For the last 45 years, by God’s grace, Christian Adventurers has been sharing God’s word with young people. It is at the center of everything we do. We love sports, we love hanging with kids, we love going on retreats, we love playing games, but it all revolves around the heartbeat of sharing God’s word, and “declaring God’s power to the next generation”.
God’s word is active and alive. It’s sharp, and it penetrates. It’s a discerner of our thoughts and the attitudes of our heart (Hebrews 4:11). We often talk about the importance of reading God’s word. When we do read it, it actually reads us, and it speaks to us. It reveals things to us and about us, because it is alive and active. When we submit to it, it will change us. It’s “profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. It equips us for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Most importantly, it is “able to make one wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). There is so much power in God’s word!
I’ve seen that power working up close and personal this summer….through young people who have given up weeks of their time to serve on a mission trip, or go to a youth camp where they hear God’s word multiple times each day. It was God revealing things to them and working in their lives to make them more like Jesus. Some encountered it for the first time and received Christ as savior (see the next two pages). Some were reminded of God’s word, and it led them to a point of making changes in their lives.
We don’t always see it. Sometimes it seems like we have wasted our time. We don’t always get to experience positive results. We often see young people turn from it. Or do they really? Isaiah 55:11 says “God’s word will not return void”. It will accomplish what God desires.
I was reminded of this recently talking to a 37 year old young man who used to play on our basketball team and even went on one of our mission trips (He’s pictured to the right, sharing his testimony). Unfortunately, he went on to make some bad choices, and developed some destructive habits. Just when it seemed he was at the end of his rope, God finally got his attention and he made a complete 180 of a change. He told me recently, that even though he was rebelling in his youth, he never got away from what God did in his life through that mission trip. He said he would often think of that week (which he called one of his best weeks growing up), and how much peace he had in his life during that time. That is the power of God’s word. It was planted in his heart, and it didn’t return void. God accomplished what He wanted.
Maybe you have someone in your life that isn’t following God’s word, but you know that person has heard it and been taught by it. Don’t give up praying for them. His word is working even when we don’t see it or feel it. God is sovereign, and it will achieve the purpose for which God sent it.
Pray for us. It is our desire to continue to share God’s word with as many young people as He sends our way. Some are literally hearing it for the first time. What a privilege we have been given to share it with others. It’s the only message that will change a life.
Mark
Quinton’s Quill
What a summer it has been! We have seen God work in some incredible ways, and through it all, God has been so good. One of my favorite parts of this past summer has been seeing people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior. We believe we saw 14 total salvations throughout the summer! One of the salvation was a boy named Zion. Zion has been coming to Club Nights at Graham Middle School for several years, and this summer he also came to our basketball camp. It was really cool to see the boys grow and improve their basketball skills throughout the week, but even more exciting was the opportunity to share the Gospel with them. On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to share a devotion and my personal testimony of how God saved me. I also shared about how I attended basketball camps just like the one we were having through C/A. I also talked with the boys about how God is working in our lives, even now, preparing us for His purposes. At the end of the devotion, I gave an invitation for anyone who wanted to put their faith in Jesus. Afterward, Zion came to me and told me that he wanted to ask Jesus to save him. What a blessing it was to hear Zion call out to Jesus and ask Him to save him! Moments like this are why we do what we do. We are so thankful for every opportunity God gives us to reach young people through basketball and point them to Christ. A verse that the Lord has brought to my mind is Luke 10:2 – “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” God has been faithful, and we are excited to see how He continues to work in the lives of young people. Please continue to pray that God would use C/A to reach more young people with the Gospel and raise up faithful laborers to serve Him. All praise to God!
Quinton Fox
Please continue to pray for our “Believe For It” Gym/Building Campaign. We are asking God to help us raise one million dollars over the next five years. We are praying and asking God to do more than we can imagine. If you or someone you know would like to be a part of helping us with this building in some way, please contact us. We would love to meet with you, and share the vision we believe God has given us for this building. We know God is able.
Tickle Time
It has truly been an amazing summer! I have seen God do so many amazing things in the hearts and lives of young people and it has strengthened my faith to know that God is still working! I’m reminded of Jeremiah 33:3 where the Lord says “ Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” We had been praying for God to do some big things within our ministry this summer, but just as He always does, He exceeded our expectations. One amazing thing God did on our mission trip to Bluefield stands out in my mind. We had a young man come with us to serve on our mission team, and he would tell you himself that he was not completely sold on Christianity. However, this did not stop him from asking tons of questions, because he was extremely curious about Jesus and the Bible. We would stay awake late at night discussing his questions about what the Bible taught in response to his many questions. Throughout the first few days of the trip you could see the Lord drawing him to the truth. Then on Monday night we had a wonderful service full of worship, and towards the end Quinton and I decided we were going to agree in prayer and believe that God would save this young man before the end of the week. Later that night we had a very special testimony time where many of the guys shared their struggles and how the Lord was helping them through their hardships. At the end of this testimony time Quinton asked if anyone wanted to talk to one of the leaders about giving their life to Christ. The curious young man from before did not even hesitate to raise his hand. So he and I went out into the hallway and I got to pray with him as he called out to the Lord for salvation! It was absolutely thrilling to see this young man put his faith and trust in Jesus! I am thankful the Lord can still save anyone who is willing to put their faith in Him.
– Noah Tickle