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Yesterday was an incredible half day off. We are praying that the students will not be too tired after spending their afternoon at the water park. We are thankful for the hard work that has been done so far this week. It has been amazing to see each student grow closer to God through all of their service. I am so proud of each one who has stepped outside of their comfort zone to challenge others to be strong in their faith.
Please continue to pray for your loved ones as they work to finish up their work today.
World Changers met Tuesday like an unforeseen kiss. The students had no idea what hit them until the realization of joy from service set in. Today the staff and met with a crew roofing and painting a house. Judy Downing, a reporter for the Highland Community Newspaper, interviewed Andy from Tacoma and Elena from Vancouver about why they have chosen to give up a week of their summer to do such intense labor. Andy’s response was spot on with what world changers is aiming to do. “World Changers is giving us a chance to do what Christ did for us,” said Andy. He also added that he strongly recommends getting involved in missions. Elena added, “it’s when you take the focus off of yourself that you find true joy.”
Tonight was the world famous World Changers concert of prayer. The challenge was to rid ourselves of the noise. The noise of school, the noise of friends, the noise of media, and even the noise of our daily struggles to grow closer to God and just listen. Take in the silence. We gave God a chance to talk back. And, boy, did He! There was a powerful wave of dedication and repentance that flowed through the hearts of each student.
Continue to partner with us in prayer for the community of Highland.
It’s–gasp–going to–gasp–be a great–gasp–week! It’s really hard to keep your breath in 100 degree weather! We have had so much fun today. Each crew met today for the first time. As we stood in the cafeteria, circling for a full view, it was incredible to see how God put together such eccentric groups of kids.
The staff, along with all of the crews went to Immanuel Baptist Church this morning and heard Pastor Rob Zinn speak about how the purpose of Christ was to die on the cross to set us free.
This afternoon each of the crews went out to visit their homeowners and meet the neighbors surrounding their worksites. This was a great exercise of the participant’s witness to share why they chose to come to Highland, California.
Tonight in worship, Peter reminded the group to be amazed at God’s holiness. We read from Isaiah 6. It was our prayer for the night that each of the participants would leave this missions experience completely changed…so changed that there is even a physical difference in their appearance.
Please pray for each student and adult as they head out for their first day of labor tomorrow.
Today is the day…the smell of duct tape, the sound of vans and busses pulling in a parking lot, and the inevitable sight of that beautiful World Changers banner hanging outside of Immanuel Baptist Church here in Highland, California can only mean one thing: Today is the day that World Changers starts! We are so excited to see the safe arrival of each group tomorrow.
The staff and coordinators have been preparing and anticipating this moment for many months now. We are Peter McMaster, the Project Coordinator. Vonda Nutt, the Missions Communication Specialist/Team Leader. Katie Wiggins is the Office Manager. Chris Rouse is the Audio/Visual Technician. And Andrew McCallum is the Music Leader.
Worship tonight was powerful. Peter, the Project Coordinator, is doubling as our speaker this week. He laid out a message about being set apart and what that really means. The quote of the night is, “We are not set apart because of who we are, but because of whose we are.”
Don’t forget that you can send encouragrams to your loved ones here by clicking on the e-couragram button found on this page.
Just kidding. Tonight is the night when all of the participants across the country are preparing their hearts and minds for World Changers. The big day is tomorrow. The day when they get to meet the people with whom they will be serving. The day when each participant learns exactly the quickest route from their sleeping room to the cafeteria. And most importantly, tomorrow is the day when each participant will decide how salient becoming set apart in their daily walks with Christ should be.
We have been anticipating this moment for weeks now. We have been praying that God would do amazing and unforeseen things in and through the lives of each student and adult. It is our request that you, reading from home, would partner with us and we pray for God’s hand to touch the lives of the students and the community.