Let me give you some background of what Adventures in Missions (AIM) does in the Gainesville community. AIM has started the Church of Gainesville as a place where people in a local schools could come share experiences and feel safe doing it. The church is a place where parents and students can come to gather, grow in their faith and be accepted for where and who they are.
AIM adopted North Hall Middle school in a way to reach out into the community. The middle school hosts Fellowship of Christian Athletes, “an interdenominational Christian sports ministry to see the world impacted for Jesus Christ through the influence of athletes and coaches,” once a week during the month and adventures staff has the opportunity to participate in it.
That is where my tale begins.
Leadership track had the joy of venturing off to North Hall Middle school last Thursday morning. It was definitely earlier than I expected, but I was up for the challenge. After being instructed by one of the AIM staff on what we were going to do for the morning, the kids started to trickle in.
After all the excitement of introducing yourself to middle schoolers and them doing the same, and running all around a gym, chasing participants for what seemed like 3 hours it was time to share the Word. One of the Adventures Staff shared about the Lord being a strong tower, a refuge that we could run to and feel protected, love, cherished, adored etc…
Afterwards we were going to split the kids into small groups, create a space where they could share, and ask some questions. I had volunteered myself to be one of the staff available to do one-on-one’s with kids who needed more than being in a group. I met Skylar earlier in the morning and I watched as she and her twin sister debated whether or not that they needed to talk to someone. Finally they came up to me, stood before me, and said nothing. I asked “do you guys want to go chat about something.” They nodded and said “Yes.”
I was a little bit nervous. Kids are my passion, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to say the right things. Skylar and Ali wanted intercession for their 2 friends. One who had cyst on the bottom of his foot and was having surgery the next week, and the other was their non-christian friend who was self-mutilating her body by cutting herself. They were taking her to church with them on Wednesday nights and Sundays. Constantly spending time pouring into her and praying for her.
I laughed on the inside. These kids didn’t “need” anything from me, I needed what they had to share. Skylar and Ali are 11 years old and they are going out into the world to make disciples.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…. teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
– Matthew 28:19-20
These two young ladies encouraged me to go out and make disciples. They are being Jesus to the people around them. So if you are a Believer I challenge you to go out and make disciples. Ask the Lord to use you wherever you go. The grocery store, your favorite restaurant, the gas station, or while you’re on a run. You never know who is waiting to or need to see the Jesus in you.
Ali (left) Me (middle) Skylar (right)
