Lifehope hosts TiM Group from Georgia

OM Lifehope

Lifehope hosts group from Wesleyan School - April 2008

A team of nineteen teens and staff members from Wesleyan School, Georgia, USA came on a mission’s trip to Inverness, Scotland as part of their Spring Break. The OM team put together a programme with several churches and local youth initiatives.   They were welcomed into Inverness by a piper in the traditional kilt.

Their main focus of the week was youth work and they took assemblies and lessons in five high schools and three primary schools. They led twelve secondary classes/assemblies with approx 500 students. In the primary schools they led classes/assemblies with approx 650 children attending. They also participated in two Scripture Union groups with over 100 students attending. They tackled some challenging subjects such as “Creation and evolution”, “The Bible as a devotional book and its reliability”, “the miracles of Jesus” and “Christianity”.

On the final night they put together a programme for a city-wide youth event at CYC part of YMCA. They also took part in church services, prayer meetings, received input from local youth workers and spent time in the town centre talking to young people.   

The American teens made a huge impact in the lives of the youth in Inverness. They were highly motivated to share Christ and were disappointed that their programme was not as full as they expected. Their desire was to be with the youth all the time and make a difference. Wherever they went, they were able to connect with the youth and were quite surprised to be asked for autographs, as if they were celebrities. As a result, more than seventy teens came along to the youth event on the final night. The team presented a fun-filled programme which included some cultural items, funny dramas, songs, testimonies and a Gospel presentation. More than twenty teens responded to the appeal to follow Christ. Many of the teens stayed on after the programme to find out more about the team and their faith. Some took Bibles as they left and even had a few of the team members sign their Bibles. They exchanged contact details and the American team plans to keep up the connection with the Scottish youth.

Chris Cleveland, the principal of Wesleyan School said “Scottish teens are lacking good role models.” The team was able to live out their faith and the Scottish youth saw that it was genuine. Meagan, another staff member from the school commented: “Before the trip, I knew we had a very mature group who were willing to take large steps of faith in order to reach the lost. I was truly amazed and awed at the eagerness and ability of our youth.”

Some encounters in the schools:

“During a lesson on Christianity at Inverness Royal Academy, we shared our testimonies and answered questions. One girl asked “What proof do I have to believe that Jesus rose again?” As I began to give her proof and told her that people actually felt the holes in his hands, her whole face lit up. It was great to see God at work.”   Jean

“I was chosen to go to the Inverness Royal Academy and help lead a class on evolution and creation. It is a topic I am knowledgeable and passionate about, but I was so nervous because public speaking is not one of my strong points. However, as I began talking, I felt the Holy Spirit speak through me and I really felt I made a strong impression on the students. This experience was really exhilarating because it reaffirmed my faith in God’s ability to give me courage in words and actions when I need it most.” Erik T

My team went to about nine classes in the same school. The Spirit was clearly working in the classes. The kids began to ask hard questions and we gave them the best answers we could. A few of these kids came to the youth event on Friday evening. After I shared my testimony, several kids came up to me and talked to me about it. I think my testimony had a huge impact on one of them in particular. We will keep in touch with some of them.” Travis

“It was great to play basketball at the school and to see the kids’ faces. I invited them to the Friday youth event and they came. I realised that I can bring people to God through sports and building relationships.” Erik S.

“We did an assembly at Dalneigh Primary School and then gave a thirty minute presentation in every class. In one class, Shannon, a cute little girl with brown hair felt particularly connected to me. She was already a Christian but she was so excited to have people supporting her faith in her class. That night, one of the local youth workers met Shannon’s mum. She told him that Shannon had been talking non-stop since she got home about the programme, the class, the Americans, and me. She had been so affected by the hour or so that I spent with her in school. She came to the youth event on Friday just to see me even though none of her friends came. We exchanged e-mails and took a picture. I hope to keep mentoring her in the future.” Tori

“On Tuesday, we did a fifteen minute assembly in Dornoch Academy for the whole school. Later on in the week, we came back to this school to do the Scripture Union club that is normally attended by around twenty-five students. We were amazed that over one hundred teens came. They were very receptive and open to discussion about Christianity.” Meagan

