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But the work has just begun.
As the vans and cars pulled out of Century Unit school saturday morning, 240 World Changers left a city changed. A community that was once a quiet, desolate place was transformed into a brighter, happier place to live and exist.
We are beyond proud of what the crews of Cairo, Illinois World Changers did this week. Lives were changed, homes were rebuilt, and we now have quite a few news friends coming to meet us in Heaven one day.
Don’t let the fire die out. Don’t let this week leave you unchanged. Remember the challenge given to you when you first arrived. Isaiah didn’t forget it. When God asked “Who will go for me, and who shall I send?”, Isaiah responded “Here I am, send me!”
Let that be your cry for the rest of your life. No matter where you go, or what you do, take with you the experiences that you gained in Cairo, and let those motivate you to do even better things in your Jerusalem back home.
And never forget…
YOU CAN BE A WORLD CHANGER!!!
“Sin has lost it’s power… death has lost it’s sting. From the grave You’ve risen… Victoriously!”
A message that some youth have taken as their rallying cry through the streets of Cairo, Mounds, and Mound City this week. A sense of evangelism has taken over the students this week as many have taken time out from their free day today to spend a little more time in the community spreading the gospel. It is truly an amazing thing to watch 230 students walking the streets with the residents, spreading the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to the cities of southern Illinois.
A half day of work means a half day of play, as many of the students spent the afternoon and evening in Marion, IL, Paducah, KY, and Sikeston, MO. Sites such as Metropolis, (the city of Superman in Metropolis, IL), Rent One Stadium in Marion, (home of the Marion Miners minor league baseball team) and some even went as far as Paducah to see the sites in Kentucky. All faces had smiles as they returned to the facility, but those smiles turned to snores as heads hit the bed for a good night of sleep before heading to the worksites again tomorrow.
Another day of work lies ahead for the crews, and the work is continuing to get further and further at the sites. Continue to pray for the students as they continue to work on homes and souls in the community. Prayer can move mountains (or hundreds of shingles) as long as we have faith!
See you on Thursday, and remember – YOU CAN BE A WORLD CHANGER!!
It’s Monday at World Changers Cairo, and you know what that means! Time to get to work! Today more than 200 students took off on 20 different crews to head to about 20 different sites in the cities of Mounds, Mound City, and Cairo, Illinois, and with the backing of a lot of prayer and preparation, the crews began to work and change these cities for God’s kingdom.
After a fun-filled Great Send Off, the crews headed their separate ways. Some are working on painting homes, some are installing cabinets and closets, some are on roofs, and others are working on putting siding on homes. But no matter what the physical labor, the spiritual labor is all the same. The cities are very dark, but Christ’s light is beginning to shine in the darkness, and that light is penetrating even the darkest hearts.
Salvation is truly here, as a recorded six people came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ today alone. The community has embraced these students, and they are thrilled to be able to work alongside them as they watch their city become a brighter and happier place.
We are beyond proud of the work these students and adults are doing, and we are excited to see what God has in store, even tomorrow! Check back in, and keep up with the work in Cairo, Illinois!
World Changers Cairo, Illinois is underway! The participants were split up into crews this morning and they were sent out all over the city to various churches to experience worship the southern Illinois way. From what we heard, it sounds like they loved every minute of it, and they are more than excited to get out there and see the city of Cairo changed in a big way!
After church, the students spent the afternoon out and about at their various work sites getting to know the area and seeing the places they will be working first hand. Many got to meet some neighbors in town and explain why they were here, and many got the chance to explain how Jesus Christ has called them to this area this week to work. This got spirits high as the students got to meet those who they would be directly affecting this week.
Worship was led by Gordon Davidson, who led the participants through the first part of Isaiah 6, and began to explain how God is holy and beyond our comprehension, and how that very fact should lead us to worship Him, and Him alone. We look forward to how the students will react to the services this week, and how God is going to use His holiness to set these students apart this week for a great work.
Tomorrow morning is the great send off, and students will be heading out to work in the cities of Cairo, Mounds, and Mound City. Prayers are asked for as we head out, and keep checking back here for updates throughout the week!
Today the city of East St. Louis will be overtaken with around 240 youth from different areas of the country…the reason? World Changers. The coordinating team and summer staff are anticipating the arrival of the participants. A great deal of time and work has gone into preparing the city of Cairo for what they are about to experience. Those preparing are none other than the excellent coordinating staff: Project Coordinator- Cliff Norville, Construction Coordinator- Leon Hays, Associational Coordinator- Sue Wilkins, and Agency Representative- Sue Wilkins with Clear Creek Baptist Association. Also, the summer staff is excited to welcome the church groups and get the project started! Your Music Leader is Brad Bartlett from Kansas City, MO. Also from Missouri is Jillian McCoy who will serve as your Office Manager. You can ask Ryen Stevens any questions you have about missions; she will be your Missions Communications Specialist this week. When you see the video camera coming…smile big for Zach Allen who is your Audio Visual Technician.
The participants will be staying at Century School District # 100. The facility is more than equipped to provide the needs for the students and is excited about hosting this year World Changers! Get ready Cairo… we’re going to change your world!