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Countless lives are changed each year at World Changers as students and adults learn what it means to live a life of missions. This year in Bonne Terre God did some amazing things. He took a group of around 290 participants and allowed them to complete 22 different projects, present the Gospel 187 times, and hand out 31 Bibles. The best part though is that four people discovered what it means to have a relationship with Christ by accepting Him as their personal Lord and Savior. What a week!
Amazing stories from students and adults flood World Changers every year. Summer Staff refer to these stories as “WOW” moments. We love hearing them and encourage students to share “WOW” moments with us. We encourage you to ask them about their WOW moments from Bonne Terre–there were SO many things that God did to bless this project.
We’d like to take the time to share with you two “WOW” moments that prove the impact that World Changers have on the community they serve.
Patty Smith, a group leader from Corticelli Baptist in Missouri, told how she took her crew to Sonic one day after work. She said, “When we pulled in, a guy came up to us and just handed us a $20 bill. He had seen our ‘Labor Provided by World Changers’ sign on the van and had wanted to help us out for our work.” God really treated this particular crew by allowing the money to stretch a long way. The money was enough to cover two days worth of Sonic runs for all crew members.
Another participating church had a similar experience. On the Wednesday evening off the air conditioning unit broke in their vehicle. While the kids were off having fun, the group leader took it in to get fixed. He asked, “How much do I owe you?” The man replied, “You working for World Changers? It’s taken care of.”
Stories like this echo from the week. The people from Bonne Terre and surrounding areas openly invited and loved World Changers, and we thank each and every one of them for that. We are so excited about the work that World Changers completed, and are more excited about the four salvations from the week. It couldn’t have been done without great participants and an even greater God. All glory goes to Him! Thank you so much for all of your prayers.
We will miss World Changers Bonne Terre, but are excited for next year! Be sure and check out the crews listed below!
In addition to giving time and service to God, World Changers participants from across the nation also take part in an annual offering that goes to financially support other missions opportunities. Bonne Terre World Changers raised $2,007.13 for three amazing ministries.
Check the specifics! This years offering supports the following opportunities:
*Kaleo Conferences- These are specialized 2-day events for high school, college, and seminary students exploring or pursuing God’s call to a Christian related vocation. Many students feel God’s calling on their lives but don’t know what He wants them to do. Kaleo is a great way to find the answer, and the money the World Changers give will help keep the conferences around $25-$30! For more info, visit www.kaleoconference.com!
*Canada- 93% of Canadians are unevangelized. The 7% that are Christians, however, are ON FIRE for God, and they need our help to keep growing. The money that World Changers give this year will go to a ministry called Current Canada, to church planters, and to students to reach out to other students who need Christ.
*Urban Evangelism- In order to fulfill the Great Commission, we as the Church need to see the need for urban evangelism and respond. Therefore, the World Changers offering will fully fund four US/C2 missionaries (people who make two year commitments to serve in the U.S. or Canada) to go to urban areas where they will find out specific needs for the city, network with local churches, work with youth groups, and do many other things to evangelize to the lost.
Through the offering it is our prayer that students have learned the value of trusting earthly assets to the Father. However, the Summer Staff mostly hope that through their experience with World Changers, students and adults have learned that it is also vital to tithe time and service to Him—He can do so much with what little we have!
Please continue to be in prayer as the World Changers go out on site for the last day tomorrow. Pray for good weather and for God to complete His work!
Check out the World Changers at work this week!
The day started off with a few glitches for Bonne Terre World Changers. The Breakmasters, or students designated to fill coolers for each crew, were thrown for a loop when they discovered that the outside water source had been accidently shut off Tuesday morning at the school. Have no fear though. After a few short moments a back-up plan was put into action, ensuring the 290 participants that water would be available as the crews embarked upon another hot work day in the area.
