Since I've been here at YWAM Denver there have definitely been many ups and downs. However the pro's certainly outweigh the con's. Here are just a few examples:
I see people's lives changed on the daily. They say Lecture Phase (the three month period of teachings the students undergo before going on outreach) is the equivalent of three years of what you would get out of going to church twice a week (which is still more than the average church attender).
Students come in with addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, with past hurts or wounds from abusive relationships, with unforgiveness and pride, with doubts and insecurities, and many other life altering circumstances. And most leave free from their addictions, healed from their hurts and wounds, restored of holding things against others, relieved of fear, and find their security in God.
You see, there is something so beautiful that happens in the process of when someone fully surrenders their life to God, when they find their strength in God instead of trying the next "best" thing, and submit their "rights" (of what they think they deserve) to God and come to find that what He has is so much greater!
That's just the schools I work with. There is so much life-change happening in the community around us as well! Just on the Friday nights we go downtown Denver to show people the Love of God, we see about 2 salvations and 3 or more physical healings each night. I used to think that kind of stuff happened when there was some healing conference with some guy that yelled a lot or seemingly pushed people over with the Spirit. But the truth is, if you have been born of God (accepted Christ as your savior) and born of the Spirit, we all carry the Spirit of this willing God inside of us- and healings come flooding when we just ask Him what he wants to do!
In addition to seeing lives changed through schools, and on the streets of Denver during a set aside ministry time, people are seeing the hand of our gentle, loving God in my every day outings and duties. One example: I was at home in Cali to celebrate my brother's birthday two weeks ago and my mom, grandmother, and I went out to enjoy lunch at a nice dinner. It wasn't long that I noticed a lady at the table across from us. She had her wrist wrapped and looked like she was in pain. I waited for a while, and when we got up to leave, I went over and asked her what happened and if I could pray for her. She gladly accepted and seemed to light up when realizing God had noticed her that day and wanted to tell her He hadn't forgotten about her!
I guess, if there had to be a point to this blog, it would be,1-that God is not limited to where we choose to be a missionary, and 2-that there are people who you may share a meal with in a restaurant, who are eager and desiring to know that there is a God out there who hasn't forgotten about them. Case and point, don't be discouraged to step out and be the light in your day-to-day life, because it's just as impactful and sometimes even more, than going overseas to a unknown place.
I see people's lives changed on the daily. They say Lecture Phase (the three month period of teachings the students undergo before going on outreach) is the equivalent of three years of what you would get out of going to church twice a week (which is still more than the average church attender).
Students come in with addictions to drugs, alcohol, pornography, with past hurts or wounds from abusive relationships, with unforgiveness and pride, with doubts and insecurities, and many other life altering circumstances. And most leave free from their addictions, healed from their hurts and wounds, restored of holding things against others, relieved of fear, and find their security in God.
You see, there is something so beautiful that happens in the process of when someone fully surrenders their life to God, when they find their strength in God instead of trying the next "best" thing, and submit their "rights" (of what they think they deserve) to God and come to find that what He has is so much greater!
That's just the schools I work with. There is so much life-change happening in the community around us as well! Just on the Friday nights we go downtown Denver to show people the Love of God, we see about 2 salvations and 3 or more physical healings each night. I used to think that kind of stuff happened when there was some healing conference with some guy that yelled a lot or seemingly pushed people over with the Spirit. But the truth is, if you have been born of God (accepted Christ as your savior) and born of the Spirit, we all carry the Spirit of this willing God inside of us- and healings come flooding when we just ask Him what he wants to do!
In addition to seeing lives changed through schools, and on the streets of Denver during a set aside ministry time, people are seeing the hand of our gentle, loving God in my every day outings and duties. One example: I was at home in Cali to celebrate my brother's birthday two weeks ago and my mom, grandmother, and I went out to enjoy lunch at a nice dinner. It wasn't long that I noticed a lady at the table across from us. She had her wrist wrapped and looked like she was in pain. I waited for a while, and when we got up to leave, I went over and asked her what happened and if I could pray for her. She gladly accepted and seemed to light up when realizing God had noticed her that day and wanted to tell her He hadn't forgotten about her!
I guess, if there had to be a point to this blog, it would be,1-that God is not limited to where we choose to be a missionary, and 2-that there are people who you may share a meal with in a restaurant, who are eager and desiring to know that there is a God out there who hasn't forgotten about them. Case and point, don't be discouraged to step out and be the light in your day-to-day life, because it's just as impactful and sometimes even more, than going overseas to a unknown place.
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