Some encounters in the town centre:

“I had so many great experiences talking to people. We talked to these four boys at McDonalds. We talked for about thirty minutes and the Spirit was really speaking through me. I know they listened intently. God was moving.” Kiersten

“We spoke to a group of teens in town and invited them to the youth event on Friday evening. One of them had piercings, but he legitimately seemed interested and agreed to possibly come. We saw him again on Friday and he said he didn’t think he could come. So I prayed and surely enough, he showed up! He stayed for the whole programme, we got to know him better and we exchanged contacts. It was amazing! Matt

“Hannah and I met a girl in town and we started talking. This girl believed all Christian beliefs were nonsense, but we still invited her to the youth event on Friday night. She ended up showing up with four of her friends. I believe God was loosening the soil.” Barrett

Some encounters in the church:

“On Sunday, I met some Christian young people in the church and they came to the youth event the following Friday. They remembered me, so we hung out. It was neat talking to them about their struggles as teens in Scotland. I thought that their struggles would be different from mine. It turns out we have trouble with the same things. We exchanged e-mails and we’re going to keep in touch. It was really interesting to see that half a world doesn’t change the things we all deal with.” Catherine

“During one of the prayer meetings, I shared my testimony and how God helped me as I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). One of the ladies from Inverness Baptist Church prayed for me. She grabbed me to her arms and just told me I was so special. She prayed over me for ten minutes as she hugged me dearly in her chest. I was stunned. She did not even know my name, yet she had a connection with me. She told me after she prayed that her daughter had OCD and understood. After switching contacts, she proceeded to take her Celtic cross necklace off her own neck and place it on mine saying that she got the necklace in a time of need and has always wanted to give it to someone special – me!” Cassie Ann

A very special encounter during the youth night:

“We were told about a local boy who tragically died back in February. We were praying for him and his family. Then on Friday at the youth event, I shared my testimony and how God helped me through my problems with an eating disorder. I began talking to a young girl who I had casually chatted with a couple of times. She first approached me with some questions about eating disorders but then shifted to questions about loss of loved ones. God really showed me the pain in this girls’ eyes and I immediately knew that God wanted Kiersten to speak with her also. After Kiersten had talked with the girl I could definitely tell that something was working in her soul as we said goodbye. Later on, we both found out that the brother of this girl was the boy who had died in February and we had been praying for him and his family.” Brittany

Team members learnt that:

“God sees me as special and loves me” Cassie Ann

“It’s so important to trust in God. I did so much on this trip that I could have never done on my own.” Erik T.

“God is at work in amazing ways and everything is in His control” Hannah

“God can use even me to do great things. I never thought that I would do something as great as what we did this week, to bring people to Christ.” Matt

“He can loosen the hard hearts of people to receive his word and grace.” Tori

They were challenged about prayer:

“Over this trip, I really learned about the importance of prayer and just how important it is in your relationship with Christ” Jean

“I found out that you can never pray enough and my prayer life increased” Erik S.

They experienced bonding and unity as a team:

“Throughout this trip, I have really loved watching my team grow spiritually” Jean

“I saw God work through the bonding of our team on the trip. We laughed together, cried together and served together.” Alex

They saw the needs of the UK:

“I learnt that Britain needs missionaries because Christianity is dying out.” Matt

“It saddened me to see how the youth had severe misconceptions of Christianity.” Travis

“The people in the UK have not given any thought to Christianity. They didn’t necessarily reject it, they just don’t care” Jean

“The church in the UK is crying out for a revival!” Brittany

They were affected in their attitude to missions:

“On this trip, I discovered my talent in sharing my faith with others and my public speaking. Before this trip, I had a very personal faith and now I learned to share it with others.” Erik T

“This trip solidified my relationship with God and my belief that while missions are not glorious, they are essential for our faith.” Alex

“God showed me my heart for missions and the desire I have to continue serving Him throughout my life.” Tori

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