World Changers participants experienced much more than just a quenching of physical thirst throughout the day though. Tuesday night students and adults gathered in the school auditorium for a sweet time of worship known as the “Concert of Prayer.” With no leaders appearing on stage, the participants were challenged with a one-on-one time with their Heavenly Father, quenching much-needed spiritual needs. World Changers confessed sins to God, sang worship songs in His name, wrote praises to Him, and prayed whole-heartedly for their homeowners, this city, and their own hometowns.
Many veteran World Changers say that the “Concert of Prayer” is one of their favorite parts about the week. One student from Central Baptist Church in Alabama said, “Tonight’s service was awesome. It really broke me.” It is our prayer that students continue to take the spirit of the “Concert of Prayer” to their worksites each day so that others can also experience the refreshing nature of God’s presence.
See pictures of the “Concert of Prayer” below…and keep praying for World Changers Bonne Terre!
At 7 a.m. Monday morning 291 World Changers participants gathered around the football field of North County Middle School for the special commissioning service known as “The Great Send-Off”. After Worship Speaker Reggie prayed over the group, students raced through a tunnel formed by adult leaders, high-fives flying and cheers echoing all the way through. Crews then loaded in vans and buses, and with horns blaring, paraded through the school parking lot on the way to their worksites for a day full of service.
For some World Changers participants this day literally took them to new heights. The crew chief from the Goofus Roofers asked his crew if anyone was artistic. Colby and Justin, both from Ratcliffe Cove Baptist in North Carolina, raised their hands, ready to showcase their talents. Little did Colby know, however, that the crew chief wanted an all-out World Changers mural drawn on the roof, which would put her face-to-face with her fear of heights. Like a true World Changer though, she bravely stepped up and faced the challenge.
Colby’s story isn’t the only one of World Changers rising to take on new experiences. For many, this week will be the first time they sweat out manual labor. For others, it will be the first time they share their testimony with a stranger. Still for a few, this week will mark the first time they have ever made friends outside their normal circle at school. The true World Changers experience, however, encompasses all of these things. It is our prayer that all students and adults will rely on God to carry them outside their comfort zones this week so that they too can rise to new heights—just like Colby did today.
Enjoy pictures of the Great Send-Off below and check out Colby and Justin’s drawing on the roof!
A normal World Changers experience involves the hot sun and humid weather. Bonne Terre World Changers, however, enjoyed a breezy day as they met their crews for the first time Sunday. The weather hasn’t been the only thing that has been cool though. Each night World Changers participants attend a refreshing worship service that serves as a time to grow spiritually—both individually and corporately with their crews and youth groups.
The 2009 theme for worship is “Set Apart”. Reggie Clark, worship speaker from Chaplin Baptist in Louisville, challenges students to delve into the topic of God’s holiness. Brian, the Summer Staff music leader, leads participants in choruses of “How Great is Our God”, “Majesty”, and other praise songs, while Emily, Summer Staff Missions Specialist, shows students how they can take that next step in their faith by being involved in ministry.
We encourage you at home to take a look at Isaiah 6 so you can follow along this week! We ask that you begin to pray for our worship services this week. Pray that the Holy Spirit fills the auditorium each night and that adults and students put away distractions and tiredness and focus on the Holy Lord and Savior. We pray that lives would be revived and changed as the Lord moves in the services. Also, pray for the crews as they go out on their first day of work Monday morning. Pray for God to continue to provide cool weather. More importantly, pray that God provides divine opportunities for students to go out and change Bonne Terre’s world—that residents would come to know His perfect salvation.
Check out some pictures of our worship services so far in Bonne Terre!
Between the fireworks and arrival of the World Changers on Saturday, Bonne Terre was a booming place to be. Despite the rain showers that flooded the afternoon, around 291 adults and students safely made it to the small town. Check out who all is here!
