read this if you know a 2009 barnabas alumni...
Last weekend Stacie and I got to be a part of the 2009 Operation Barnabas reunion. We loaded up the bus Thursday night and headed to Columbus. Friday morning we, along with 21 students, headed off to Philadelphia (with one more stop in western PA to pick up 10 more). We got to Urban Hope Friday evening to spend the weekend there reconnecting, loving & serving the community, and working with the Urban Hope staff. Altogether we had 44 students & 8 leaders together.We got to do all kinds of sweet things:
- hang out at Friday night ROCK with a bunch of kids from the block
- 'scavenger hunt' on South Street -- lots of opportunities to talk with people and to share Jesus
- good time with the Lord, and in worship, and in prayer
- sharing from a few leaders
- manual labor
- Thanksgiving meal sign ups
- hanging with THE Ed Lewis
- time together as teams
- 1/2 of us at a local church and 1/2 at Urban Hope's Sunday service & Kingdom Kids
All of those things were great. Seriously. It's always good to be together again, to be involved in serving again, to reminisce about the summer.
The best part? Let's call it the
covenant community of faith.
These students share a bond that is unexplainable. They have been honest with each other about their struggles and sins. They have prayed for each other. They have shared their faith together. They have read Scripture together. They have loved and encouraged one another when they most needed it. They have loved and encouraged others together when they most needed it. These students, they are a part of the body of Christ. And they have learned together what that really means.
So last weekend, on the bus, during team time, during manual labor, while walking the neighborhood, I watched these students function as part of the body of Christ, as part of the covenant community of faith. At one point I was moved to tears as I recognized genuine, Christlike love in these high school students.
I know my job is to spend time with these kids. So maybe you think I'm biased. But I think these students, these 2009 Barnabas alumni, are incredible. The Lord continues work in their hearts and work through their lives.
If you know a 2009 Barnabas alumni, ask them about what they're learning about the body of Christ. Watch them in action. Thank the Lord for what he's doing. Man. I'm overwhelmed. Seriously. God. Is. So. Good.
(wanna see some pictures of the weekend?)
Labels: 2009 alumni, covenant community of faith, Operation Barnabas, Urban Hope
posted by sarah @ 1:19 PM
1 Comments:
yay, pcitures
i was there.
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