This summer I thought I was very prepared. We hired staff earlier than normal, decided on devotional verses early and sent these to writers earlier than in past years. I had all the age graded Bible studies written and printed out by the first of May. Ready, set, go! Not!!
As summer approached, I had an uneasy feeling about the Bible study I wrote for Youth Mission Week. For some reason, the Gideon study that seemed the right choice in the spring, didn’t feel right in the month of June. The Holy Spirit nagged my Spirit like a dripping faucet.
Finally, [You know what I did. I loudly pronounced, “You win, I don’t have time to write a new Bible study but if you insist, I will make the time. (I have such a sweet, obedient spirit with the Holy Spirit when pressed for time.)] I sat down at my computer with my Bible on my left side and let the Holy Spirit teach me. The time flew by as He wrote. The Holy Spirit directed me to Paul and how Paul shared his testimony wherever God placed him. For the application section of this Paul Bible study, each student was to write his/her own testimony and make a decision about how many times they would share their testimony with others during the Mission Week experience.
With the Bible study printed out and ready to teach, I met with the college staffers, directing them in the lesson they would teach this next week. [They are the only staff members who know the content of the Bible studies.]
Youth Mission Weeks begin on Sunday and Monday with a flurry of activity including worship, recreation, mission team organization, and preparation prior to sending the teens to mission sites on Tuesday-Thursday. Among these activities is a time of Spirit led Bible study to prepare the youth for ministry with the people they encounter at their mission site.
One night before staff supper, we were sharing things we could ‘Praise Jesus’ for and one of my younger staffers, Robbie, shared what happened during the lunch break at his mission site. As his group ate their lunch, Robbie suggested they share their testimonies. (Because he had been helping in recreation during the morning Bible study, he was unaware that the Bible study had included a time of testimony preparation.) Robbie told us that as each person gave their testimony, the fellowship of the group was sweetened, walls came down, and their work relationship improved. (I am so glad Robbie listened to the Holy Spirit!) After Robbie shared, many other staffers testified that they experienced the same results at their mission sites. Many of the staff reflected it was the best year they had ever had on a mission site.
I believe the Holy Spirit wrote that new Bible study to prepare the youth to share their testimonies, knowing that as they shared, barriers would fall down and each site group would become a family. Many of our campers need a place to feel safe, secure and loved. (Don’t we all?!) The Holy Spirit orchestrated that feeling on this 2011 Mission Week.
Does the Holy Spirit nag you? Have you shared your testimony with someone this week? Do you have a safe place to share your thoughts? Share with me how I can pray for you as you share with others, search for a safe place, and choose to be obedient to the Holy Spirit.