First Korean Baptist Church of Lewisville from Texas
Immanuel Baptist Church from Iowa
Central Baptist Church from Alabama
Ratcliffe Cove Baptist from North Carolina
Goshen Trail from Illinois
Crestview Baptist from Oklahoma
Revolution Church from Arkansas
Chaplin Baptist from Kentucky
Garden Oaks Baptist from Texas
Washington Ave. Baptist from Indiana
First Baptist Casey from Illinois
First Baptist Marshall from Texas
First Baptist Raymore from Missouri
Corticelli Baptist from Missouri
Wilsonville Baptist from Alabama
After a Welcome Celebration and worship service, the World Changers participants were greeted with a bang as the group watched the Bonne Terre city fireworks light up the sky. It is the staff’s prayer that as the students and adults go out into the surrounding communities this week, that they will be just as bright and just as booming as the celebration in the sky that they watched tonight.
Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week!
After months of planning, World Changers Bonne Terre is about to begin, and the Summer Staff are very excited to start their second project together as a team. Let’s take some time to get to know the people your students will be working with this week!
Summer Staff
Team Leader and Missions Communications Specialist: Emily Trammell
Emily was born and raised in the tiny Valley Springs, Ark. (population 167) before she entered Missouri State University in the fall 2005. As a recent college grad, she’s excited to find out what God’s plans for her in “the real world” are! As the MCS, it’s her job to share with your students how they can get involved in missions with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the International Mission Board (IMB). However, it’s her heart’s desire to see students learn how they can be missionaries in their own hometowns.
Office Manager: Caroline Hadley
Caroline just finished her freshman year at Vanderbilt University, but is originally from Knoxville, Tenn. Random fact: she fell in love with American Idol’s Season 7 runner-up, David Archuleta, as he sang “Sweet Caroline” on her 18th birthday! As the OM, Caroline will be in charge of all the World Changers paperwork for the Bonne Terre project. After being a World Changers participant for four years, Caroline is excited to serve on Summer Staff!
Audio/Visual Tech: Adam Davis
Adam is an all around good guy and Georgia native who resides in Statesboro and attends Georgia Southern University. This week he will be in charge of creating the World Changers “Action Cam” that will allow students to share with people at home what their week at World Changers has been all about. It’s Adam’s first time to be in Missouri and second time to be on Summer Staff!
Music Leader: Brian Wattier
After living outside the U.S. for six years with this family on the mission field, Brian now lives in Alabama and attends the University of Mobile. This summer is Brian’s first World Changers experience, and we are excited to worship with him as he leads us each night in giving glory to the Father. Besides leading worship, Brian will also be in charge of photographing the week’s events!
The Coordinating Team
Project Coordinator: Lee Saunders
Lee is from Houston and is a long-time friend of World Changers. He was a Group Leader for several summers before becoming a Project Coordinator for the past few years. We really appreciate all the hard work that he has done in preparation for this week!
Associational Coordinator: Aaron Radford
Aaron is a local guy from Bismarck, Mo. As the associational coordinator, he’s arranged for several area churches to feed the crews this week! Aaron has put in A LOT of time in effort to make this project wonderful. He’s also doing a blog for the week, and we encourage you to check it out! He’s got several stories going and also pictures of where the students are staying this week: North County Middle School in Desloge, Mo. For more info, go to: http://wcbonneterre.blogspot.com/
Construction Coordinator: Andy Duggin
Andy is from Memphis and has jumped on board to manage all the construction projects. We are excited to be working with him this week!
Worship Speaker: Reggie Clark
Reggie is from Kentucky and is also a Group Leader this week. Sorry folks, but we don’t have a picture of him yet!
Lee, Aaron, and Andy
With a population of just over 4,000, many consider Bonne Terre to be a small town, but the staff knows that God will do big things here as the World Changers participants arrive tomorrow. In addition to working in Bonne Terre, participants will also be working in some surrounding areas—Bismarck, Desloge, Park Hills, Farmington, and Potosi too!
For all you history buffs out there, Bonne Terre contains some interesting points to note! The area was found by the French, who named the land ‘La Terre Bonne’, meaning “The Good Earth”, because the land was rich in lead. At one point, the city was home to the largest lead belt in the world!
Now that you know a bit more about Bonne Terre, we would like to leave you with one final note: please pray for safety as the participants begin to arrive tomorrow, and pray that God changes lives this week!
