Hey Everyone,
We just finished up our third year ministering to teenagers on the high school campuses, so I thought it was fitting to send out the transcript of my talk at the C3 Banquet, May 21, 2010, as well as the videos we showed. Both help to capture what God has done this year through C3. So here it is:
This night is about thanking God, recognizing what he is doing, thanking all of the supporters for their prayers, donations, and care; and encouraging the students to continue to follow after Jesus and love him only. Thank you for being here. Thank you for all of your support.
This night marks 3 years of Cross Culture on Campus. C3 isn't another institution or good idea. It isn't a para-church organization or an excuse to give teenagers pizza. It is an extension of the student ministries of Grace Church through the students to the community that we love.
When I first said yes to be a missionary to high school campuses I had no idea what that meant or what I would really do. I didn't know what kind of reception the students at the school would give me and I didn't know what school Administrators would say. I didn't know that we would start clubs. I didn't know we would hold events. I didn't know I would love it.
What Cross Culture is today is only as powerful and useful as its purpose and it is only as good as it's ability to fulfill that purpose. That purpose is to love the Gospel of Jesus, live the Gospel of Jesus, and to give the Gospel of Jesus. This Gospel is what we base our lives on. It is that Jesus was crucified for our sins, was buried, and on the third rose again. That is good news.
What has happened is that we've started Christ-centered communities, or clubs or, even better known as, youth groups at Chapel Hill High, East Chapel Hill High, Pace Academy, Jordan, Hillside, and Kestrel Heights. We've even help out at times with communities at Woods Charter, Durham School of the Arts, and NCSSM. What started as pastoral visits and volunteering at these schools developed into these communities that meet regularly in order to teach students to love the gospel, live the gospel, and give the gospel.
In 3 years we have seen thousand of different students at our clubs, events, and youth groups. We have seen students commit their live to following Jesus. We have seen many churched kids start living their faith out when they had previously just been showing up.
Three years ago we started a community at Pace Academy with only 2 students. these 2 came every week and only these two. The teacher who allowed us to meet in her room wondered, "Why just 2?" So did I. But we take advantage of the students we have the privilege to disciple. One of these two is now graduating and going on to Bible College. He says he wants to be a missionary to High schools just like me. We thank God for that.
I happened to meet another student from Pace over a year ago at a lock-in C3 was hosting. Our meeting was not under the best circumstances. He was making out with someone and I caught them. Our first conversation was me asking him what he was thinking. But forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation is a powerful thing. He turned from those ways and other ways, I'm sure, and he became a leader at Pace. With a gift to evangelize and gather people, and the grace of God, he brought in 30% of the students, who developed a tight knit community. Before, when I was just meeting with two students that whole year, I thought I had no hope at that school. We thank God for that.
And this year we've seen some miraculous things. One student who at first said she hated religion and Christianity especially, started meeting with us. The distinction between following a person, Jesus, and following man-made rules, religion, speaks to her. We thank God for what He is doing.
Another student who called himself a Christian at the beginning of the year accepted Jesus just a couple of weeks ago. Deep down, He realized he wasn't following God the person. He finally saw the difference between what culture labels a Christian and the grace of Jesus that makes someone a Christian. We thank God for that.
At every school there is a lot to share. At Jordan High a C3 started this year with a core group of 8. Their views of who God is were challenged because that is one thing we do well. We go to where the students are, at their schools, and we ask questions like "How does Jesus have bearing on what you do in class? How does he affect what you think about, talk with your friends about? Why does He matter so much?" Lots of times we get awkward pauses to these questions, because they aren't the normal conversation topics, but, as I hope you can see, the students begin to seek Jesus throughout the day. Our hope is that the walls between lifestyle and loving Jesus break forever. In April, we hosted a field day where 150 students participated. We played classic field day event like 3 legged race and tug of war, but we did something my field days never did. We preached the good news, the gospel of Jesus, to people of every background and faith level. We thank God for that.
At Chapel Hill High, we have a core group of about 8 who pray, read the bible, and they pass out cookies. They give away cookies to the whole school with stickers that say, "God's love is like this cookie: awesome and free." Not only does it confront the students with the idea of God's love but with the reality of it, through cookies, a way that teenagers can actually understand. The students literally had professing atheists asking for "God's love". We thank God for that.
At East Chapel Hill, I was asked to be the campus Pastor for a new club called Youth Commission International, also known as YCI. I gladly accepted. One of the students who has been one of the most faithful attendees, is not a Christian. Doesn't go to church. But over the course of this year the gospel is penetrating his heart. He says that he now understands that God isn't impressed by what he does, but through His son Jesus. We thank God for that.
At Kestrel Heights, our core group continues to solidify and see God in every second of every day. We showed the "Blind Side" to the school and spoke about how we are adopted in Christ, similar to how Michael Oher was adopted by the Touhey's and equipped to do great things. The Principal thanked us profusely for doing this and everything else we do for Kestrel Heights. We thank God for that.
At Hillside we have a new campus leader, Luis Darnell Tayleor. He started this semester and has officially taken over leadership at Hillside. And he is coming on the C3 staff part time. That is an answer to prayer. A prayer many of you have prayed. We thank God.
To the students of these schools that are here I would like to say:
Hebrews 6:10-12:
"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
Don't stop. Becoming lazy is a danger for every Christian just like Hebrews 6 says. Sometimes we may feel like we've arrived, that we are good enough, and there is no need for following Jesus. We have the same need everyday. It is to follow our Lord and our Savior. He is our savior because we don't just need something, we need Him. He is our Lord because we always say Yes to him and repent of the times we said no.
Don't stop. You are here because you have ran after Him. He says "Anyone who seeks me will find me." That is music to our ears. Don't stop seeking Him. He is good and will make good on all of His promises. Don't stop. He's too great and He's made you too great for you to even think about stopping.
To all of my supporters I would like to say:
Thanks. There isn't a better phrase. Thank you. Your financial giving is what allows me to do what I do and provide for my family. Thank you. Your prayers for me and the students have been answered on so many occasions. I can look back at our newsletters this year and see how many times God has answered what I asked you to pray about. Thank you. I thank God for you. I thank God that we are partners, that this isn't a boss-employee relationship, that it is a partnership. Thanks for being my partner, our partner. For those who have given your time for C3. Thank you. You are a blessing and you all are making a difference.
Pastor DeWayne Watson is going to give those of you who haven't given to C3 yet a chance to do so at the end of the night. But now we are going to show a video that will allow you to hear from some of the students themselves. Keep in mind we've seen over a thousand students this year at all of our functions and we've had over 100 come to our weekly discipleship meetings. This is just a sampling. I hope you will get a feeling for what they experience and how God is using our partnership and these students to advance His Kingdom and make His name great. Enjoy.
C3 Schools Video
My family and I are supported because of the prayerful donations of others. If you haven't financially supported us recently, please consider doing so. For those who continuingly support: thank you. Together we are making a difference in the lives of teenagers for the sake of Jesus. Here's another video that we hope shows you just a little about how God is being glorified through C3.
Changing Lives Video
Blessings,
Adam
Prayer Request
+ summer preparation is Spirit led
+ each student living out commitment to Jesus
+ students discipling other students
+ guidance for C3's direction during the next school year
Financial Update
Percent of April Budget Raised: 100%
Monthly Budget: $4,000
Here is another fun video that we showed at the C3 Banquet: C3 Student Montage
C3 stands for "Cross Culture on Campus". C3 is a christ-centered ministry to the high schools through Grace Church of Chapel Hill.
