Changed lives, Change the World

Thank you all for praying for me and for our Encounter Winter Conference. Students in our ministry were processed things/sins/hard times in their lives, determined to go on a summer project this summer (visit www.gosummerproject.com to find out more) and really thought about how to live out the gospel. Thank you for praying for our campus and all the others that joined us.

Here are a few highlights from the week. I will be sending more stories, along with photos in a newsletter soon.

One afternoon I spent a couple hours with a sophomore woman from UK. She confessed her struggle with belief of God’s love for her and hope for the future. Her past experience with her family and others shouted the lie that she was worthless, so much so that she refused to sleep in a bed at the conference because she didn’t feel she deserved to bother the other girls in her room. During our time I took this young women through a prayer journey, a guided experience directing your prayer and pointing you to Christ. Part of the journey included a focus on our identity in Christ. I was able to pray with this woman and rejoice that although her parents had her, God chose her and DELIGHTS in her. By New Year’s Eve my sweet girl had powerful encounter with Christ. During our last meeting she felt God open her eyes to the depth of His love for her. She spent the rest of the evening talking with other staff women on my team and friends from UK who had come with us. Satan had convinced her to commit suicide when she returned, but this last evening broke his hold over her and brought her freedom. Please continue praying for her to experience love, hope and purpose in Christ.

On the last day of the conference the 1000+ students split up all over Greensboro to partner with churches in reaching the community. Some groups participated in a program caring for refugees, others worked in service projects, and many of us went to the worst areas of the city delivering food and building relationships with people in low income housing. It was powerful to drive through neighborhoods where guns and violence reign at night and to see our students praying and delivering food and sharing Christ.

My group had the privilege of meeting a 31 year old women named Monica who has taken it upon herself to protect and care for the children in the neighborhood. She accepted Christ into her life about 3 years ago and felt the Lord convict her about the needs of the area where she was raised. Monica began taking in children who wandered the street at night because their parents were left them to themselves or their home was dangerous. Now she houses about 30 children ages 2-13 every night, helps feed and clothe them, and teaches them about Christ. All on a budget of $260 a month! We were able to bring food, my students gathered money, tell all of them about Jesus, love on the Children, and pray for them. All while the children clung to us and stroked our hair because it was different then their own. Please pray for the protection of Monica and the kids, and for the government to approve a grant that Monica is requesting to help her continue her ministry. Pray for churches in the area to partner with her and to help provide male mentors for the children in the community.

Thanks for Praying for the Senegal breakout! Around 40 students came and showed interest in learning about and going to this country in West Africa. Please pray for my co-leader Justin and I as we head to Dallas January 7-11 for training on how to lead our team during the 6 weeks we will be in Senegal this summer.

If you would like to see what some students did on our day of outreach click http://www.digtriad.com/video/default.aspx#/Local+News/Refugee+Children+Get+Opportunity+To+Ice+Skate/49911607001/49960901001/734481816001

Thanks for your prayers. It was and is evident that God is using them to transform hearts. Hope you new year is starting off well!

Abigail