Have you ever felt like Satan was attacking you or a group of people with everything he had?
This past week Satan did not want our teenagers to have a great week at Momentum at Wheaton University! He attacked us in many different ways:
1. We had transportation problems. Our trailer with all of our luggage did not make it a full mile before having to go back to the church. One of our buses broke down outside of Chicago. Our 15 passenger van's battery died on a food run on Friday afternoon. Our transportation problems did not stop us though!
2. We had illness issues. We had at least 3 students who got the flu and many others who did not feel well throughout the week. Our illness problems did not stop us though!
3. We had scheduling issues and logistical nightmares to wade through as transportation, illness, and other factors mounted. We did not allow any of those issues to stop us though!
When Satan attacks God's people only have two options. We can pout, become paralyzed, and eventually retreat or we can boldly move forward in the name of Jesus! Our group boldly moved forward!
Satan did not want us at Momentum and it was obvious why:
1. Half of our teenagers make commitments to be more of a follower of Christ than simply a fan!
2. We saw 25 students give up an afternoon of free time to hang out, love on, and share the gospel with elementary aged children that lived in poverty stricken governmental housing areas.
3. We saw our group of 81 travel into downtown Chicago to do manual labor at Wicker Park. Afterwards, we spent two hours canvassing the Wicker Park Festival which was loaded with thousands of people packed into nine blocks. We met lesbian rights activists, homeless people, and atheists. We talked to and prayed with a large number of people during our Saturday outreach and did our best to make God look good! Satan had a hold on that area but we did our best to shine the light of the gospel.
4. This summer we have sent over 100 teenagers on some type of mission trip experience! Satan did not want us to experience the joy in serving and reaching others because he knows that when the school year begins our teenagers will be motivated to reach their friends at school. I am expecting big things this next year from our teenagers and Satan did whatever he could to thwart our efforts!
Even though going through some difficult situations our teenagers responded well and pushed on. We prayed when it was obvious that we were under attack and moved forward. God was glorified, Satan relinquished, and our group's faith become bolder! Way to go Axis teenagers and youth workers!
Our entire group gave up their Saturday to clean up Wicker Park and encounter and pray with people during the Wicker Festival in downtown Chicago!
These students gave up their afternoon to love on these elementary kids!
Axis teenagers challenged the Winona Lake GBC youth group to a game of dodgeball! We won, of course! #IBelieveThatWeWillWin
Students working hard on Saturday Morning at Wicker Park!
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