Night/Day #3

This day began for us as servers at the Pancake breakfast. We each had a variety of jobs including cleaning tables and 'working the lines.' This was a good experience for all as we were able to talk with students from all over the country and just get to know them and maybe just maybe show them some of the love Jesus has for them. I am not sure of the total number of students served but I know the line was so long some students decided not to stay even though it was free. The line extended from the door and down the sidewalk about 60-70 feet.

For the nights activities we spent most of our time doing van rides. We also once again (same as night #1) were able to send out Sarah and Denise to work with some other Beach Reachers on street teams. On the van rides we had one of the Beach Reach staffers come and join us (we need two guys in the back on each van). God had laid some things on his heart that he was supposed to share with Spring Breakers and we had an opening. What is so amazing about this is that I nearly did not let the Beach Reach staff know that we did not have enough guys for the night but I saw the on site coordinator on my way to diner and just let him know. This was a divine appointment. As it turns out we only had the time to make 3 runs (most vans make anywhere from 6-10 in the same period of time). The main reason for this is that we had an incredible discussion with one student.

This young man came to us with 6 other friends. As they were getting on and settled there was the usual chit chat and small talk then Whitney was able to turn the conversation towards spiritual things as were coming close to our scheduled drop off. This eventually lead to Robbie (the staffer) to share what God had lead him to type up earlier that day. It is kind of hard to explain it all but it revolves around the idea of how foolish it would be for a Shepherd to leave 99 perfectly healthy sheep to go and chase 1 sheep. This would be bad shepherding yet this is how much God loves us. After he finished reading the response from most of those on the van was 'Wow!, That was deep man!" Most of the party got off but one of them wanted to stay because he wanted to talk more about Christianity and God. He grew up Catholic and has a great amount of knowledge about Christ and the Bible yet there seem to be lacking that personal touch of any kind of true relationship. Our group talked to him for a long time and we eventually dropped him and our two guys off for our free midnight pancakes. The guys continued to talk with him until about 1 am. He left them on his way home with the promise to think about and consider all of the things they had shared with him. The guys were each able to share their testimonies with him. I firmly believe that God will use that conversation to bring this young man closer to Him. I also know that we were able to keep him out of the clubs and bars for at least one night and maybe just maybe he needed that more than he realized.

These kinds of nights and conversations are at the heart of what Beach Reach is all about. It is about meeting students needs and leading them towards Christ. I know for sure we had 4-5 professions of faith last night. I know we also many other conversations that planted seeds and drew people at least a little bit closer to the Almighty God of the Universe. I hope you have either been able to read the live prayer blog at night have taken the time to go back and read it. The prayer tells the story of Beach Reach better than I can because it shows you more of what it going on. Please take some time today and praise God for how He is using college students and others to change lives here in PCB.

After his time with the young man at pancakes Johnathan was able to connect up with some other Beach Reachers to do some street ministry. The rest of his evening was filled with hearing people's stories and trying to point them towards the Savior. The rest of our group spent our last 1.5 hours in the prayer room.

The prayer room is such an awesome place here. It is the heart beat of the ministry itself. We would be working in vain if did spend time in prayer before the Father. It is hard to describe what you see there but there are letters to God, paintings about and for Him and students scared all over the place reading scripture and praying. Many times students will simply stand up and read passages God lays on their heart. It is such an awesome time.

This has been an amazing trip! God has done so much for us, thru us and around us. He has done so much that is hard to get it all on paper (or on a blog!). He is such an amazing God and I am looking forward to what He has in store for us the rest of this week.