decided to
change our name from GYFM to Next.
We made the move from a simple
description of what we do to an embodiment of our call & vision. It better captures
who we are and what we long for. Plus, you don't have to worry about trying to remember a 4-letter acronym anymore! Our heart, our hope, and our battle cry is the same...
we are Next, for the nations & next generation! For more information, check out our updated website:
www.nextconnect.org.
Family Photos
