Worth the Wait!

I know it's been a while and I am going to stop saying sorry and just try harder to get more active with my blog. I am aware that many of you, especially in the States, rely on this to keep current with what's going on in our ministry here. Well, as the title suggests, this is a very exciting entry! As you are aware we had been working on the "Focus Week" for a number of weeks and it has now come and gone - but what a week it was! Alex and I were both individually involved and able to teach in various classes through the week about the person of Jesus, the proof of His existance, and about who He said He was. I can remember very few occations where I have been more excited about being a servant in the Kingdom. There was something special about this particular opportunity - I don't know if it was the age range that inspired me, since I am mostly accustomed to teaching in the primary schools, whatever the reason I just know God used me powerfully for the good of so many teens in Peterhead Academy. Just walking around the campus and being thrilled by the amount of teens who I have known over the years, either through the classes at church or the assemblies and activities in the primary schools - It was amazing! I am not saying this to blow some kind of personal trumpet, but I tend to forget the impact God has been through my ministry over the years. There were tons of kids, many I had forgoten, but many I have fond memories off. I met one long haired blond boy, who was now 15 years old, and he was talking to me as if he knew me well. I had to stop him in his conversation and ask, "Who are you?" He told me he was Matthew and he came to Tuesday night Boys Class when he was 6 years old! He remembered me from all those years ago. I have many memories of Matthew, who used to talk with a bit of a lisp, and was the cutest little boy! He came to classes when Lisa Stiles was here helping out and he remembered Lisa too. Time flies!!! Lewis Buchan "Snoops" is another who was so encouraging to spend time with and again we shared good times! Lewis is a faithful Christian and is living a focused and involved life. There were many similar stories that caused so many memories throughout the week to flood my mind, it was a true blessing without the fact I was in the classroom teaching Christ!

Right, time to make you all jealous!!! I was invited into the school to teach about the Christ and to spark discussion about who He was and what He did. I was given 40 minute slots, but this always ran into 80 minutes! Many of the classes were double periods and oroginally I was to teach for a single period, but the teachers would insist we continued into the second period! The discussions were active and inspirational! We discussed a number of artist impressions of Jesus there were 7 pictures ranging from a boxer in a ring to a Jamacan looking Jesus. The pictures were great for breaking the ice and led to some brilliant observations from the teens. There was usually a great deal of discussion over the "Rebelious Jesus" and also the "Light of the World" one too. From the pictures we then took a True/False test and investigated some stereotypes and missconceptions about Jesus. In all we were always struggling for time and even though we had an hour and 20 minutes, we were always in disbelief when the end of period bell would sound. I can only go by the level of involvment and the active discussion as to how engaged the students were and I can honestly say the level was high! I have no doubt that Christ was lifted high and many lives were having to face the challenge of answering the question in their owm minds as to who He was and what He came to do. When the weeks teaching was over I was tired, but soooo wanting to do more! I have no doubt that this is an area of influence I can be useful in God's hand and I pray for more opportunity to serve in the academy. I met with the head of religious study earlier this week and we are looking at ways to continue the contact with the academy - your prayers would be appreciated! We got to teach the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year pupils, that's 12-15 year olds.

I feel like I have only touched the hem of the garment in trying to share the experience with you all, but there it is. I know my life has been inspired because of seeing God's Word work powerfully in the hearst and minds of those young people and their lives were too, just hope there is opportunity to keep watering the seed!

One last comment on this entry - please stay with me for a little longer. During our last Friday night class with the teens at church we again got a little insight into where some of their lives are in light of Christ. I asked the question, "What do you believe to be true about Jesus Christ?" I stressed that I wanted truthful answers and that it was OK to put doubts and uncertanty on the answer. Shaun Main relayed this series of statements about his Jesus that shocked me. This is not for added drama, but the hairs on the back of my neck did stand tall - it was really that profound! There were more outstanding statements that made us take note and also some honest doubts shared too. Rachel talked about her feeling of sitting on the fence and struggling to make that final step to committing to Christ. What happened next was beautiful! John Campbell who we have been prodding for months to take an active part in the teaching of the teens made a convicting point to the class. He responded to Rachel's honesty about sitting on the fence and shared his experience of being challenged by a young girl at camp one year who simply asked, "Why are you not a Christian?" John shared how he was so ashamed because he could not give her a reason. For the following days he was haunted by her question and this was the spark that convicted him to do something about it. There was silence the whole time John spoke and I could see the engaged looks in ALL their faces. God was active through John and hearts were soft! Our prayer continues for these young lives that are faithfully trying to make sense of Jesus in spite of living in Christ-less homes.

God is good and His love endures Forever!

PS. The strangest thing just happened for the first time - I clicked the "Spell check" and nothing was highlighted!!! (If you know me you will understand why this is such a big deal)